What is the difference between process management and project management?

Answer 1

First of all, projects can be about process management if one of the goals of the project is to introduce business change. If you're going to change the way you do something, then - by definition - you will affect the processes. So part of the project's outputs will be to analyse the relevant processes and change/improve them accordingly. But that's a one-off activity, and after the end of the project the business activity still needs to be managed, so process management (review and improvement) should continue also.

So basically process management is about how things are done and can be part of a project or outside of it, and should be continual; whilst project management is about making change happen and is finite in scope.

Your supplementary question is about using project management skills for process management. Here I think the answer is no because of the different focus of each as noted above.

That's not to say you can't use a project management approach to do a process management exercise, but that's just like saying you can use a project management approach to design a new car. The design skills are still separate for project management.

Project Management involves planning, organizing, and managing resources to meet a specific set of requirements by a given deadline, typically to bring about a beneficial change or added value. It is specifically defined and temporary.

Process Management is planning, monitoring, and improving the permanent (or semi-permanent) repetitive actions/work that produces or supports the production of goods or services.

Clearly some skill overlap will exist. Both will require management skills such as planning, negotiating, leading, resolving conflict and so forth. Both will require personal skills like flexibility, creativity, persistence, networking, communications, and a positive attitude. Both will also require technical skills pertinent to the specific subject matter.

I believe each has some unique skills as well.

Because process management is often less defined, the process manager will typically need to be more able to set their own vision for the future and be motivated to move that direction. They will need to be comfortable with undefined and unknown problems.

Likewise, the project manager may need to be more keenly attuned to deadline performance and overcoming roadblocks in timely manner. They are more likely to need customer relationship management skills as well.

This is not to say that those skills are key differentiators. Of course they can cross over. Just that they may be more important in one environment vs. another.