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Will the widespread adoption of prompt engineering commoditize project management skills, or can it help PMs differentiate themselves and command higher value?

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Sarah Philbrick
PMI Team Member
Director, Learning Design & Development| PMI Asheville, 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?
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Elsayed Abu-Alatta Tendering & Procurement Manager | Smart Solutions Trading, Industrial & Contracting Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

The widespread adoption of prompt engineering has the potential to both commoditize and enhance project management (PM) skills, depending on how project managers adapt to and leverage this technology. Here’s a breakdown of both perspectives:


Commoditization of PM Skills

Automation of Routine Tasks: Prompt engineering can automate many routine tasks that project managers typically handle, such as scheduling, reporting, and basic communication. This could reduce the perceived value of traditional PM skills.



Standardization: As prompt engineering tools become more advanced and widely used, they may standardize certain aspects of project management, making it easier for less experienced individuals to perform PM tasks, thereby commoditizing the skill set.



Increased Supply of PMs: With tools that simplify project management tasks, more people might enter the field, increasing the supply of project managers and potentially driving down the value of PM skills.



Differentiation and Increased Value

Enhanced Efficiency: Project managers who effectively use prompt engineering can automate routine tasks, allowing them to focus on more strategic and complex aspects of project management. This can enhance their efficiency and effectiveness.



Focus on High-Value Activities: By leveraging prompt engineering for mundane tasks, PMs can dedicate more time to critical activities such as stakeholder management, strategic planning, and risk management, which are harder to automate and highly valued.



Data-Driven Decision Making: Prompt engineering can facilitate access to advanced data analytics and insights, enabling PMs to make more informed and strategic decisions. This can differentiate them as data-savvy leaders who can drive better project outcomes.



Adaptation and Learning: PMs who stay ahead of technological trends and continuously adapt their skills can position themselves as forward-thinking and innovative. This adaptability can command a premium in the job market.



Customization and Personalization: Skilled PMs can use prompt engineering to customize and personalize project management approaches to suit specific project needs and stakeholder preferences, adding a layer of tailored value that standardized tools cannot provide.
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Wolfgang Gotscharek CEO| Gotscharek & Company GmbH Hanau, Germany
Hi PMI Community
We should not forget how LLMs work. They work on the basis of probabilities of which word will come next. These are algorithms, not intelligence. In the course of a project, many things often change and it often takes a lot of creativity to find solutions. And LLMs simply cannot be creative.
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Winston C Ikekeonwu PMP Investor| Consultant, Publisher, Author, Engineer Jos, Pl, Nigeria
Thanks for your question, Sarah

Just as access to Google doesn't make everyone a scholar, widespread adoption of prompt engineering shouldn't pose any threat to any diligent project management professional.

Going beyond the hype, how exactly will someone using prompt engineering commoditize project management skills?

For sure, prompt engineering can help in streamlining certain repetitive tasks on projects. But being good at prompt engineering doesn't necessarily equate to project success. There are people skills and soft skills that will always keep industrious professionals relevant.

Thanks again for sharing. Looking forward to hear more contributions on this.
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1 reply by Elaine Pattinson
Aug 14, 2024 8:47 AM
Elaine Pattinson
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Thoroughly agree. GenAI and prompt engineering can help with repetitive tasks and Project Managers should absolutely learn and leverage these new tools to add value to their projects and make their role easier. However, soft skills are essential for project success. People work on projects, and teams and stakeholders need to be engaged, communicated to and managed and this is where the PM comes in.
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Nuria Prieto Senior Project/Delivery Manager Madrid, Spain
Good prompting skills can certainly help a Project Manager be more efficient and productive than others without those skills. It takes just a few minutes to perform a PM task rather than hours, so it does provide additional value
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Mohamad Gharieb Omar RED Telecom Giza, GZ, Egypt
From my point of view , i think there are two way , good or bad, and the human being have to choose
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Abiola AKINLADE Construction Project Manager| DCSA PROJECT MANAGEMENT CC Johannesburg, South Africa
Firstly, it is impossible to 'know what you do not know'. I'm of the view that the skilful use of prompt engineering will depend on the experience and skills of the project manager. I'm tempted to suggest that the more experienced a project manager is, the higher the likelihood of being adept at prompt engineering. Moreso, it is only logical that the more experienced a PM is, the better the PM will be able to tweak the outputs.
I doubt if prompt engineering will commoditize project management skills. More likely it will help PMs differentiate themselves and command higher value!
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Brice Antoine Mengolo Nsola SM Enterprise Architecture| MTN Cameroon Douala, Lt, Cameroon
The adoption of prompt engineering will give value in kwoledge of the project manager and the one of the entire project team. It is a powerfull tool when it is used properly
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Sean Whitfield IT Project Manager| HopeHealth Florence, Sc, United States
Prompt engineering is definetily key. I have even found when iterating the ideas that the LLM has with comments from other collaborators directly it feeds the outcomes in a natural way. Treating it as if it was a person when commenting on what you like and dislike about the output is a fascinating way to interact with an LLM
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GAITAN MARIUS CEO| EUROPROIECT ESTATE Braila, Romania
The widespread adoption of prompt engineering has the potential to both commoditize and elevate project management skills, depending on how it is leveraged by professionals. Here are the key considerations:

Commoditization of Project Management Skills
Standardization: Prompt engineering can lead to more standardized and automated project management processes.
Ease of Use: As prompt engineering tools become more user-friendly, individuals without formal project management training might be able to perform certain PM tasks.
Differentiation and Higher Value
Enhanced Efficiency: Project managers who effectively integrate prompt engineering can significantly enhance their efficiency.
Focus on Strategy and Leadership: With routine tasks automated, PMs can focus more on strategic planning, stakeholder management.
Data-Driven Decision Making: Prompt engineering tools can provide PMs with advanced analytics and insights, enabling more informed decision-making and better project outcomes.
Adaptation to New Technologies: Project managers who stay abreast of and proficient in emerging technologies, including prompt engineering, can position themselves as forward-thinking leaders in their field.
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Gary Kuehn Hicksville, Ny, United States
Sometimes the obvious needs to be said. With all the benefits that can be harnessed via LLMs and good prompt engineering as users we need to remain vigilant and remember all of the LLMs out in the wild, including the foundational models, are non-deterministic even if you push the temperature attribute to zero. This means repeatability isn't guaranteed thus checking and validating responses must always be part of your personal workflow. Since models are all "probability engines" loosely speaking it is unlikely nor prudent to suggest they will commoditize PM skills. They make really good assistants but this community of professionals will always remain the subject matter experts in my personal opinion.
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