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?
Jose FernandezPM III| Ericsson CanadaPointe Claire, Quebec, Canada
I think it is difficult thing to predict, currently I see it as a good tool to help PMs with different tasks and probably automate many aspects of the work, but like any other technology we have to use it responsibly and always check and re-check the output from the GenAI tool. The issue might be if new generations of PMs rely so much on it and blindly takes any output as is without the proper due diligence. Saving Changes...
When faced using inefficient enterprise processes, or you're managing a project in a new discipline or industry, GenAI can serve as a great assistant. I would always recommend a strong human oversight to ensure quality is there, but I've found in one week that I can save a lot of time by prompting the GenAI to give me outputs quickly, rather than manually creating them. Saving Changes...
Amanda Castelo BrancoProject Management Specialist| Racional EngenhariaSão Paulo/Sp, Brazil
We need human interactions to lead the project to success, this is the value of the project manager, we lead people towards a common goal Generative AI will be, or already is, very useful in facilitating management routines, optimizing the PM's time so that they can act creatively and strategically. Saving Changes...
Anonymous
It can only enhance how we run our projects if used responsibly Saving Changes...
Luis SaavedraBusiness Intelligence Analyst| MerconCoral Gables, Fl, United States
AI Gen technologies are great tools to significantly enhance our project management capabilities, leading to more efficient processes, better decision-making, and improved project outcomes. It is important to keep in mind all the ethical considerations when making use of this or any other technologies. Saving Changes...
Carlos ItzaDirector| Your PMP Pro / International Trade Center / PSCPASan Ignacio, Cy, Belize
I see AI as a good professional and engineer, and the end results can be much enhanced using the required tools. The final product can be the reflection of using expertise and the tools and the tools cannot just do the required work without the expert knowing what to do. Saving Changes...
Chiranjibee SangroulaCertified Business Analyst by BCS, The Chartered Institute of IT| Available from May, 2025East Ham, Greater London, United Kingdom
Jul 09, 2024 5:45 PM
Replying to Baba Mohamed CISSE
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The adoption of prompt engineering will give value in project management to those who have a good capacity to adapt in this disruptive world.
Since human rationales, oversight and creativity of informed Project Manager remains critical in Gen AI prompts as well as PM, Generative AI’s technological empowerment and differentiation aspect shall overshadow the commoditization concern raised here. Saving Changes...
Chiranjibee SangroulaCertified Business Analyst by BCS, The Chartered Institute of IT| Available from May, 2025East Ham, Greater London, United Kingdom
Jul 09, 2024 6:58 AM
Replying to Bledar Beqiri
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Thanks for initiating a discussion on this matter, Sarah! Indeed, prompt engineering could have an effect on both, depending on perspective. Regardless, the widespread adoption of generative AI gives rise to the need to reinvent the role of a project manager. As with adoption of computers in executing tasks, generative AI tools will need to be deployed in a way that redefines how we work, nevertheless, with great oversight. As we see, despite exponential development, generative AI struggles to give us definitive results. I would argue that the project manager has an increasingly important role in making sure that project results are delivered efficiently - and correctly!
Indeed! Since human rationales, oversight and creativity of informed Project Manager remains critical in Gen AI prompts as well as PM, Generative AI’s technological empowerment and differentiation aspect shall overshadow the commoditization concern initiated by Sarah ! . Saving Changes...
Felipe CorreaConsultor | Professor | Youtuber| Café com InovaçãoSorocaba, Sao Paulo, Brazil
Hi PMI Community,
The widespread adoption of prompt engineering in project management presents a fascinating balance between the risks of commoditization and the opportunities for differentiation, depending on how the technology is applied.
On one hand, there is a risk that these tools will be used primarily for operational tasks, such as automating reports, organizing schedules, or generating standard communications. In this case, some project management skills may become more accessible and widely available, leading to their commoditization. Tasks once considered specialized may be achievable by anyone with access to the right tools, potentially diminishing the perceived value of those skills.
On the other hand, prompt engineering and GenAI present a unique opportunity for project managers to stand out. Those who can go beyond basic tasks and leverage AI to solve complex problems, analyze large datasets, personalize interactions, and model strategic scenarios can create a significant competitive edge. This allows PMs to focus on higher-value human competencies, such as leadership, negotiation, empathy, and creative problem-solving.
Ultimately, the impact depends on how professionals choose to use these tools. Those who see technology as a partner to enhance efficiency and innovation, rather than a simple substitute for human work, will be better positioned to deliver value in an ever-evolving market.
PMI Team Member
