A survey conducted by nonprofit organisation Project Management Institute (PMI) shows that the adoption of generative AI (GenAI) has surged, and the widespread use of these tools has underscored its potential to transform project management practices and organisational operations.

The report ‘First Movers’ Advantage: The Immediate Benefits of Adopting Generative AI for Project Management’ surveyed 500 project professionals from around the globe, all using GenAI in their project work.

PMI sub-Saharan Africa MD George Asamani notes that GenAI excels in advanced data analysis, quickly processing and analysing large data sets to provide project managers with insights that could be otherwise challenging to discern manually.

He points out that GenAI enhances decision-making capabilities by providing project managers with data-driven insights and predictive analytics, which, if interpreted and actioned correctly, can reduce risks and enhance the potential for project success.

“The precision in problem identification and the enabling of a deeper understanding of complex project dynamics are crucial for effective project management problem-solving,” he explains.

As the leading authority in project management, PMI has a unique view into a global community of nearly one-million knowledge workers. This community has enthusiastically embraced both PMI Infinity, a GenAI tool developed by PMI, and training such as Prompt Engineering offered by PMI.

GenAI such as PMI Infinity can assist with scenario planning, as its predictive capability is invaluable to generating data and scenarios to help pre-empt potential issues and plan effective interventions.

It also augments creative problem-solving by suggesting innovative solutions and alternatives that might not be immediately obvious to “human thinkers”, thus expanding the range of possible solutions to project challenges.

Asamani elaborates that the use of GenAI has also increased collaboration among team members, primarily by providing tools that streamline communication, thereby ensuring that complex problems and solutions are effectively communicated across all stakeholders.

The report highlighted how these GenAI tools significantly enhance essential “power skills” among users, particularly in the areas of collaboration and creativity.

They also improve communication in teams by offering capabilities such as real-time note-taking and summarising discussion points, ensuring that all members understand updates and changes to a project.

Further, GenAI’s predictability and transparency can help in improving the quality of stakeholder communication, which, in turn, can lead to increased engagement and satisfaction.

Meanwhile, many GenAI systems include adaptive learning algorithms that evolve based on new data and outcomes, and this continuous learning not only improves the system’s problem-solving capabilities over time, it also assists project managers in learning from past projects, thereby enhancing their strategies for future challenges.

Asamani adds that, through these capabilities, GenAI acts as a powerful enabler in project management, significantly boosting the cognitive and analytical skills needed to track and address problems.

“These enhancements in collaboration and creativity not only improve productivity and problem-solving but also give users a distinct competitive advantage, paving the way for these skills to become indispensable in modern project management practices,” he emphasises.

Project Improvements

According to Asamani, in project scope management, GenAI offers “enhanced clarity and definition”, enabling project managers to set “more accurate and realistic goals”.

He points out that, by analysing vast amounts of data and outcomes from past projects, GenAI tools help the team to refine the project scope and set achievable objectives.

In terms of project scheduling, GenAI can help to optimise timelines by analysing the duration of similar past projects to predict the most efficient schedules for new initiatives.

Additionally, GenAI can continuously monitor project progress and external factors, offering real-time adjustments to schedules to accommodate changes or delays, thereby reducing disruptions and maintaining project momentum.

In this respect, GenAI increases efficiency and ensures projects adhere to their timelines and objectives, reducing the common issue of time overruns.

In the area of project cost management, GenAI can significantly enhance budgeting accuracy through detailed cost analysis and predictive analytics.

“This not only facilitates more accurate budget forecasts but also enables proactive management of cost overruns. GenAI also automates the cost-benefit analysis of various scenarios, assisting managers in selecting the most cost-effective approaches without compromising quality,” Asamani avers.

Consequently, GenAI’s role in cost management leads to more accurate budget forecasts and controls, minimising financial overruns and maintaining project budgets within the set parameters.

He adds that the improvements that can result from the increased adoption of GenAI will fundamentally enhance project success, citing, for example, GenAI-driven improvements in quality management to ensure that project deliverables consistently meet or exceed required standards and expectations.

Asamani concludes that the strategic advantages gained from consistent project success, such as a strengthened project portfolio and competitive positioning, are bolstered by the insights derived from accumulated data analysed through GenAI tools.