The Human Touch: Project Managers' Irreplaceable AI Role

Following 20 years at a large Canadian telecommunications firm, Bruce established the project management consulting firm Solutions Management Inc (SMI). Since 1999, he has provided contract project/program management services, been a source for project management support personnel and created/delivered courses to over 7,000 participants in Canada, the United States and England.

  Artificial Intelligence  

In Part 1 of this series, I explored the relationship between artificial intelligence and the project management profession. It included highlighting how AI can (or will) complete some of the routine project management tasks such as scheduling, and initial risk identification and analysis. It went on to discuss how AI augments—but doesn’t replace—project management skills.

Despite AI's impressive capabilities, there are aspects of project management that require the nuanced understanding, creativity and emotional intelligence that only humans can provide. Here are a handful:

1. Strategic vision and leadership: Project managers are responsible for setting the strategic direction of a project and ensuring it aligns with organizational goals. This involves making judgment calls based on a combination of data, experience, and intuition—an area where AI still falls short.

Project managers must inspire and lead their teams, navigate organizational politics, and drive project vision with a human touch.

2. Complex problem-solving: While AI can identify patterns and suggest solutions based on data, it lacks the ability to tackle complex, multifaceted problems that require creative thinking and a deep understanding of the project context.

Project managers excel in this area by leveraging their experience and expertise to develop innovative …

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