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?
If the project is highly defined and repeatable, then AI ought to be able to act as the project manager. For those projects that are custom, a human project manager is either required or can support AI as the project manager. For interacting with customers, people are (still) required. Saving Changes...
Christine LeeProject Management| EatonLOUISVILLE, CO, United States
I think Gen AI can help Project Managers find their answers more quickly and effectively, because GenAI can help Project Managers find answers faster and more accurately. Saving Changes...
Christine LeeProject Management| EatonLOUISVILLE, CO, United States
I think Gen AI can help Project Managers find their answers more quickly and effectively, because GenAI can help Project Managers find answers faster and more accurately. Saving Changes...
AI is an amazing tool. When used wisely by well-educated and well-trained project leaders, the quality of their outputs shines through—clearly distinguishing them from non-professional project managers. It is instructive to note that, historically, anyone could claim the title of project manager. However, the depth of professional knowledge and skills that a true project manager harnesses when tackling projects of varying complexities, combined with the value-added results they generate, has always set them apart from self-proclaimed counterparts. Similarly, project managers who stay current with emerging technologies and remain committed to leveraging them will continue to excel. Thus, prompt engineering and Gen AI should continue to be potent tools in the hands of competent professionals who relentlessly build and hone their mastery of the project management talent triangle—business acumen, power skills, and effective ways of working. Project management is a dynamic field that offers a rewarding arena for hardworking, value-driven, resilient, and results-oriented professionals. For these individuals, the advent of AI and its powerful features represents a positive development, serving as a significant enabler in achieving project objectives! Saving Changes...
Adoption of Prompt engineering by the Project Manager can bring value to the organization but in parallel PM can take credit or recognition of having hands on AI skills and its implementation better & more efficiently than other project Managers Saving Changes...
Katalin JuhaszHead of Talent & Culture| Wallee GroupGeneva, Geneva, Switzerland
I believe that AI can help with only one fragment of project management, but not in it's entirety. Therefore, I believe that while using AI will be the base minimum for everyone, those project managers who master the non-replaceable competencies will increase their advantages compared to the others. Saving Changes...
Katalin JuhaszHead of Talent & Culture| Wallee GroupGeneva, Geneva, Switzerland
I believe that AI can help with only one fragment of project management, but not in it's entirety. Therefore, I believe that while using AI will be the base minimum for everyone, those project managers who master the non-replaceable competencies will increase their advantages compared to the others. Saving Changes...
Darianne TolbertProject Manager| SwiftOtter, Inc.Birmingham, AL, United States
I echo many of the responses I've seen so far: differentiation in a world where GenAI carries the possibility of commoditization of many roles comes down to early adoption, experimentation of new and emerging use cases, creative strategic thinking, and human-to-human soft skills that a machine cannot yet master. Saving Changes...
Probably in the long term Gen AI will replace PMs, but at least in the short and mid term, it will be a powerful AI that will change our profession and at the same time its an incredible tool to improve our results. Saving Changes...
That is a great question. In my point of view, the widespread adoption of prompt engineering could commoditize project management skills.
In the short term, it can help PMs differentiate themselves and command higher value. But in the medium and long term, if AI can handle 80% of a PM's tasks, I believe that companies might start replacing PMs to increase profit.
Human resources are considered replaceable by companies, who are on the part to repeat history. The human mind is irreplaceable, as the prompt is a learning exercise. We are still in the learning phase, and with due consideration and time, the result will improve.
Researcher have also pointed towards the bias of prompt and these AI results, hence the need to validate the AI responses, I have seen responses that are less that accurate despite the upload of accurate information from source.
The human faculties can use and assimilate from the environment, what AI cannot, due to knowledge, experience and know-how. Saving Changes...
"The reasonable man adapts himself to the world; the unreasonable one persists in trying to adapt the world to himself. Therefore all progress depends on the unreasonable man."
PMI Team Member
