Why Bother? The Importance of Bringing PM from the Boardroom to the Classroom

  Career Development   Talent Management  

PMI’s 2016 Pulse of the Profession^® reported on the business value of project management, finding that money “continues to be wasted when projects aren’t managed well. We see US$122 million wasted for every US$1 billion invested due to poor project performance.”

The verdict is in, and global businesses have recognized the value of professional project management to advance their business outcomes. Now the question is, when is the time to begin teaching project management? Are there advantages to bringing project management skills and knowledge outside of the professional arena and into the classroom?

Project management is widely recognized as a universal business skill, and when it is infused into youth curriculum, it allows students to develop the four Cs: communication, collaboration, creativity and critical thinking. Research supports that students with those soft skills are better prepared for college and their careers than those who do not.

The Manpower Group announced in a 2016 whitepaper reporting on their own Talent Shortage Survey that “[e]mployers across the globe are facing the most acute talent shortage since the recession…Of the more than 42,000 employers surveyed, 40% are experiencing difficulty filling roles.” This trend emerged globally, with the top 10 countries having the most difficulty, including …

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