A recent report from Project Management Institute (PMI) reveals significant benefits for early adopters of Generative AI (GenAI) in the field of project management. The report examines the impact of GenAI on project success, highlighting how "trailblazers" — those who have rapidly embraced this technology — are achieving transformative results.
The report, titled "First Movers' Advantage: The Immediate Benefits of Adopting Generative AI for Project Management," surveyed 500 project professionals worldwide who use GenAI tools in their work. The study found that 99 per cent of early adopters observe a positive impact from AI in automating, assisting, and augmenting their tasks. According to the findings, high adopters, or trailblazers, are outperforming their peers in terms of productivity, problem-solving, and overall effectiveness. Specifically, the report states that 93 per cent of trailblazers are more productive compared to 58 per cent of those in the early stages of adoption, dubbed "explorers." Furthermore, 89 per cent of trailblazers report elevated problem-solving abilities versus 46 per cent of explorers, and 88 per cent find themselves more effective, compared to 50 per cent of low adopters.
In Australia, the demand for skilled IT project managers is rising, with the profession being among the top 10 in-demand skills for 2024, according to Hays. This trend underscores the importance of upskilling for project managers in the current job market, especially in sectors like construction, where a shortage of project managers is noted across all states and territories by the Federal Government's Skills Priority List. These recruitment challenges suggest a need for enhanced talent acquisition and retention strategies within the project management domain.
PMI's research also highlights considerable enhancements in interpersonal skills among high adopters of GenAI. According to the report, 83 per cent of trailblazers experience better collaboration against 32 per cent of explorers, and 84 per cent show increased creativity compared to 44 per cent of low adopters. The report further notes improvements in various project management aspects such as scope, scheduling, cost, and quality management, with trailblazers significantly outperforming explorers in each of these areas.
Pierre Le Manh, President and CEO of PMI, remarked on the findings, saying, "Our research shows that GenAI trailblazers know how to maximize adoption to elevate their performance, navigate complex work, and usher in GenAI across their teams. They're standing out from their peers for their innovative leadership." Le Manh added the importance of organizational support in accelerating technology adoption, as trailblazers are ten times more likely to work for companies that empower them to use GenAI.
As a part of its support for project professionals, PMI has introduced PMI Infinity, an AI-powered assistant available on a 30-day free membership trial. In addition, PMI has launched a new prompt library designed to help project managers master prompt engineering, a critical skill for leveraging the full potential of GenAI. The organization plans to introduce a series of GenAI prompts tailored to various industries and use cases, thereby facilitating better integration of AI into project management workflows.
PMI's commitment to advancing project management practices is evident through its ongoing efforts to develop resources such as PMI Infinity and training sessions for its nearly one-million-member community. The introduction of the Prompt Library aims to provide an accessible entry point for project professionals looking to integrate AI into their day-to-day operations effectively.
