Trends That May Transform Future IT Project Management Initiatives

iNisights   •   August 12, 2017

As business practices change, project management practices will also have to change. Business expectations and requirements are also going through a rapid change. Sharper focus is being put on developing people. A sharper focus is also being put on the technologies and processes that are needed to create successful projects. Consider the following trends that can affect IT project management going forward.

  • The focus will shift from projects to strategy. Reaching business goals are critical, and will always be. Businesses must deal with limited resources, competition, external and internal factors, constraints that deal with budgets. IT project management leaders will be increasingly tasked to help their management teams focus their efforts on realizing business goals.
  • IT project management may also have to place less focus on industry-related data and more on weaknesses and strengths to identify and pursue business objectives. Marketing efforts will have to pursue a single business strategy as opposed to each department chasing individual department goals. Businesses can also be served better if goal-centric projects are run by individuals with core strengths that address business requirements. This departs from the traditional way that project team members are typically selected. This way, resources, time, and budgets are optimized.
  • Employee strengths will be leveraged in a different way. As it stands, an organization’s strengths and culture are typically influenced from the top-down. As an IT manager, you will need to find positive and productive ways to develop and reward the strengths of your people. This is a major way to build a stronger brand and team environment.
    The open-door policy still works for employees with different ways of working and doing things. Smart IT project managers are finding ways to optimize the strong suits of such individuals. These are often people who are capable of having an innovative and constructive influence on the company’s goals.
  • No longer is it enough to simply focus on profit. Social responsibility and accountability have to factor in at some point. IT project managers should be aware that businesses want to do business with companies that are transparent and ethical. IT projects are no exception. They should be approached, measured, and conducted in ways that comply with tax reporting, legal requirements, environmental, and any other elements that show social responsibility.
  • A higher emphasis will also be placed on developing soft skills among employees. This goes beyond mere technical training. Being able to communicate both verbally and in writing will continue to increase in value. The ability to resolve conflicts, inject diplomacy, and overcome language and cultural barriers are invaluable skills.

Finally, the workforce becomes more widely dispersed than each year. This only increases the need for remote work and management. The right technology, and management capabilities, makes or breaks projects and determines the overall success of an organization.

While managing remote projects will not be for every company, it will increase in demand and popularity. Security protocols must also be developed to protect client data; especially since so many employees and vendors use mobile devices.