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?
Definitely, prompt engineering is surplus to increase project management skills and help PMs to differentiate.
This is a great opportunity to do the following:
1. Standardize the PM process to be aligned with PM Standards WOW.
2. Use effective tools and templates to deliver high-quality PM tracking reports and key PM communication deliverables.
3. To excel in providing PM with high standards of communication at any time.
4. Save time to invest in analysis and let the AI help assemble what is required to be reported as part of that project analysis.
From my point of view, the effective use of prompt engineering is a huge opportunity to level up the communications process with standardized opportunities and 100% aligned with PM WOW & Standards. Saving Changes...
Anonymous
AI generally will be a tool that helps PMs who embrace it and take the time to learn. Saving Changes...
My initial reaction to the question is that both can happen simultaneously. PM skills may become commoditized, but well-trained professional PMs will also differentiate themselves by implementing the skills and achieving greater results than typical. Saving Changes...
I am learning prompt engineering. While prompt engineering will help in project management, combining knowledge, skills and thinking of project manager will be key to success. Saving Changes...
AI tools facilitate communication, collaboration, and dynamic adjustments to project plans. By increasing efficiency and accuracy, AI helps achieve project goals effectively and cost-efficiently. Saving Changes...
Ololade KassimSenior IT Project Supervisor| SaskWaterSaskatchewam, Canada
Hello, I think at the initial stage it could create a differentiation for PMs. However as AI models continue to advance and with the evolution of prompt engineering, it becomes a guide that will be applied to training various LLMs used in different professions and sectors. Saving Changes...
I think as long as PMs can use Gen AI to augment their work, that will add to their value as a PM. The real value is in knowing what and how to ask Gen AI (domain expertise + prompt engineering), so I am inclined to think commoditization is less likely but value addition is more likely. Saving Changes...
The intersection of PMI's Pulse of the Profession 2023 and Deloitte's 2024 Human Capital Global Trends Report provides a compelling answer: the very power skills project managers (PMs) need to avoid commoditization are both critically valued and profoundly underdeveloped. This paradox presents an opportunity for differentiation.
Power Skills: “Almost Universal Gap”
According to PMI's survey of over 3,400 PMs, 90% recognize Power Skills as essential, yet only 20% of organizations invest in training them. This disparity is driven by a disproportionate focus on technical and business skills (80% of investment), leaving the human-centric capabilities underfunded. While PMOs acknowledge the significance of these skills in "working smarter," barriers such as budget limitations and misaligned priorities persist.
Organizational “Imagination Deficit”
Similarly, Deloitte identifies a related systemic issue surveying 14,000 leaders globally: 63% believe empowering imagination is crucial but 57% feel unprepared to meet the demands of balancing human and AI collaboration. Deloitte states, "The more AI-enabled work becomes, the more important human imagination becomes."
Implications for PMs
Prompt engineering and similar advancements may automate many functions but cannot replicate the quintessentially human attributes—imagination chief among them. PMs who cultivate and leverage their imagination will: Differentiate themselves by envisioning possibilities others overlook. Drive value by aligning technical outputs with human-centric outcomes.
Recalibration
To close the gap and meet the demands of the future workplace, organizations must: Reallocate training investments to include holistic Power Skills development. Emphasize imagination as a foundational capability within project management frameworks. Foster environments where PMs can practice and refine these skills in tandem with AI tools.
By heeding the findings of PMI and Deloitte, PMs can safeguard their relevance and elevate their profession to new heights of strategic value in an AI-driven era. Saving Changes...
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