Although there is very much to be said about the skill of wearing multiple hats in the workplace, some of the things that are really best left to the experts. This is the reason behind the outsourcing of all types of work, from digital marketing to – yes – project management. However, sometimes it’s difficult to identify exactly which roles would benefit from an outsourcing business model as well as what should stay in-house.
Certainly, there is quite a lot to be said for in-house project management as opposed to external project managers. At times, hiring a consultant could make more sense depending on the project scope as well as resources. So how can you decide if you require a temporary project manager or a permanent company fixture?
In-House Project Management
In-house project management is extremely efficient for a number of different reasons. Key team players are on-site as well as available for queries at every step of the way. As they are already embedded “in the field,” they are able to bring both institutional knowledge as well as industry expertise to the table. The following are some positive as well as negative effects of utilising an in-house project manager.
Positives:
- Non-Disclosure Agreements solidified,
- Knowledge of the company culture,
- Knowledge of operations,
- Proven industry experience, as well as
- Ease of directing internal resources.
Negatives:
- Vendor dependency,
- Stifling competitive advantage, as well as
- Risk and access to company culture.
Project management consulting is usually more effective with companies which still lack a defined brand. If your organisational culture is already well established, it may be quite challenging to introduce a big player such as a project management consultant on just a temporary basis.
Rather, it may be more advisable to utilise a PM with both sufficient institutional knowledge as well as understanding of your brand and company culture. While this might be more expensive, it can make relationships smoother in the long run, not to mention accelerate project kick-offs by making onboarding faster or even unnecessary.