It all depends on the type of contract (fixed cost, time and materials, time and materials not to exceed) and who shoulders the risk associated with the project.
If it is a fixed cost project you need your own project manager to protect the interests of your company. If your client elects not to appoint a project manager it is up to them but in that case you should increase the project management part of your estimate because you’ll end up doing their job for them.
If it is a time and materials project you are basically selling live bodies to your client. Since that is not a true project you do not need a project manager except if PMs are the ones issuing invoices in your company.
If it is a time and materials not to exceed project you should beat you head against the wall until you get it into your head that you have just entered into an open ended contract where your company assumes all the risk. If you ever needed a PM now is the time. Appoint the meanest, angriest project manager you have, give him a Gatling gun, all the ammo in the world, and fix bayonets. Life is about to get interesting…
Personally I’ve been advocating for a while that we should always appoint a PM regardless of whether the budget allows for one or not. Cheapest insurance policy in the world. If you do not take care of your interest who will?
What do you think? As always questions and comments are welcome.
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