My Daughter, who is in her 2nd year of college recently asked me "What does a Project Manager do?"A project manager has the overall responsibility for the successful initiation, planning, design, execution, monitoring, controlling and closure of a project. They must have a combination of skills including an ability to ask penetrating questions, detect unstated assumptions and resolve conflicts, as well as more general management skills.Key among a project manager's duties is the recognition that risk directly impacts the likelihood of success and that this risk must be both formally and informally measured throughout the lifetime of a project.Risks arise from uncertainty, and the successful PM is the one who focuses on this as their primary concern. Most of the issues that impact a project result in one way or another from risk. A good PM can lessen risk significantly, often by adhering to a policy of open communication, ensuring every significant participant has an opportunity to express opinions and concerns.Ultimately, a project manager is responsible for making decisions, both large and small. They should make sure they control risk and minimize uncertainty. Every decision the PM makes must directly benefit their project.