Amber Hickman |
Project managers play a key role in any organisation. From conception of an idea to its development and eventual execution, these professionals are responsible for ensuring that the company’s endeavours are successful.
However, projects are becoming more critical and complex as the needs and ambitions of organisations evolve. The requirements of the role have shifted too, according to Karla Eidem, project management professional and regional managing director for North America at the Project Management Institute (PMI).
“It is no longer just the technical aspects of the project that matter,” she explains. “Execution of a project requires acting as a strategic partner within the organisation, ensuring that the project aligns with and supports overall organisational goals.”
To help project professionals understand the skills needed, PMI uses the Talent Triangle, where each side represents a different skill set, but each skill set supports, and is supported by, the other two.;
“One side represents what we call ‘ways of working’ or technical skills, the second represents power skills such as communication and strategic thinking, and the third represents business acumen and knowledge of how a project will support the goals of a business,” says Eidem. “In order to be prepared for the evolving needs of an organisation, and the world, project professionals must balance these core skill sets.”
PMI helps project professionals develop these skills and apply them in real-life through a variety of courses, certifications and community opportunities.
“The community is our superpower here at PMI,” says Amanda Palmer, head of community for North America at PMI. “We have about 700,000 members around the world that are not only eager to learn and grow, but to share knowledge and give back too.”
PMI hosts annual global summits to help project professionals learn and grow
PMI members gain access to many resources, such as templates, thought leadership, webinars, courses, discounts on PMI certifications, local PMI chapters and PMI’s very own artificial intelligence tool, PMI Infinity, which provides real-time guidance and knowledge to users. Furthermore, PMI hosts a global summit annually, where project professionals gather to learn and grow, and PMI local chapters actively offer professional development and regular meet ups.
“I remember the first professional development day I attended, and it was such a powerful experience,” says Palmer. “It wasn’t just seasoned professionals, but also people new to PMI that had made big career changes into project management. These events help you feel a little less alone and allow you to learn and network with like-minded professionals that may be facing the same challenges you are.”
PMI members are not the only ones who benefit, however, as organisations that support their employees with their PMI journey reap the positives too.
“Organisations are all looking for the same thing: positive outcomes and delivering business value,” says Gary Scharf, global head of key accounts at PMI. “We work with organisations to help them achieve this by supporting them in attracting, retaining and upskilling their employees. If an employee is a PMI member or certification holder, then they can take what they have learned, bring it back in-house and pass on that knowledge to the wider organisation.
“In fact, PMI research shows that the way organisations can improve project success rates is by investing in skill-building opportunities for both individuals and teams.”
Palmer agrees, adding: “In addition to the training and professional development opportunities that come with a professional membership, you are also providing your employees with the benefits of a community, which is so important for morale.”
Behind the scenes, PMI is continuously evolving and introducing new features and learning materials to keep its community ahead of the curve. One of the biggest developments recently has been the growing focus on AI.
“Tools that use AI like Microsoft Copilot and PMI Infinity can help project managers take their skills to the next level, which is why we’ve created a series of courses and learning materials to help them navigate these tools and get the most out of them,” says Eidem. “In particular, PMI Infinity is a project manager’s best friend as it leverages community knowledge and further encourages that sense of togetherness with our members.”
PMI also offers specialised learning and certifications to meet the demands of the profession and to support professionals throughout their career journeys.
According to Scharf, one such area of focus is serving the ever-transforming construction industry and to accommodate this, PMI has “introduced a comprehensive line of learning courses and a certification over the past couple of years that are focused on helping project managers deliver successful projects across the dynamic industry landscape.”
Discover more insights like this in the Autumn 2024 issue of Technology Record. Don’t miss out – subscribe for free today and get future issues delivered straight to your inbox.