# So Project Manager, What Exactly is it That You Do Here? By:: [[Brian Heath]] 2023-05-25 There is an entire profession dedicated to project management. These individuals do not manage people, but projects. Often they are not knowledgeable about the project and system details. Instead, they understand scheduling, documenting dependencies, creating action items, checking items off a list, and assigning work to people. One may wonder why such a profession is needed as isn't that the job of the manager? The typical response is project managers exist in spaces where a single manager does not exist and multiple teams must work together. So, why can't two managers work it out together? Or, better yet, why isn't the manager of all the managers managing this project? Here the response is the manager of managers doesn't have enough time to do this work. This may be a valid point, but I could easily say important tasks typically get prioritized. As much as workers and managers complain about a lack of priorities, the hidden truth is that no priority is a priority. Priorities always exist, just as biases always exist. They must exist by default and by definition. So, most often Project Managers are put on projects to "get it done" but without any of the existing management structure getting involved. Let that sit with you for a minute. Yeah, I don't get it either. As coined by [[David Graeber]], it feels like many project manager jobs are bullshit jobs that only exist to elevate those in power. As highlighted in the movie *Office Space*, maybe all of these project managers have "people skills damn it" and are entirely necessary. Perhaps what is most telling is that technology freelancers never have their own project managers as they manage themselves. Yet, project management is the standard practice in every technology department of large organizations. #### Related Items [[Management]] [[Project Management]] [[Profession]] [[Work]] [[Bullshit]] [[Organization]] [[Power]] [[Priorities]]