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?
Hi Sarah, I don't think it will commoditize project management skills! It can be considered as a tool to help and support them on routine tasks, So Project Manager can focus more on complicated tasks and activities. Saving Changes...
Robert PrestonProject Implementations| SouthShore Software, Inc (S3i)Apollo Beach, Fl, United States
I still think good PM's will extract maximum results from GEN AI, same as when we did it by hand. Since the data and input are constantly changing and improving and we are dealing with lots of different PM personalities and variations of experience, like anything else, time and experience will be the best teacher. it will just rollout out improvements and disseminate it to other users much quicker. Saving Changes...
Great question, Sarah! I see GenAI and prompt engineering as tools that enhance rather than replace PM skills. Widespread adoption may standardise some tasks, but the real differentiation will come from how PMs apply these tools creatively, using AI to improve decision-making, stakeholder engagement, and strategic alignment. Those who adapt can definitely command higher value. Saving Changes...
Anonymous
Totally agreed: more than a booster to the profession. Saving Changes...
Prompt Engineering won't commoditize project management, it will rise the bar. PMs who rely on templates will lose value while those who leverage AI to amplify leadership, insight and human connection will command higher strategic value and differentiation. Saving Changes...
Paul HillWarranty Administrator| Haselwood Auto GroupBremerton, WA, United States
Using Gen AI and other tools to automate workflow will take a dedicated approach to learning and experimentation in order to make the workflows useful. I believe that those project managers that embrace it and become proficient, will differentiate themselves. Automating the more mundane tasks of creating documents, project analyses and communications frees the project manager time to concentrate on those efforts that require more human intervention, Saving Changes...
Even though Gen AI commoditizes the PM skill, It is important how or who to use it.
It is important for me to be friendly with the prompt engineering skill. Saving Changes...
Alan BabuSenior Program Manager| General MotorsWindsor, ONTARIO, Canada
May 24, 2024 7:55 AM
Replying to Md. Golam Rob Talukdar
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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.
could not agree more. the future is with those who can leverage and identify the gaps and fill those gaps with their knowledge and experience. AI can only help when prompted in the right manner and with the right approach. even then, right oversights, ensuring no bias and tailor the response to individual stakeholder is largely beneficial Saving Changes...
Angela MorganSr. Project Manager/VP| Primis BankRuther Glen, Va, United States
Prompt engineering won’t commoditize project management—it will redefine it. PMs who learn to leverage AI through effective prompting will streamline execution, enhance decision-making, and deliver greater strategic value. Rather than being replaced, we’ll be elevated. The key is not just using AI, but knowing how to guide it. Saving Changes...
The adoption of prompt engineering and Gen AI I see a lot of potential in how it can reshape the way we approach problems and solutions. A few key thoughts from my experience so far:
Beyond Limits – AI allows us to think outside the traditional boundaries pushing out limits, exploring multiple solution paths that we may not have considered in a normal brainstorming session.
Time Reduction – Quick generation of draft plans, risk logs, or solution options saves significant time compared to starting from scratch.
Validation Support – AI can help us validate assumptions or compare alternatives, giving us a confidence check before finalizing.
Iterative Tuning – With prompt engineering, we can tweak AI outputs to refine solutions, aligning them more closely with our own project ideas and context.
Idea Enhancement – It doesn’t replace our expertise but enhances it by providing us with a starting point or expanding our perspectives.
Decision Support – Faster access to structured insights allows us to present options more clearly to stakeholders.
I see Generative AI as a partner tool—not a replacement for project managers—but something that accelerates our ability to solve problems, validate solutions, and innovate in day-to-day project work.
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