No doubt, project manager and data analyst are two of the most popular jobs in the United States. But what are the differences between these two positions? Keep reading to find out.
What Does a Project Manager Do?
A project manager is a professional in charge of the planning and day-to-day management of a project to ensure that its objectives are met on time and within budget.
Project managers perform a broad array of tasks, including:
- Manage budget
- Monitor and evaluate project performance
- Ensure the satisfaction of stakeholders
- Resolving conflict
- Manage client expectations
- Conducting meetings
- Creating reports
The origins of project management can be traced back to the early 20th century. The advent of information technology accelerated the growth of project management, which established project managers as fundamental members of teams across many different industries.
What Does a Data Analyst Do?
A data analyst is a professional who gathers, organizes, and interprets data to help organizations solve specific problems.
In today’s world, companies need to make sense of large amounts of information, giving data analysts a prominent role in the decision-making process.
For example, according to data from the U.S. Labor Bureau of Statistics, demand for data scientists is projected to grow 31% between 2021 and 2031, which is “much faster than average,” according to the agency.
Project Manager vs Data Analyst: What Is the Difference?
Simply put, project managers and data analysts perform different but complementary functions within an organization.
As the professionals in charge of bringing projects into completion, project managers can take advantage of the insights provided by data analysts.
Data analysts, on the other hand, need to communicate with project managers to ensure that the conclusions they reach after studying the available data are translated into concrete action.
To learn more about project management, be sure to read our previous blogs: “Project Management vs Change Management: What Is the Difference?,” and “Project Management and Engineering Design.”
About Darnell Technical
Darnell Technical Services is an engineering design firm with extensive experience in a vast array of projects. Our headquarters are located in Santa Ana, California, and we have an office in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Contact us today by telephone (714-285-0082 (CA), 702-945-2899 (NV)) or through our social media accounts on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn to learn more about all the technical instruments and materials we put at your disposal.