AI in Project Management, Not So Fast
Joe Pusz - PMO Joe
Helping You Deliver Projects Better! Project Management Staffing and Consulting . #1 PM Staffing & Consulting firm in the 2024 Inc 5000 list.
Like many of you, I've seen all the posts, articles, webinars, books, and presentations on AI in Project Management. Watch out Project Managers, the boogeyman is coming and his name is AI.
Not so fast is my response to the shiny new object distracting us from our day job. Is AI coming, yes! Is it coming any time soon? I don't think in any material way will a PMs job be impacted by AI for the foreseeable future.
But, AI is the current Project Management Trend
Well, I did some quick informal Google research and found the following:
You see, AI isn't a new trend. It's been trending for a LONG time! I don't list these articles to disparage the prognosticators, rather to demonstrate the talk about AI coming isn't new.
What impact have you seen to your job in the past decade from AI? While it's been all the rage, it's still an idea in its infancy with many many years to go to widespread development and application.
So, Is AI Coming or Not?
Yes, of course it is and so too is Halley's Comet. The comet comes back into view in 2061 and I do think AI will make an impact for us PMs sooner than that. But, if you're planning on AI making a significant impact on your ability to deliver projects next year you are going to be disappointed.
Let me be on the record to say, I support the innovation and research to find practical AI solutions to make project management better. I also think it's naive for anyone to be considered an expert at this point and even worse for people to be making $$ off our fascination with the next shiny object.
领英推荐
We should all be investing time learning new technologies, techniques, and opportunities to improve. We also understand we do that within the restrictions of our budgets and availability.
Dream a Little Dream, Until that Slap Wakes You Up
Some cold facts to understand when considering the immediate impact of AI on Project Management...
Let's consider them one by one.
I can hearing you asking, Are you sure companies don't invest in Project Management? There are plenty of PMOs staffing many resources at a significant cost to organizations. There are PPM solutions with high dollar cost being purchased by organizations. So, why do I feel companies aren't willing to invest? Because those investments aren't sticky. When there is an economic slow down at a company one of the first areas cut is Project Management. We have also seen the rise and proliferation of the lower cost PPM solutions such as Asana, Monday.com and others. From THE PMO SQUAD 2022 PMO Research Report we learned organizations are not consistently investing in Project Management training. Yes, there is some investment from companies in Project Management but it's on a ledge, quickly to go away when times are tough. Certainly a low priority for most organizations compared to the essential investments in making and supporting their widgets.
Another finding from the Research Report was that the #1 tool reported to be used by PMs is Excel. Excel is familiar, easy to use, low-cost and used just as much by other functions within the organization. It's the go-to tool for Project Managers. The other most used tools are MS Project and MS Office tools such as PowerPoint. Project Managers typically have many years of experience before becoming PMs. It's not standard for a University graduate to be employed right out of school as a PM. In those years gaining corporate experience before becoming a PM, they are using Excel and PowerPoint. There is a built in knowledge base before they even become PMs. We stick with what is comfortable and what we have already been using for years.
Depending on what research you use, our industry project success rates are anywhere from 30% to 55%. That's not good! For many factors, a topic for another article perhaps, we struggle to deliver projects successfully. THE PMO SQUAD has been serving clients for over a decade now and we've worked with clients from just about every industry. We consistently find there is a failure to execute the basics and fundamentals of project management. Organizations are resisting PM principles and PMO Leaders aren't prepared for the challenges of their role. Do we really believe investing time in AI is going to prepare us better for success than learning and delivering on project management basics?
While we thirst for a solution such as AI to wipe away the realities and challenges we face, it's just not time yet. Don't be duped into thinking AI is going to improve your PM role anytime soon. Instead of investing your valuable time and dollars on the shiny new object, start working to get better on what you have. Build on the fundamentals and strive to satisfy your project customers with successful outcomes so when the time does come for AI they'll be willing to invest in new tools for you.
Technical Account Manager | Passionate About Levearing Technology to Enhance Business Outcome | Fluent in English, Spanish & Portuguese | Strategic Thinker In Logisitcs & Supply Chain Management
10 个月Thank you Joe Pusz - PMO Joe, although the article rightly points out the potential overemphasis on AI in project management and the importance of mastering fundamental skills, it's also crucial to recognize how strategic innovations can transform traditional processes. At Pattrnz a young Danish tech startup, we've developed the Team Assembler tool, leveraging our capability mapping technology to enhance project team composition. This tool doesn’t replace project managers but rather supports them by ensuring the right mix of skills and expertise in teams to address specific challenges effectively. By integrating such tools, we aim to bridge the gap between current project management practices and future technological advancements. We invite you all to try this open Demo and see how it works and if it makes sense for your day-to-day job, we would love to have some feedback. https://pattr.nz/copilot-projects
Bringing neuroscience to projects and business transformation ??Project Troubleshooter?? Coach?? Author ??Speaker??
1 年Good to read this Joe Pusz - PMO Joe. And thought you'd enjoy this article. ' With AI, Do Our Feelings Still Matter?' https://www.dhirubhai.net/posts/caroleosterweil_with-ai-do-our-feelings-still-matter-a-activity-7109495145846185984-3_49?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_android
Capital Projects | Capex Excellence | Project Controls | Maintenance | Turnarounds
1 年You mention in the article, and rightly so, that being a PM is typically not a first employment right out of university. In my experience in process plants, people typically come in from an engineering/maintenance or process design background to work as a PM/PMO/Project Controls. Here’s the thing, the ‘first’ level disciplines involved in projects are being impacted by AI at some level. Most early projects I am seeing are around productivity gains. It will only help if organizations have made those investment in data governance and PPM solutions. So in my opinion, AI will certainly impact Project Management.?
(PMO-CP?, PMP?, Prosci?) ?? Driving Project Management Excellence at Givaudan.
1 年What might not be talked a lot is the data requirements behind it all. I don’t see a lot happening in PM with AI without having your data in order.
Advisor on Strategy Implementation, Governance, Benefits & Portfolio Management | ?? Global PMO Influencer 2022 | ??? PMI Snyder Award Winner 2016
1 年Thank you Joe Pusz - PMO Joe for a reasonable wake up call. I see the same fanatic run for all towards AI,which we saw earlier for agile. Mind me, agile and AI are beneficial, just not for everything and not for everyone. I studied AI inferencing, decision trees, statistics 30 years ago, and it was called AI. Now nobody says software anymore; every single software or program is named AI, and every PM just became Expert on AI. I agree, let us focus on basics of PM, get them right, and when there is true AI, welcome all the merrier. I always ask the one question: show me one failing project that was savoured by AI. No response. Ok, show me one green project managed by AI. Also no response. All prospecting, but no time to do some real project management today.