PM, PM or PM

[SupremeSpod]

shelter their teams from company politics, argue your technical points at non techy meetings, initiate and manage your relationships with other teams

Wrong, that's the job of a Technical Team Lead.

[WageSlave]

Wrong, that's the job of a Technical Team Lead.

Don't think I've ever met one of those. In which case, the PM should provide cover and play ambassador.

[Rebecca Loos]

I have met a lot of Technical Leads but not many Technical Team Leads! Is that another made up role for a project that looks to be as hierarchical as possible? (i.e. public sector)

[SupremeSpod]

I have met a lot of Technical Leads but not many Technical Team Leads! Is that another made up role for a project that looks to be as hierarchical as possible? (i.e. public sector)

It's a role I filled as the project manager hadn't got a clue about what was happening in the project.

Spod - In "Ah, sunny Glasgow" mode!

[WageSlave]

It's a role I filled as the project manager hadn't got a clue about what was happening in the project.

Spod, I suspect you were given the role on account of standing with folded arms, looking tall and laughing in a reassuring manner.

In a true project environment, I haven't encountered a TT Lead. Team Leaders on big projects, yes. Generally, I would prefer staff with technical skills to get on with the technical stuff and not worry about political games.

[SupremeSpod]

Spod, I suspect you were given the role on account of standing with folded arms, looking tall and laughing in a reassuring manner.

In a true project environment, I haven't encountered a TT Lead. Team Leaders on big projects, yes. Generally, I would prefer staff with technical skills to get on with the technical stuff and not worry about political games.

WS, I eventually got the role of PM - which was nice...

[WageSlave]

WS, I eventually got the role of PM - which was nice...

On account of ability....or did you speak to some 'friends' who arranged events...

Wage in 'They rule the world' mode.

[SupremeSpod]

On account of ability....or did you speak to some 'friends' who arranged events...

Wage in 'They rule the world' mode.

I'm shocked that you even asked that question!
(It was a financial institution...)

Spod - In " " mode....

[WageSlave]

I'm shocked that you even asked that question!
(It was a financial institution...)

I didn't think it was the public sector, where the requirement for management is an ability to avoid asking anyone to do anything.

[Francko]

On the light of my recent experience, what's a technical lead:

Technical lead = does everything the project manager should do because the project manager is unable to fulfill this role as he doesn't have the technical expertise to do that. He is the scapegoat to blame when something goes wrong. In case the project is a success, the credit goes all to the project manager and nothing to the technical lead. The skills that a project manager should have are the potential to look busy and simulate work. Sending lots of email mainly after a personal exchange with the technical lead and with a cut-and-paste technique. Beneficial a tendency to live life as a blood-sucking parasite.

I tend to agree more and more with the MSF, all team should be technical with product and programme manager (the second not necessarily as technical as the first).