Biggest Challenges in the Project Management Profession Today

In a recent interview, Debbie O’Bray, PMI Fellow and former Chair of PMI Board of Directors, was asked this question. Her response does interesting reading for anyone considering investing in project management development. It greatly reinforces the journey that the Institute has ardently pursued over the last 25 years. Those exploring their options can browse the full range of project management courses available from IPM to find a programme that suits their professional goals.

The Institute of Project Management Ireland‘s policy of academic (NFQ Levels 8 & 9) and practitioner excellence, aligned with the internationally recognised IPMA® professional competency accreditation has ensured that its reputation as Ireland’s premier project management authority remains un-surpassed.

Her main areas of concern for the profession centre on the:

• Commoditisation of project management development
• Reputational impact resulting from this commoditisation
• Development of competent project managers

“At one time, project management training and consulting were fairly specialized, but over the past 15 years or so, it really has become commoditised. An internet search will turn up hundreds of project management consulting firms to choose from. Those seeking a structured and credible path forward may benefit from understanding a solid project management framework to distinguish themselves in an increasingly crowded field.

While anyone can hang a shingle on their door, the reality is that not all consulting firms are equal. I have seen organizations make significant investments only to receive questionable advice from the “expert” they hired. 

 When this happens, it is easy for an organization to conclude that “project management is not for us”.

This story is a long way of saying that one of the challenges the PM profession faces is the reputational impact when organizations fail to achieve the outcomes they were looking for. A structured approach to risk management is one area where better preparation can make a measurable difference to project outcomes.

A second challenge for the PM profession is the need to develop competence more expeditiously. It is easy enough to develop knowledge through training and education, but competence is another matter entirely – and competent Project Managers are what organizations need to achieve results. Modern tools are increasingly part of that competence, and programmes such as smarter projects with AI tools for modern PMs are helping practitioners build practical skills that align with today’s demands.

It typically takes years of experience to develop professional judgement. Still, we have a chronic shortage of Project Managers and an ageing workforce, so we need to find ways to bring practitioners up to speed more quickly. Building strong stakeholder management and communications skills is one of the most effective ways to accelerate that development and deliver real value to organisations. For those looking to future-proof their skillset, the IPM AI Project Professional course offers a structured pathway into the next generation of project management practice. ”

(source: PMWorldJournal.net Volume IV, Issue 8 – August 2015)