I have started watching the new series of the Apprentice and becoming quickly annoyed by the fact that there is a preconception if a team loses it is the Project Manager who should be fired.

From a Prince point of view, the Project Manager is not responsible for delivering the benefits of the project, they are  there to ‘'deliver an outcome that is capable of achieving the benefits''. It is the Project Executive who is in fact responsible as they make all key decisions. The Project Manager really acts as the Executives administrator in producing draft plans, work packages and monitoring progress.

Before my current role (PM), I was a Project Coordinator where I participated in a number of lesson learned sessions, it soon became apparent that the Project Manager was always under fire and an easy scapegoat. Still to this day I cannot explain why, but being new to Project Management I am very mindful that this could also happen to me. A tool I use which will hopefully avoid such situations is an AIR LOG where all Actions, Issues, Risks, Discussions and Decisions, are documented. If my actions are ever under question I can refer to this document which tells me when, who and why a decision was made and will hopefully stop that dreaded Alan Sugar finger!!