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,
This is the first time I have used artificial intelligence in project management As I work as an irrigation department manager in a contracting company It is worth noting that some people, after being very experienced in using tools, may consider them a commodity, despite the tremendous development as well as the difference in situations and events in the field of projects, which may conflict somewhat with using this development as a commodity Saving Changes...
I believe that it is not possible to completely dispense with human resources in project management, as they are one of the basic pillars of management, but it is natural to use artificial intelligence tools such as chat-GPT to assist and generate ideas that will speed up and facilitate the routine operations that we perform daily and also facilitate them. Solving some problems, but what remains here is the mastermind and the main thinker, which is the person who created the auxiliary tools and also added value to him as long as those tools are able to controlling it. Saving Changes...
Lap Keung SzetoTechnical Project Manager | Funki Finance LimitedHong Kong, Hong Kong
The rapid adoption of prompt engineering is transforming the work of project managers (PMs). While some may fear AI tools like LLMs could commoditise PM skills, prompt engineering can differentiate savvy PMs and increase their value. By mastering this skill, PMs can streamline their workflows, create more precise project documentation, and make data-driven decisions faster.
Using formats like RTF and CREATE, crafting prompts ensures that LLMs produce results tailored to project needs. These structured formats simplify the preparation of essential information by guiding the AI in generating comprehensive responses.
Saving Changes...
Marcel BellProgramme Manager| Bank of JamaicaKingston, Jamaica
Will the widespread adoption of prompt engineering commoditize project management skills, or can it help PMs differentiate themselves and command higher value?
Curious question!
Being within the PM space for nearly a decade, I've noted that our skillset is quite unique especially the value we bring to the organization of projects, programs etc.
1. To say that the adoption of prompt engineering will commoditize the field is far reaching. The profession itself is comparable to wine, the more experience we garner (aging of wine), the better we get (exquisite taste). Prompt engineering from my perspective allows us to take those experiences to produce work at a faster pace.
2. Command higher value- quite subjective. Are we arguing that:
a. due to prompt engineering the quality of documentation has enhanced or
b. prompt engineering allows us to execute tasks at a more efficient rate?
I personally don't believe the inclusion of a tool (especially one so easily accessible) plays a significant role in this case. The profession is experience based; the greater you experience/exposure the higher your value. Saving Changes...
I'm new to using AI. I think it has the potential to streamline tasks and support the work of PMs. I think it's still too new to me and many to draw any conclusions but currently it seems you need an experienced PM to even create the right prompts. PMs knowledge and skills are needed to effectively use these tools. Saving Changes...
Josh BehlAcademic Faculty Member| Minnesota State University MoorheadFargo, Nd, United States
If the skills for project management were merely based upon algorithms and not a vast amount of people, communication, and relationship building skills, then yes. However, for those experienced in project management, we know first hand that there are numerous layers and nuance to being an effective PM. In my view, it is not that prompt engineering will reduce the value of PMs but rather that those PM's who know how to use effective prompt engineering and can strategically incorporate it where appropriate into their project management, planning, and monitoring who will be able to scale better and more rapidly. It is my view that in a few years time (if not sooner), prompt engineering will be a necessary technical skills all PMs will need to have to stay viable. Saving Changes...
Thanks for initiating this question. In my experience , there are rarely two projects (including teams, requirements, scope, etc.) that are the same in real life, therefor an AI system would not be able to provide a full service as a human PM can offer. However, the AI can help the PM to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of her/his work as a helper that can do certain deterministic tasks at higher speed and accuracy. Saving Changes...
Caryn OgierDirector of Project Planning| The Quay Companies, LLCTx, United States
I think AI prompting skills will become a differentiator to a PM's effectiveness and efficiency. I also think there is an element of creativity that will be brought to a PM's performance. Saving Changes...
Anonymous
Prompt Engineering will help with differentiation but commoditization is a human reaction and human reactions are highly unpredictable. Saving Changes...
In my view, the widespread adoption of prompt engineering is more likely to elevate project management skills than to commoditize them. While GenAI tools can streamline tasks such as scheduling, resource allocation, and risk assessment, the core of effective project management remains rooted in human capabilities like strategic thinking, leadership, and adaptability. Project managers who excel at prompt engineering will be able to harness GenAI to amplify their effectiveness, automating routine tasks and dedicating more time to critical activities like stakeholder engagement, creative problem-solving, and building high-performing teams. This enables them to stand out by becoming more efficient, insightful, and indispensable to project success. Saving Changes...
PMI Team Member
