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How can you differentiate in between Project Manager and Team Lead?

There are two members among the team one is the project manager and the other is team lead. The question is if we have team leads just to keep providing updates to the project managers while TL are coordinating with his team then whats the job of PM if the bridge between him and team is TL.

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Question added by Syed Nabeel Anwer , Team Lead/Agile Coach, Agile Delivery, Enterprise Transformation , The Saudi British Bank - Sabb
Date Posted: 2018/03/17
Deleted user
by Deleted user

I think a team leader should be a 'promoted' subject matter expert. A person who has experience in solution delivery. This person also demonstrates softskills like communication, leadership and time management.

A Project Manager is not necessarily a subject matter expert. They usually keep the delivery team and the rest of the support units in sync. They manage the Project Owner expectations, finances and time. In midsized to large projects they require single point of contacts like Team Leaders to keep the delivery team(s) productive and punctual.

Omar Saad Ibrahem Alhamadani
by Omar Saad Ibrahem Alhamadani , Snr. HR & Finance Officer , Sarri Zawetta Company

Thanks

Project manager is a position include the following tasks :

  • Supervise whole project procedures which is done by teams.
  • Direct and evaluate team performance.
  • Measure teams performance based on phases achievements ( each phase needs one or more than one team).
  • Put plans or remake the plan to hit goal at the time ( DT), that needs more that one teamleader to spread the new plan on their teams members.

Note : Project Manager , Manage & Lead in avarage through normal project between two to five Team Leaders with their teams members

Team Leader is middle position, which is found to manage and lead teams members and implement PM (Plans, orders, ....) and apply PM's point of view, and in the sametime act as a bridge between employees and top management repesenting by Project Manager.

So, we need them both !

Best Regards

Project manager is the one who is overally in charge of the whole project that is being commenced by organisation for a particular task.

Team leader is the one who is given a task by the project manager he can be asked to lead a certain part of the project so that he brings fourth a report to the project leader as the project will be under progress.

Priyank Patahk
by Priyank Patahk , software tester , Flairsoft Consulting Group

project manager's role is the overall responsibility for a successful planning, and to make sure that their team is performing at their best. A team leader is responsible for the day to day running of the development effort, especially focused on the effort of their specific team and their core focus.

Mohamed Hasanein
by Mohamed Hasanein , Marketing Manager , Andalusia Group for medical services

PM puts the criteria, inputs, due dates and follow with the TL for implementation v.s planed dates

TL puts the plan to implement the project and breakdown the tasks on the excutive team.

Prabhu Sangu Thiagarajan
by Prabhu Sangu Thiagarajan , Founder , Arthasoft

A Project Manager is the main communication link to all the stakeholders in a project. Team Lead is in direct charge of the technicalities of the project dealing with his team members and following instructions from the Project Manager.

A PM has a higher role & resposibility than a TL.

A PM manages all aspects of a project whereas the TL need not.

 

SIMON KINYATI
by SIMON KINYATI , Chief Auditor , Teachers Service Commission

Project manager is more concerned with administrative issues like staffing, acquisition of project resources, monitoring and evaluation, planning and so on. He is more concerned with what will make people work for him. Team lead is a leader and he is more concerned with influencing individuals to work as team. He or she inspires them to work , he is part of the team and therefore provide necessary directions and instructions that will help the team achieve its objectives.

Sandeep Hampalle
by Sandeep Hampalle , Team Lead , Genpact - India

Team lead & Project manager has different KPI & responsibility their agendas are different project manager will bring the business, implement, execute it and handover to operations manager or TL to run the show.

Syed Raheem
by Syed Raheem , Store keeper , SPP Poly pack Pvt.Ltd

Pm is the evaluator he evaluate and distribute the work according to the capability of employer. Based upon the performance he segregate the work. And in which section how to utilise the work and bring the desired results to organisation based upon research and complete data of employer performance.

The head of the project is responsible for the team within the project itself while the team leader is responsible of the members within the project to be executed

Karthik Kumar Kalyanum
by Karthik Kumar Kalyanum , Senior Technical Project Manager , Capgemini

I think the question is wrongly interpreting the role of a PM and also the question is incomplete. We cannot restrcit the role of a PM just to provide updates. Is is more than that. A PM is responsible for - 

1. Overall delivery of the project, TL might not be responsible but he is accountable

2. Identifying and mitigating risks well before hand, TL might not look into overall risks involved in the project, he might be restricted to his area

3. Managing resources, identifying their weak areas, arranging for training and the development of the team, TL might not even look into this aspect

4. Keep track of the cost, schedule and scope of the project.

5. Take care of the client stakeholders and establish and monitor that there is a proper communication channel between the team and the client.

Apart from the above, there are other things that a PM needs to take care like performing appraisals for the team, providing constant feedback to the resources all throughout the year, keep track of Quality related aspects such as CMMI Level 5, productivity, defect density, etc.., provide status to senior management on a daily, weekly, monthly, quarterly and yearly basis.

 

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