An authoritative study on the near future effect of artificial intelligence on project management knowledge areas

Thordur Vikingur Fridgeirsson; Helgi Thor Ingason; Haukur Ingi Jonasson; Hildur Jonsdottir

doi:10.3390/su13042345

An authoritative study on the near future effect of artificial intelligence on project management knowledge areas

Thordur Vikingur Fridgeirsson, Helgi Thor Ingason, Haukur Ingi Jonasson, Hildur Jonsdottir

Department of Engineering

Reykjavik University

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to explore how Artificial Intelligence (AI) might augment the project management profession in each of the 10 categories of project management knowledge areas, as defined in the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK) of the Project Management Institute (PMI). In a survey, a group of project management experts were asked to state their insights into AI’s likely effect on project management in the next 10 years. Results clearly illustrated that AI will be an integrated part of future project management practice and will affect project management knowledge areas in the near future. According to these findings, the management of cost, schedule, and risk, in particular, will be highly affected by AI. The research indicates that AI is very useful for processes where historical data is available and can be used for estimation and planning. In addition, it is clear that AI can monitor schedules, adjust forecasts, and maintain baselines. According to the findings, AI will have less impact in knowledge areas and processes that require human leadership skills, such as developing and managing teams and the management of stakeholders. The results indicate proprietarily the project management knowledge areas as defined by PMI that AI is likely to augment and sustain.

Original language	English
Article number	2345
Pages (from-to)	1-20
Number of pages	20
Journal	Sustainability (Switzerland)
Volume	13
Issue number	4
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.3390/su13042345
Publication status	Published - 22 Feb 2021

Bibliographical note

Funding Information: The definition and understanding of the role of a project manager has been changing over the years since this concept was introduced for the first time by Gaddis [15]. Research shows that project managers look at their tasks and assignments differently [16,17]. However, the knowledge areas of project management have been described by international project management associations, such as the Project Management Institute (PMI) and the International Project Management Association (IPMA). These are non-profit associations and certification bodies for the field of project management. The IPMA is an association of national project management associations and maintains its Individual Competence Baseline (ICB), which is now available in its fourth edition. The IPMA defines the competence areas for project managers in terms of people (interactions with oneself and other people), practice (related to management of projects, programs and portfolios) and perspective (the context within which a project is run) [18]. The PMI serves around 2.9 million project management specialists who are located all over the world (PMI, n.d.) [19]. PMI volunteers with diverse experience have developed and maintain up-to-date, globally recognized standards for project, program, and portfolio management. The PMI has maintained its Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK) since 1996, and its most recent version (sixth edition) was published in 2017. The PMBOK is a professional guide that offers guidelines for the practice of project management. The PMBOK Guide describes 49 processes that are categorized by 10 knowledge areas. The 49 processes are divided logically into five project management process groups that aim to achieve defined objectives: (i) initiating, (ii) planning, (iii) executing, (iv) monitoring and controlling and (v) closing. The 10 knowledge areas are: (i) integration, (ii) scope, (iii) schedule, (iv) cost, (v) quality, (vi) resources, (vii) communications, (viii) risk, (ix) procurement and (x) stakeholders. Each knowledge area is defined by its knowledge requirements. As an example of this, the knowledge area “integration” is supported by; developing project charter, project management plan, project work, knowledge, monitoring, change control, and project closing, etc. Publisher Copyright: © 2021 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.

Other keywords

Artificial intelligence
PMBoK knowledge areas
Project management
Project manager

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10.3390/su13042345

Cite this

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title = "An authoritative study on the near future effect of artificial intelligence on project management knowledge areas",

abstract = "The purpose of this study is to explore how Artificial Intelligence (AI) might augment the project management profession in each of the 10 categories of project management knowledge areas, as defined in the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK) of the Project Management Institute (PMI). In a survey, a group of project management experts were asked to state their insights into AI{\textquoteright}s likely effect on project management in the next 10 years. Results clearly illustrated that AI will be an integrated part of future project management practice and will affect project management knowledge areas in the near future. According to these findings, the management of cost, schedule, and risk, in particular, will be highly affected by AI. The research indicates that AI is very useful for processes where historical data is available and can be used for estimation and planning. In addition, it is clear that AI can monitor schedules, adjust forecasts, and maintain baselines. According to the findings, AI will have less impact in knowledge areas and processes that require human leadership skills, such as developing and managing teams and the management of stakeholders. The results indicate proprietarily the project management knowledge areas as defined by PMI that AI is likely to augment and sustain.",

