Will Project Management ever stop evolving?

You right Stephen. Relating Green PM, I follow those practices from long time ago as a complement of PMI way and now the PMI has made a join venture or something like that with them. My concern about that is the history, at least as far I know so I could be wrong, is when PMI made this type of things then the other organization and practices "disappear". Some things in the life are simple and repetitive like project management. Because of that, in my personal opinion, it was a good approach what the PMI took to create just a guide when a set of process and a set of techniques and practices people can take after analyzing what best fits for the initiative. The problem is lot of people did not understand that and a general misunderstanding about the guide is outside there. Mainly thinking about projects are the key thing instead of understand that projects are just a mean. Again, in my opinion, the PMI itself contribute to that to maintain and growth "his business" which is not good. But at the end, if you see how big is the PMI then it could be valid to think the strategy had good results for the PMI but not for lot of other people that works with projects. And today, this strategy, is making the PMI "stagger".

Hi Sergio, I'm sorry but I disagree from one of your concepts. As PMBOOK, 7th Ed., Page 4 (Key Terms and Concepts": "Project. A temporary endeavor undertaken to create a[n] unique product, service or result." The "new" word is implied in the definition, Unique means that it will never be anything like it, non-repeatable. The "simple and repetitive like project management" is not a project but an operation; operation itself is a repetitive thing, over and over again, like doing soda cans. A Project will be to install the machine to do the soda cans.

Life is a project by itself, at least for me. Ever changing and ever new, not even the sun comes out by the same place every day or second. Project is change, not repetition.

Some companies, slam the buzz-word "Project" to anything that they want to isolate from their balance sheets. This makes an isolation from the company's balance sheets. It can be there forever.

Hi Sergio, I'm sorry but I disagree from one of your concepts. As PMBOOK, 7th Ed., Page 4 (Key Terms and Concepts": "Project. A temporary endeavor undertaken to create a[n] unique product, service or result." The "new" word is implied in the definition, Unique means that it will never be anything like it, non-repeatable. The "simple and repetitive like project management" is not a project but an operation; operation itself is a repetitive thing, over and over again, like doing soda cans. A Project will be to install the machine to do the soda cans.

Life is a project by itself, at least for me. Ever changing and ever new, not even the sun comes out by the same place every day or second. Project is change, not repetition.

Some companies, slam the buzz-word "Project" to anything that they want to isolate from their balance sheets. This makes an isolation from the company's balance sheets. It can be there forever.

Hi Sergio, I'm sorry but I disagree from one of your concepts. As PMBOOK, 7th Ed., Page 4 (Key Terms and Concepts": "Project. A temporary endeavor undertaken to create a[n] unique product, service or result." The "new" word is implied in the definition, Unique means that it will never be anything like it, non-repeatable. The "simple and repetitive like project management" is not a project but an operation; operation itself is a repetitive thing, over and over again, like doing soda cans. A Project will be to install the machine to do the soda cans.

Life is a project by itself, at least for me. Ever changing and ever new, not even the sun comes out by the same place every day or second. Project is change, not repetition.

Some companies, slam the buzz-word "Project" to anything that they want to isolate from their balance sheets. This makes an isolation from the company's balance sheets. It can be there forever.

As others I take exception to your definition of 'project'. My expertise is in the delivery of infrastructure (construction) projects. There is considerable similarity between projects in this industry whether roads, bridges, warehouses, even refineries and other manufacturing facilities. In many cases we will apply the same design criteria with adjustment for site conditions only. Each bridge, each road section, each structure is typically managed as a project. According to your argument, the first installation of a soda pop-can machine, being unique, can be defined as a project yet the next machine installations an 'operation'. Both initiatives are projects and are best managed using project management methodologies.

Is life a project? I suppose if you look at it from a deity's perspective it could be - but considering your argument that repetitive equals operations, I don't think so.

"Projects are not easy. If you walk all the way from the very beginning to the end you understand its complexity. Most of the time you’re the PM in the middle of the project or doing a fraction of it. " I strongly agree on this point.

The role and responsibilities of the project manager are very demanding and stressful. From my perspective projects aren't meant to be easy. An endeavor that final output to deliver produce, service, or end result with a lasting impact would come with a toll as you said. "The bigger the project, the more toll on your heart..."

For that reason, that is exactly why it should evolve. As it evolves, the introduction of much need innovations, solutions, ideas, tools, techniques, software, etc. This in turn would make things easier for project managers. Example A.I tools that handle particular processes or systems on the side so the project manager can handle the loaded work.

Isn't one of the reasons why Agile and its methodologies were made due to make things easier and more compact? I.T Projects are well known for their high failure rate compared to other types of projects. Therefore a solution was provided to due with ailing problems that affect I.T project managers and team members.

To this end, let us look back at the basic reasons for projects.
(1) Fulfill a need
(2) Solve a problem
(3) Exploit an opportunity
(4) Fulfill a legal requirement

Now turn this list on its head so that it can apply to project management itself. There are needs to be fulfilled, existing problems to be solved, opportunities to be exploited, and continuing requirements and compliance to be completed within the field itself.

That is why I think evolution is imperative or at least a robust focus on adaptation.

Thoughts?

Hi Sergio, I'm sorry but I disagree from one of your concepts. As PMBOOK, 7th Ed., Page 4 (Key Terms and Concepts": "Project. A temporary endeavor undertaken to create a[n] unique product, service or result." The "new" word is implied in the definition, Unique means that it will never be anything like it, non-repeatable. The "simple and repetitive like project management" is not a project but an operation; operation itself is a repetitive thing, over and over again, like doing soda cans. A Project will be to install the machine to do the soda cans.

Life is a project by itself, at least for me. Ever changing and ever new, not even the sun comes out by the same place every day or second. Project is change, not repetition.

Some companies, slam the buzz-word "Project" to anything that they want to isolate from their balance sheets. This makes an isolation from the company's balance sheets. It can be there forever.