TY  - JOUR
AB  - Purpose– Writers over the years have sought to define the nature and roles of a project manager. The attempts at these definitions have been based on rather historic writings of what a manager should do. This paper seeks to provide an up‐to‐date understanding of the current roles of a construction project manager.Design/methodology/approach– A literature review is used to develop a time role analysis matrix which is completed by 24 project management staff working for a multi‐national contractor located in west‐central Scotland.Findings– What becomes clear from this research is that the definition of the actual roles is vague and poorly defined and the role basket is loose with each project shaping the final range. The research shows that the number of roles undertaken by a project manager changes with age and also the nature of the roles undertaken moves with the maturity of the project manager.Practical implications– The historic view of what roles project managers undertake needs to be moulded in light of the findings from this research. Specifically, the rather low response to the basket of commercial roles suggests that these functional areas are being addressed elsewhere in the project team.Originality/value– The paper provides a snapshot of practising project managers from one geographic location and wider research needs to be undertaken to ascertain the broader view.
VL  - 28
IS  - 2
SN  - 0263-080X
DO  - 10.1108/02630801011044235
UR  - https://doi.org/10.1108/02630801011044235
AU  - Sommerville James
AU  - Craig Nigel
AU  - Hendry Julie
PY  - 2010
Y1  - 2010/01/01
TI  - The role of the project manager: all things to all people?
T2  - Structural Survey
PB  - Emerald Group Publishing Limited
SP  - 132
EP  - 141
Y2  - 2024/09/20
ER  -