The Project Economy as a Return to Cyclical Work

Mike Griffiths is an experienced project manager, author and consultant who works for PMI as a subject matter expert. Before joining PMI, Mike consulted and managed innovation and technology projects throughout Europe, North and South America for 30+ years. He was co-lead for the PMBOK Guide—Seventh Edition, lead for the Agile Practice Guide, and contributor to the PMI-ACP and PMP exam content outlines. Outside of PMI, Mike maintains the websites www.LeadingAnswers.com about leading teams and www.PMillustrated.com, which teaches project management for visual learners.

  Career Development   Change Management  

“Change is the law of life. And those who look only to the past or present are certain to miss the future."
- John F. Kennedy

Jobs are getting shorter. It is now normal to be hired for a project and then let go when the project completes, even if you did excellent work. For the younger generation with their careers in front of them, this can seem exciting and adventurous. As someone over 50, it can seem fragmented and a perilous existence. Welcome to The Project Economy, the new world that can involve re-marketing and proving yourself every nine to 18 months.

That somewhat cynical introduction touches on the trend of treating strategic initiatives as projects—and hiring for these temporary endeavors. It may seem like a new style of operation, but it is just a natural step of leaving behind industrial thinking.

Before the Industrial Revolution, work was cyclical. Farmers planted and harvested yearly; barns, bridges and cathedrals were built over months or decades, but were then finished construction. Work had a cycle, and projects had a known completion, even if we undertook the same project (growing corn, for instance) next year.

Continuous Work Roles

"Just when I think I have learned the way to live, life changes." - Hugh Prather

The Industrial Revolution changed cyclical work patterns and brought people from the land into cities …

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