Question

Why aren't many technical people interested in cost-related subjects (ie: Project management)? What could be done to change this?

Answer 1

Thanks for asking.

Now since this is a perception based question the answer may seem a little bit biased on the perception of technical people and there may be case that many people would think otherwise but since it has been asked that way let us answer this.

Many technical people are not interested in subjects like Project Management because of their following habits

a. Bad communication and delegation pattern
Since project management consists of communicating and delegation of task to the project members so there is lacking and hence problem occurs

b. Interpersonal skills
Since a major portion of project management requires managing people and working in team so technical people tends to step back

c. Eye for finer details
Technical people generally have an eye for final details but in projects sometimes you have to get the work done despite ignoring few details which upsets technical people

d.Execution without planning
Technical people have more often worked with machine in their work and machine gives an error if commands are not right and thus hit and trial method works well but in actual project their are huge cost associated at each step so hit and trial method does not works

e.Sticking to documentation and processes
In order to report and work with top management proper documentation and process flow has to be maintained which adds to work which technical people considered waste as per them it does not adds value so they tend to avoid it.

These were few points which restrains technical people from working in subjects like project management and to change this what i feel is training or proper course work in management can help as Management course teaches and develops the over all functioning of an individual by making him understand the overall scenario thereby enabling and empowering him to deliver.

Hope this solves your query,