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?
I don't think project management skills can be commoditized using AI. AI tools are a great help for project management by automating repetitive processes and tasks, and can even support some level of analysis if the model used is sufficiently trained. But the soft skills of the PM will continue to be vital for project management. Saving Changes...
With the new generation of generative AI portfolio/program/project manager and business analyst role "are dead" at least in the way they were originally defined. I think a good source to understand that are the two courses on generative AI delivered for free by the PMI, mainly if you see the 3 layer model.
I strongly believe that PMs have to embrace the use of AI. AI is not here to replace PMs, rather it empowers them even more to become efficient. Saving Changes...
I strongly believe that the advent of Gen AI will not outrightly replaced the informed Project Managers but rather empower them to function optimally. Just keep up the pace of the technological evolutions and as Project Managers, we will always be relevant and adding value to our respective domains.
With the new generation of generative AI portfolio/program/project manager and business analyst role "are dead" at least in the way they were originally defined. I think a good source to understand that are the two courses on generative AI delivered for free by the PMI, mainly if you see the 3 layer model.
I do not think that these roles are "dead". Will need to adapt to the new circumstances and will be transformed a lot, but not dead. At least based on how much I need to sit in meetings with people, explain things, get them on board, keep them committed and accountable, solve their problems...etc. Saving Changes...
GenAI has improved a lot and will continue to improve in the future. It is a productivity booster tool. It should be used by all PMs. The key differentiators will be our own PM skills and how we use these tools. Saving Changes...
Hello Sarah, It's so nice to see such a valid topic taken to the discussion. My opinion on the scenario, yes it very useful and time saving for project managers the new trend of commoditizing of the Gen Ai to day to day PM tasks. However it is crucial ultimate decision making involved with human factor as it will involve culture, ethics and innovative thinking. Saving Changes...
The final decision will always rest with the Project Manager. It’s valuable to have as much information and as many perspectives as possible to make an informed choice. While AI-driven prompt engineering can offer useful insights, it’s essential not to rely on it blindly. Instead, we should consider it a complementary point of view that aids in making the most appropriate decision and could even explore areas that might have otherwise escaped our attention. Saving Changes...
Using AI will provide higher value due to efficiencies. AI can at the very least provide a draft response that the PM can then refine. Over time the PM and the system will improve generating additional efficiencies and efficacy. Saving Changes...
Widespread prompt engineering may standardize certain tasks, but it can also empower project managers to enhance their strategic thinking and communication skills. By leveraging prompt engineering effectively, PMs can differentiate themselves, improve project outcomes, and ultimately command higher value through advanced expertise and innovative approaches. Saving Changes...
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