Question

What special characteristics should a recovery project manager possess? Which of these is more critical for the role of recovery project manager vs. project manager and why? Answer with 250 words.

Answer 1

The special characteristics of a recovery project manager include identifying the processes that cause disaster recovery and documenting the same, providing network rights, accounts management, systems and equipment access, provide backups, perform audit checks and maintain system integrity. The recovery project manager must have COOP (Continuity of Operations Plan) experience and ability to clear the government security clearance in case of a disaster in the project.
A project manager has the following roles of resource planning, schedule development, activity planning, estimating time, budget development, estimating cost, analyzing risk, documentation, team leadership and controlling quality. When compared to the role of a project manager, the recovery project manager performs documentation, checks, maintains accounts and integrity. There is more similarity in the roles of a project manager and recovery project manager. The role that makes the recovery project manager critical is COOP experience to clear government security clearance in case of disaster. This role is external to the organization and must have good network and relationships with the government officials to clear the formalities in case of disaster recovery. The recovery project manager must possess risk management skills and able to frame COOP plans to mitigate the risks involved in case of a disaster occuring in a project. This process must be expedited in a rapid manner to reimburse the loss incurred on the project due to the disaster. This role is about maintaining and managing the risk of the project and the entire organization in crisis times. Hence this role is crucial to a recovery project manager.