Engineering Project Manager: Sees a product or device through its stages of research, development, design and manufacturing, from concept to finished product. Both programs are designed to teach aptitudes, skills, and experiences necessary to manage people and projects. Engineering project managers also coordinate with various parties to ensure satisfaction upon project completion, from stakeholders to suppliers to contractors. Mature project executives and organizations that have an excellent project accountability track record, generally make use of complementary roles in all possible combinations. Engineering Management vs. Project Management Similarities. Project Managers drive projects, Leaders drive people. MEM and PM degrees have a fundamental element in common. To work as a director of engineering requires at least a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering, computer engineering, building management, or in any other relevant field. Even if a project meets a client’s expectations and is delivered on time, it will still be a failure if it goes wildly over-budget. Management is, in itself, a skillset — and it requires a range of developed skills to be effective. Students searching for Functional Manager vs. Project Manager found the following resources, articles, links, and information helpful. Program Manager found the articles, information, and resources on this page helpful. For project managers, it’s all about the project: status, milestones, project … Ensuring customer satisfaction Understanding the Concept – Project Director vs Project Manager. 5. Good project managers frequently review the budget and plan ahead to avoid massive budget overruns. The qualities you need to succeed in this role include excellent communication, problem-solving, and organizational skills. Depends on what your career objectives are, and what your personal strengths are. The idea behind this concept is to achieve desirable project outcomes and manage cost effectively. This is yet another significant difference. Individuals searching for Project Director vs. Good project managers know how to keep a project within its set budget.