The future of project management is bright. Project management is an important business operation. However, a shift in working styles, new technology, and regulatory changes are changing the way organizations execute their business today, meaning that project management will change to ensure continuous success.
In this article, we highlight some of the major trends that affect the future of project management. Afterward, if you are interested in developing project management skills, consider enrolling in a professional project management certificate program where you can learn problem-solving, strategic communications, and stakeholder management through real work case studies. The work is transforming at a fast pace and project management is experiencing an evolution alongside it.
Here are some of the major trends that have shaped the future of project management:
The Future of Project Management: Key Trends for 2025 and Beyond
The influence of generative AI will grow
Generative AI, such as Google Gemini and ChatGPT, is transforming the way professionals across many industries do their work. There’s a good reason for employees and employers to be keen to use the technology in their workplace. MIT research indicates that skilled workers who use AI within the limits of its capability can improve their work performance by 40% compared to workers who do not use it.
These advantages have led to an increase in the use of GenAI. Project managers planning to keep up with these work transformations should build these GenAI skills.
More project management tasks will be automated
As AI technology integration into existing work streams and platforms is increasing, project managers can expect an increase in automation of their daily project tasks. According to a study by Garter in 2019, 80 percent of tasks related to project management will be eliminated by 2030 due to advancements in data analytics, machine learning, and natural language processing.
Project managers are less likely to be replaced. Research has shown that 35 percent of projects are successful, while 65 percent face issues of unrealized benefits and wasted resources due to old technology project managers rely on. AI tends to improve project managers’ capabilities, automating tasks so that project managers have more time available to focus on other concerns critical to project success.
Remote and hybrid work will hold steady
Remote and hybrid work models have become the new norm and that will stay as more team members join to expect it as a norm. This means that organizations must evolve the way they manage projects and employees. According to Barbara Larson, a professor at Northeastern University. Companies should focus on how they can manage their employees while they are away rather than focusing on counting the days the employees are out of the office.
Project managers looking to ensure their spot in the changing landscape should work on building their skills to maneuver managing remote teams and hybrid approaches, such as mastering collaborative tools and emotional intelligence that make work possible.
Tech skills will be more important than ever
Many workflows and organizations are changing hybrid work and AI has become the new norm which means that digital skills have gained more importance. The World Economic Forum’s Future of Jobs Report 2023 notes that more than 75 percent of companies are looking to adopt cloud computing, big data, and AI technology over the next few years, leading to a higher demand for impactful job skills like analytical thinking, creative thinking, and technological literacy.
Project managers looking for project success might consider building the skills required to manage digital technologies. To areas include cloud computing and AI.
Emotional intelligence will become more important
As organizations invest more in technologies, the need for team members with emotional intelligence and exceptional interpersonal skills grows stronger. In 2023, a group of researchers analyzed the role of soft skills using five job posts and concluded that there was a demand for employees possessing skills like analytical and critical thinking, communications, problem-solving, and flexibility. The findings of this study align with the highlights of the World Economic Forum Report on the Future of Jobs in 2023, particularly the demand for analytical and creative thinking increased among employers.
Project management professionals preparing for the future must consider honing the social and interpersonal skills required for positive project outcomes within technologically advanced hybrid and remote work environments.
The environmental and social impact of projects will be more important than ever
Organizations’ impact on society and the environment is something both regulators and consumers care about. According to Harvard Business Review, sustainability leads to trust between consumers, particularly among young consumers who will be tomorrow’s power shoppers, and can have a high positive impact on the market value of the organization.
Governments around the globe have taken an interest in organizations’ societal and environmental impacts. In 2023, the US Agency for Environmental Protection outlined its initiatives which focused on mitigation of pollution and climate change by deploying new standards to protect its communities. These changes represent a shift towards sustainability that will get more strict in the future as nations hit lofty carbon neutrality goals.
Project managers should center sustainability in their practices in the future to enable organizations to tap into eco-conscious markets and ensure they comply with regulations.
More focus will be paid to change management
One word that can sum up what employees and employers can expect from 2025 and beyond, it’s change. Work environments, new technology, and regulations mean changing to new processes, systems, and legal structures that organizations must integrate into their daily operations to succeed in the market.
Project managers should expect organizations to emphasize change management over the next several years. According to Prosci’s research, the top changes that organizations expect in 2025 are:
⦁ Digital transformation and technology
⦁ Compliance and regulatory changes
⦁ Climate change and environmental sustainability
⦁ Talent turnover and retention
⦁ Organizational and cultural change
Change and project managers should consider the above concerns as they think of their career trajectory. Developing leadership skills to manage change may set them up for success.
Organizations will prioritize resource management to stay efficient
Organizations may optimize resource management to increase profits and cut costs. In fact, many organizations might invest in solutions for resource management in the future. Markets and research, for example, project that the enterprise resource planning market size might reach $31.98 billion in North America by 2029, which is up by $20.30 billion from 2024 and represents a compounded growth of 9.51 percent.
Inevitably, project managers will play a key role in efforts to optimize resources. Professionals looking at the future might consider developing their skills with AI for resource allocations, project planning, managing costs, and organizing project teams.
Cybersecurity will be more vital than ever
Cloud-based technologies enable project teams to work effectively and collaboratively ensuring hybrid and remote project management is possible. That’s a high advantage to organizations as they shift their work style. But it also exposes them to cyber security threats, such as phishing scams, malware, and injection attacks, that put their finances and data at risk. Cyber security will be a top priority for organizations that undergo digital transformation. Project management professional who aims to stand out might consider developing their knowledge of architecture and protocols.
The Future of Project Management: Key Trends for 2025 and Beyond- FAQs
What does the future of project management look like?
Data, analytics, and data management are the lifelines of the future of project management. Project managers must leverage insights to make informed and fast decisions that contribute to growth.
What is the future scope of project management?
With rapid infrastructure development and economic growth, the demand for skilled project managers is high. Various sectors including construction, IT, finance, and healthcare offer career opportunities. Project managers can expect competitive salaries, job stability, and career growth opportunities.
How does GenAI affect project management?
GenAi automates tasks and frees time for the project manager and the project team to focus on project objectives and creative solutions. Moreover, GenAI enables for analysis of project data to improve processes and enable a responsive and dynamic project management approach.
Can project managers be replaced by AI?
AI is changing project management but not replacing project managers. It is enhancing their skills through automation of tasks and providing valuable insights.
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