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The project manager’s job is not an easy one. Project managers may have increasing responsibility, but very little authority. This lack of authority can force them to “negotiate” with upper-level management as well as functional management for control of company resources. They may often be treated as outsiders by the formal organization.

— Harold Kerzner Project management: a systems approach to planning, scheduling, and controlling (1979)

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Leadership

More quotes by Harold Kerzner

There is no such thing as a good or bad organizational structure; there are only appropriate or inappropriate ones.

Project management: a systems approach to planning, scheduling, and controlling (1979)

The acceptance of project management has not been easy, however. Many executives are not willing to accept change and are inflexible when it comes to adapting to a different environment.

Project management for executives (1982)

Project management utilises the systems approach to management by having functional personnel (the vertical hierarchy) assigned to a specific project (the horizontal hierarchy).

Today, excellent companies realize that project failures have more to do with behavioral shortcomings — poor employee morale, negative human relations, low productivity, and lack of commitment.

In search of excellence in project management (1998)

Today, the concept behind project management is being applied in such diverse industries and organizations as defense, construction, pharmaceuticals, chemicals, banking, hospitals, accounting, advertising, law, state and local governments, and the United Nations.

Project management for executives (1982)

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Attribution

Quote text and notes from Wikiquote: Harold Kerzner (page history), available under CC BY-SA 4.0. Source quality and labels are our own summary of what Wikiquote records.