Project management can easily be defined as a way to manage a project, whatever it may be, and drive it to completion based upon predefined requirements. The management of a project begins with the decision to start a project. Once the project starts it is crucial to monitor the progress at all stages to ensure what was promised is delivered according to the agreed upon level of quality, within or on budget, and on schedule.

There are several skills needed by a project manager to be effective:
1. Knowledge Compentency – the level at which the team knows about the project and its objective
2. Performance Compentency – the ability to accomplish actions while applying the knowledge of the action
3. Personal Compentency – the way the project team performs together during the lifecycle of the project

To successfully manage a project the project manager should have and know the limitations of their interpersonal skills.  The main skill that a project manager must have is the ability to effectively communicate the information and requirements down to the project team and up through the stakeholders and project champion(s).  The effective communication will then attibrute to the ability to influence and motivate the organization to get done what needs to be done for project success.  There may be times when differences of opinions and project assumptions will require the project manager to negotiate terms and manage conflicts to an acceptable agreement amongst all parties. With all these interpersonal skills comes the need to make decisions which can either be through consensual agreements and or if required independent yet informed decisions.