The Project Manager (PM) has arguably the most critical and challenging role in all projects. Yet many enterprises appoint PMs without providing much guidance or training. Info-Tech has identified several key actions a PM must take to achieve success. These actions will not guarantee a win, but without them, the PM will need exceptional luck to reach project victory.

While many PM skills and techniques are applicable to any project, consider the challenges faced by Max, a first time PM assigned the responsibility for implementing the company's first IP-PBX system in a new branch office. The project, like most in infrastructure and data center situations, has a very clear objective and end point. And unlike most application projects, it is not subject to wide debate about requirements, and the resulting scope creep.