What is the difference between a Project Manager and a Delivery Manager?

How does each role differ, include job descriptions.

Hi fatguru,

Delivery management and project management are different in quite a
few ways, but still similar. Delivery management is project management
on a broader scale and higher level, and includes the organization,
supervision and administration of workers, processes and technologies
that compose a project.  The delivery manager packages together all
the details of a project to get it into the specific condition
requested by the customer and actually deliver the product to the
customer. The person responsible for this could also be called the
delivery director, delivery vice-president, or account manager
depending on the company's preferences.

The project manager oversees all the minute details of the project and
supervises each worker as they do their job on the project; the
deliver manager oversees the entire operation and does not concern
himself/herself with daily details, but with the overall picture. The
delivery director/manager also deals with even higher-level
management. The delivery manager is usually ranked above the project
manager and is an individual with more experience and has more
responsibility for the project's success in the eyes of the company.
The delivery manager will also have more client interaction and
possibly more interaction with the board of directors and company
management overall.  The delivery manager explains the ongoing
progress of the project to others who want to know and are held
accountable for that progress. The project manager reports to the
delivery manager and must explain why a project is behind schedule if
that is the case.  The delivery manager takes on almost a customer
service role as far as the client is concerned, finding out what they
want and how the company can make them happy.

"The delivery director anticipates the actions, thoughts, and
directions of the client, and manages the client without them really
knowing it."
http://blogs.ittoolbox.com/pm/delivery/archives/what-is-delivery-management-10341

Ultimately, when a project has made it to the delivery team, the
project might have already cost the IT company millions of dollars and
a year of workers' time. The delivery team has the oh-so-important job
of ensuring that the client who is going to be paying the company back
for all its effort and money is satisfied with the product. If the
product is not delivered properly, everyone's effort on the project
can be wasted.

The delivery manager will have more general duties-- in any given
project, they might have to meet with the client, talk with their own
company's workers, or spend time explaining the project to interested
third parties-- while the project manager has more specific duties. 
The project manager has to supervise their workers for the project,
define the project and outline its goals, and try to accomplish those
goals. The most important aspect of a project might be setting its
original objectives. The objectives will affect everything else.

A delivery manager will not only have experience, but a strong
experience in delivering products to clients on time and on budget.
They will need great communication (verbal and written) skills for all
the time they spend talking to a client on the company's behalf.

"The project, therefore, is a carefully selected set of activities
chosen to use resources (time, money, people, materials, energy,
space, provisions, communication, quality, risk, etc.) to meet the
pre-defined objectives."
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Project_management

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Project_manager

The individual project manager must be able to "ask penetrating
questions, detect unstated assumptions and resolve interpersonal
conflicts as well as more systematic management skills." The project
manager must also possess a keen sense of risk and its possible effect
on a project, positive or negative. A good project manager will seek
to minimize the risks associated with a project by encouraging open
communication.  The project manager's main concern should always be
the success of the project. "Every decision taken by the project
manager should be taken in such a way that it directly benefits the
project."  The project manager will use project management software to
make reports and view the project's progress.

The project manager must have good organization skills, management
skills and be able to communicate with his or her team openly and
effectively to produce the desired result.

If you have any queries or need any additional clarifications, let me
know and I'll be happy to help.

Cheers,
--keystroke-ga

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Request for Answer Clarification by fatguru-ga on 26 Jul 2006 12:45 PDT

Hello keystroke,

Any luck with the job description (second part of the question), or if
easier sample terms of reference?

Thanks.

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Clarification of Answer by keystroke-ga on 28 Jul 2006 05:20 PDT

fatguru,

I would like to bring your attention to this page:

How to get a better answer to your question:
http://answers.google.com/answers/help.html

Also, a researcher wrote this:

What to do after you ask a question on Google Answers
http://www.christopherwu.net/google_answers/answer_guide.html

When you ask a researcher for clarification, it is feasible to give
them a bit of time in order to answer. Researchers do not get email
notifications of clarification requests, so it is customary to give
more than one day to respond, and to earn a higher rating.  (The
rating cannot be changed once it is posted.) I am sorry that my
original answer did not satisfy you. Here are some job descriptions
that I found which may more specifically answer the second part of
your original question:

Delivery manager:

(from http://careers.computing.co.uk/texis/jobsearch/details.html?id=44b77c1d49b20&pp=25&q=lookidvnucompukfj&view=1&page=1)

"The Service Delivery Manager owns the support and control of the
end-to-end service environment to enable the delivery of services to
the customer within contractually agreed service levels and budgets. 
The Service Delivery Manager also owns the service relationship with
the customer.

#  Setting the vision, mission and objectives in order to deliver the
Service Programme Objectives and providing guidance on direction and
priorities
#  Visible commitment to Service Improvement, ensuring service
performance is monitored and reviewed for areas requiring improvement
as well as delivering on improvement initiatives
#  Ensure sufficient capacity and performance is available to maintain
services levels and meet customer forecasts
#  Ensure changes to the service environment are appropriately
assessed, authorised, scheduled and managed to SLA
#  Provide delivery input into service requirements
#  Deliver to the requirements of contract schedules. This covers
delivery to availability, message response and Incident fix SLAs
#  Ensure adequate and tested continuity plans are available to be
used in the event of a disaster
#  Maintain a definitive record of the deployed state of service
environments in order to support the activities of other service
functions
#  End-to-end ownership of services, interfacing with customers
(including ISPs) and service teams to facilitate service delivery and
service improvement and conduct Service Level Management
#  Deliver effective and timely resolution and eradication of Service Problems
#  Manage Major Incidents to SLA targets and to business process
#  Ensure Service processes and tools are utilised to best practice
standards to deliver Service
#  Manage operational and commercial relationships with Suppliers to
ensure SLA provision is secure and that continuous improvement is
driven through the Supplier base."


Project manager:

(from http://www.mariosalexandrou.com/free-job-descriptions/project-manager.asp)

"    * Creates and executes project work plans and revises as
appropriate to meet changing needs and requirements.
    * Identifies resources needed and assigns individual responsibilities.
    * Manages day-to-day operational aspects of a project and scope.
    * Reviews deliverables prepared by team before passing to client.
    * Effectively applies our methodology and enforces project standards.
    * Prepares for engagement reviews and quality assurance procedures.
    * Minimizes our exposure and risk on project.
    * Ensures project documents are complete, current, and stored appropriately.

Project Accounting

    * Tracks and reports team hours and expenses on a weekly basis.
    * Manages project budget.
    * Determines appropriate revenue recognition, ensures timely and
accurate invoicing, and monitors receivables for project.
    * Follows up with clients, when necessary, regarding unpaid invoices.
    * Analyzes project profitability, revenue, margins, bill rates and
utilization."

I hope this is helpful to you.

The question contained 2 parts, only the first one was answered.