keywords = "Artificial intelligence, PMBoK knowledge areas, Project management, Project manager",

author = "Fridgeirsson, \{Thordur Vikingur\} and Ingason, \{Helgi Thor\} and Jonasson, \{Haukur Ingi\} and Hildur Jonsdottir",

note = "Funding Information: The definition and understanding of the role of a project manager has been changing over the years since this concept was introduced for the first time by Gaddis [15]. Research shows that project managers look at their tasks and assignments differently [16,17]. However, the knowledge areas of project management have been described by international project management associations, such as the Project Management Institute (PMI) and the International Project Management Association (IPMA). These are non-profit associations and certification bodies for the field of project management. The IPMA is an association of national project management associations and maintains its Individual Competence Baseline (ICB), which is now available in its fourth edition. The IPMA defines the competence areas for project managers in terms of people (interactions with oneself and other people), practice (related to management of projects, programs and portfolios) and perspective (the context within which a project is run) [18]. The PMI serves around 2.9 million project management specialists who are located all over the world (PMI, n.d.) [19]. PMI volunteers with diverse experience have developed and maintain up-to-date, globally recognized standards for project, program, and portfolio management. The PMI has maintained its Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK) since 1996, and its most recent version (sixth edition) was published in 2017. The PMBOK is a professional guide that offers guidelines for the practice of project management. The PMBOK Guide describes 49 processes that are categorized by 10 knowledge areas. The 49 processes are divided logically into five project management process groups that aim to achieve defined objectives: (i) initiating, (ii) planning, (iii) executing, (iv) monitoring and controlling and (v) closing. The 10 knowledge areas are: (i) integration, (ii) scope, (iii) schedule, (iv) cost, (v) quality, (vi) resources, (vii) communications, (viii) risk, (ix) procurement and (x) stakeholders. Each knowledge area is defined by its knowledge requirements. As an example of this, the knowledge area “integration” is supported by; developing project charter, project management plan, project work, knowledge, monitoring, change control, and project closing, etc. Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2021 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.",

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AU - Ingason, Helgi Thor

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AU - Jonsdottir, Hildur

N1 - Funding Information: The definition and understanding of the role of a project manager has been changing over the years since this concept was introduced for the first time by Gaddis [15]. Research shows that project managers look at their tasks and assignments differently [16,17]. However, the knowledge areas of project management have been described by international project management associations, such as the Project Management Institute (PMI) and the International Project Management Association (IPMA). These are non-profit associations and certification bodies for the field of project management. The IPMA is an association of national project management associations and maintains its Individual Competence Baseline (ICB), which is now available in its fourth edition. The IPMA defines the competence areas for project managers in terms of people (interactions with oneself and other people), practice (related to management of projects, programs and portfolios) and perspective (the context within which a project is run) [18]. The PMI serves around 2.9 million project management specialists who are located all over the world (PMI, n.d.) [19]. PMI volunteers with diverse experience have developed and maintain up-to-date, globally recognized standards for project, program, and portfolio management. The PMI has maintained its Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK) since 1996, and its most recent version (sixth edition) was published in 2017. The PMBOK is a professional guide that offers guidelines for the practice of project management. The PMBOK Guide describes 49 processes that are categorized by 10 knowledge areas. The 49 processes are divided logically into five project management process groups that aim to achieve defined objectives: (i) initiating, (ii) planning, (iii) executing, (iv) monitoring and controlling and (v) closing. The 10 knowledge areas are: (i) integration, (ii) scope, (iii) schedule, (iv) cost, (v) quality, (vi) resources, (vii) communications, (viii) risk, (ix) procurement and (x) stakeholders. Each knowledge area is defined by its knowledge requirements. As an example of this, the knowledge area “integration” is supported by; developing project charter, project management plan, project work, knowledge, monitoring, change control, and project closing, etc. Publisher Copyright: © 2021 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.

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KW - Artificial intelligence

KW - PMBoK knowledge areas

KW - Project management

KW - Project manager

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ER -

An authoritative study on the near future effect of artificial intelligence on project management knowledge areas

Abstract

Bibliographical note

Other keywords

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