Will the widespread adoption of prompt engineering commoditize project management skills, or can it help PMs differentiate themselves and command higher value?
Director, Learning Design & Development| PMIAsheville, NC, United States
Hi PMI Community! I’m Sarah Philbrick, and I work as a Product Manager at PMI with a focus on our learning offerings. As we go on this skill-building journey together, I’m excited to engage in meaningful conversations, explore trending topics, and learn from each other.
Reflecting on one such topic, GenAI and prompt engineering, I am interested to hear your perspective on commoditization vs. differentiation.
Will the widespread adoption of prompt engineering commoditize project management skills, or can it help PMs differentiate themselves and command higher value?
Frank PappalardoDeployment Lead| US FoodsBethlehem, Pa, United States
I don't have an answer yet. I am late to the party, but what I've seen so far makes me wonder: will using AI in this manner actually will save me time? Or, will it save enough time to make it worth the uncertainty over whether the LLM got it right?? Saving Changes...
Parke BrownProject Manager| Seed CompanyElizabethtown, Pa, United States
I appreciate the humility of Frank Pappalardo's note above. The AI we're using today is vastly different than the AI we were toying with just years ago and best practices keep shifting. So admitting there is more to the story we don't know yet seems essential so we're always learning.
The incorporation of AI within tools seems likely to split PM functions into those low-level/poorly executed tasks that will be automated and higher-quality/complex work that will require human checks.
Saving Changes...
Anonymous
I don't believe AI will commoditize project management skills. Just like not everyone can pass the PMP exam, effective prompt engineering won't come easily to most. I’ve seen plenty of people use AI tools so poorly that the output is basically garbage. Saving Changes...
Hi Sarah, the prompt engineering is a tool need which we can use in both so i think it depends on the user is using for, The ease of use makes it a reason to reduce innovation, which sometimes makes development difficult. Saving Changes...
Glenn SuttonAgile Transformation Coach| AbbVieMount Prospect, Il, United States
Ours is a field that is always adapting and learning. I feel that PMs/SMs who can command AI skills will fare better than those who do not. On the other hand, one can't go to ChatGPT and use that to replace the PM; that would be analogous to using ChatGPT for a lawyer in a criminal case (which is not allowed under current law, but also has been shown to lead to disastrous results in simulations). In short, PMs/SMs will continue to be needed but those that don't adapt and continue to learn new skills such as AI will find themselves replaced by those PMs/SMs who do embrace AI as the tool that it is. Saving Changes...
For me the AI is still a tool, and still requires a lot of learning as its not yet a user friendly tool. Nevertheless, the main purpose of a PM is to drive people to the right target. AI helps on tools and methods, simplify the collection and organization of data; but to be in position to decide the way, its not yet there.
But of course, as a potential efficiency hunter, we may learn and adapt to get into it as well! Saving Changes...
No. I don't think it will commoditize PM skills. It will commoditize project admin tasks, for example. Good judgement, communication skills, prioritization ability, stakeholder management, etc. will never be commoditized even though AI will help. AI will be an empowering tool for those who embrace and master it. Saving Changes...
Benjamin JohnsonProgram Manager / Business Operations and Planning Manager| Motorola Solutions Inc.Star, Id, United States
Initially I was apprehensive to embrace AI as a result of it removing the need for Project Managers however, as I've been continuously learning and leveraging it as a thought partner, I find that it helps challenge my expertise, pay more attention to detail and push my critical thinking. Of course, this depends on how your prompts are engineered. If one does not learn how to leverage AI to bring this type of thinking out of you and help bring more clarity to your engagement and communication with teams and stakeholders then I feel it could commoditize the responsibilities of a PM role. It's really about staying up to date and leveraging the tool to become more efficient, precise and communicative. Saving Changes...
Benjamin JohnsonProgram Manager / Business Operations and Planning Manager| Motorola Solutions Inc.Star, Id, United States
Initially I was apprehensive to embrace AI as a result of it removing the need for Project Managers however, as I've been continuously learning and leveraging it as a thought partner, I find that it helps challenge my expertise, pay more attention to detail and push my critical thinking. Of course, this depends on how your prompts are engineered. If one does not learn how to leverage AI to bring this type of thinking out of you and help bring more clarity to your engagement and communication with teams and stakeholders then I feel it could commoditize the responsibilities of a PM role. It's really about staying up to date and leveraging the tool to become more efficient, precise and communicative. Saving Changes...
While prompt engineering may streamline certain aspects of project management, skilled project managers who combine technical knowledge, soft skills, and strategic thinking could be continue to command higher value.
My views are more in-line with your post. AI is a tool that can be used by PMs to differentiate themselves in this profession. Like any other tool, there are some who master it, and others who will be novices in its use. To give an example, it is like comparing contractors. While they each use similar tools, the one who uses them more skillfully commands the higher price and are in higher demand. Saving Changes...
PMI Team Member
