The Project Management Team: Shared Responsibilities and Role Flexibility

PMBOK v8 Definition

The project management team consists of the members of the project team who are directly involved in project management activities. This team may consist solely of a project manager or may include more individuals who form a team. The project management team is essential for guiding the assigned team to achieve goals and deliver value to the organization and customers while considering flexibility, adaptability, and tailoring. Project management activities are sometimes shared among a project management team, and project team members are responsible for completing the work. Roles such as "project lead," "development team," or "project team" may also share some project management responsibilities that are usually performed by project managers.

Why It Matters for the Exam

This concept frequently appears in PMI exam questions about organizational structures, role definitions, and team dynamics. You will encounter it in situational questions where the exam tests your understanding of who performs project management activities versus who executes the work. The exam also tests whether you recognize that the project management team structure is flexible and adaptable to organizational needs.

Key Points to Remember (for the exam)

• Core Composition: The project management team may consist solely of a project manager OR may include multiple individuals who form a team—both structures are referred to synonymously in PMBOK v8
• Primary Function: The project management team performs various functions such as facilitating and mentoring the project team and managing the processes to deliver intended outcomes
• Shared Responsibilities: Project management activities can be shared among the project management team, while project team members are responsible for completing the actual work
• Role Flexibility: Titles like "project lead," "development team," or "project team" may share project management responsibilities normally performed by project managers
• Project Manager's Role: The project manager is responsible for team formation and operation as an effective group, including acquiring, managing, motivating, and empowering the project team
• Influencing Factors: Project managers must be aware of team environment, geographical locations, communications, organizational change management, internal/external politics, cultural issues, and organizational uniqueness
• Adaptability: The distribution of responsibilities reflects an organization's internal regulations and constraints

Typical PMI Exam Example

A large construction project has a project management team consisting of a project manager, two assistant project managers, and a project coordinator. The project team includes 50 specialized workers. During execution, the assistant project managers facilitate planning sessions and monitor progress, while the project team members perform the actual construction work. This scenario demonstrates the PMBOK v8 concept that project management activities are shared among the project management team, and project team members are responsible for completing the work.

PMI Exam Traps

• Trap: Confusing "project management team" with "project team"

• Reality: The project management team is directly involved in project management activities; the project team completes the work. They are distinct groups with different responsibilities.

• Trap: Assuming the project management team must always include multiple people

• Reality: The project management team may consist solely of a project manager—this is explicitly stated as a valid structure in PMBOK v8

• Trap: Believing only the project manager performs project management activities

• Reality: Project management activities can be shared among the project management team, and other roles like "project lead" or "development team" may also share these responsibilities

• Trap: Thinking role definitions are fixed across all organizations

• Reality: Functions, roles, and responsibilities may differ according to each enterprise and project's uniqueness

Important PMI Connections

Quick Review Questions

1. What are the two possible compositions of a project management team according to PMBOK v8?

2. Who is responsible for completing the work in a project—the project management team or the project team members?

3. What factors should a project manager be aware of that influence the project team?

4. Can roles such as "project lead" or "development team" share project management responsibilities that are usually performed by project managers?

5. What is the primary function of the project management team?

PMBOK v8 Reference

Section 2.5.1 - Project Management Team