Introduction
Welcome to the transformative world of project management, where artificial intelligence (AI) is not just a buzzword, but a game-changer in the way Project Management Offices (PMOs) function.
Hi there, my name is Rich Weller. I have been in the Project Management profession for nearly 30 years. Throughout my career, according to experts tracking the stats, I have witnessed incremental improvements in project success rates. I sincerely believe that understanding and implementing standardized and proven processes has helped. I also believe that in the recent past, Agile principles, processes and techniques have added to our improved success rate. However, what got us here will not get us there! It’s time for a paradigm shift.
We can’t just keep chasing the latest incremental improvements in the process. We need to leap!
As PMO Leaders, we need to adopt a fresh perspective. Instead of focusing solely on processes, we need to turn our attention to technology, particularly the potential of Artificial Intelligence.
Understanding AI
Before we delve deeper, it’s crucial to define what we mean by Artificial Intelligence. The term “AI” often conjures up images of “The Terminator,” or, as I have seen more recently, is associated solely with ChatGPT. However, both these representations are far from the truth!
Here is part of our problem: at this point in time, there is no agreed-upon definition of AI. And, depending upon which definition you choose, this dictates what technologies would be considered as an AI tool. For our purposes, we will use Microsoft’s definition: “Artificial Intelligence (AI) is the capability of a computer program or machine to mimic human-like behavior.” This definition was extracted from this course
Microsoft’s definition allows us to include not only well-known AI tools like:
- ChatGPT
- Microsoft Copilot
- Google Gemini
- X’s Grok
But also, a plethora of other tools fit under this umbrella. For instance, at this moment in time, the website, There’s an AI For That, lists over 12,000 AI tools, with over 50 specifically designed for Project Management. Source:
But let’s back up and take a closer look at that definition again; “AI is the capability of a computer program or machine to mimic human-like behavior.” We can see that using this definition allows us to expand our technological scope beyond Generative AI. We can incorporate Robotic Process Automation (RPA), a technology that executes predefined rules or instructions to perform repetitive, predictable, or standardized tasks.
RPA can:
- Streamline processes
- Reduce errors
- Enhance efficiency
- Save time
By using technology like Microsoft Power Automate, Microsoft Copilot Studio, IFTTT, Nintex, UIPath, Automation Anywhere, Blue Prism, and many others as found here, we can automate processes, thereby “using a program to mimic human-like behavior.” In essence, we are leveraging AI.
Harnessing AI
In our organization, MIGSO-PCUBED, we’ve been using technology to digitally disrupt organizations since 1991. We focus on leveraging these AI tools to improve processes as well as decision-making capabilities. As demonstrated, AI includes a wide array of software and tools designed to assist organizations, project managers and teams in planning, executing, and monitoring projects. It’s time for PMO Leaders to embrace this AI revolution and harness its potential to drive project success. But now the question moves to “How?” or maybe better, “Where do I begin?”
- First, you must understand where you are currently. In order to do this, conduct a “Current State Assessment.” But use caution here; you need to look beyond just your tools. In addition to tools, you need to assess things like:
– Strategy
– Culture
– ProcessesGovernance
– That oh-so-important area of data - Once you have a good handle on your “Current State,” you must define your targeted “Future State.” Where do you want to be?
- And with those goalposts in place, the next step is to create a Roadmap that moves your PMO from where it is currently to that desired future state.
- The final step is to Execute! Run the play! Deliver!
As a PMO Leader, you are uniquely positioned to drive this change that is needed, not only to add value to your organization, but also to improve the project management profession as a whole. The Future PMO The future PMO lies in the successful integration of AI into our daily operations.
AI can help us:
- Predict project outcomes.
- Identify risks before they become issues.
- Provide real-time updates on project status.
- Automate routine tasks, freeing up our time to focus on strategic decision-making.
AI can also help us improve communication within our teams. With AI-powered chatbots, we can ensure that all team members have access to the same information, reducing misunderstandings and improving collaboration. Moreover, AI can help us make better decisions.
With AI’s ability to analyze large amounts of data quickly and accurately, we can:
- Gain insights that were previously impossible.
- Identify trends.
- Spot anomalies.
- Make data-driven decisions.
In conclusion, as PMO Leaders, we need to embrace the AI revolution. We need to understand that AI is not just ChatGPT; it’s about enhancing our capabilities, improving our decision-making, and ultimately, driving project success. The future PMO is here…right now, and it’s powered by AI.
