Are Your Project Managers Slowed Down by Bureaucracy? Consider Adding a Project Administrator

So many project managers get bogged down in administrative details that it dilutes their efforts on focusing on their three most important roles--communicator, planner, and leader.

Some organizations "get it" and assign a Project Administrator to address procurement management, financial management, project setup, timesheet processing, travel arrangements, and other administrative functions that will slow down the project manager.

As I mentioned in a previous post, some organizations even appoint an additional person as Project Control Specialist, to maintain the project schedule, risk list, issues list, etc.

I've seen both of these roles used with great success, and it showed in the project manager's ability to focus on the key issues facing the project. Unfortunately, these important roles are often overlooked, and the project manager attempts to do it all to the detriment of the project.

I'd be curious to see how many others use a Project Administrator and/or Project Control Specialist, and the impact it's had on your project (or how these roles might help your projects).