Top 6 Project Management Trends for 2022 PMs Should Know About
Project management changed significantly over the past few years. The COVID-19 pandemic had and continues to impact our professional world on the skills required of workers.
Changes are inevitable—we all know that. So what are the new trends in project management that will shape this profession?
Well, we have answers for You.
The trouble with trends is that you may not notice that they are happening. Often "trend" is a prediction of evolution. So you just continue to work without seeing that you are falling behind.
By the time you understand that, it's too late. That's why we decided to write about the trends that Devolon project managers foresee.
Let's take a look at them!
1. Hybrid Work is Inevitable
Project managers must deal with a hybrid workplace. The project team can no longer work every day in the office. The globe entered a state of isolation in 2020. Several companies had to adjust their operations to fit the "work from home" model, and we had to go through a complicated adaptation process. This situation continued until approximately the middle of 2021 when the introduction of the vaccination restored a feeling of normality. However, the point was that remote work had become normal, and people didn't want to return to work, but some organizations required them to do so.
The ideal solution for all parties is a hybrid system. According to a Google poll done in November 2021, over 75% of respondents expect mixed work to become a common during the next three years. As a result, in 2022, project managers will need to adjust their methodologies and perspectives to adapt their approaches and attitudes to account for hybrid workers.
Devolon is working with a cross-cultural team from all over the world and, since 2021, has already been using a hybrid working method.
For us, hybrid work is not only about people who work from home or office, but also about people who work with others that are NOT in the exact location MOST of the time. We have succeeded with this way of working, and the best evidence of our successful projects are Museo, PCKT, and OVL.
2. More significant focus on Soft Skills
While recent years are focused on adapting software and technical knowledge, organizations must now specialize in improving their communications and software to form the foremost out of an increasingly hybrid and agile environment. Therefore, a skill like emotional intelligence is one of the strengths required for a project manager.
Many people still associate project management with strict processes and technical knowledge, yet the sector has progressed significantly.
Managing projects requires more than just defining the scope, setting deadlines, and deciding the budget. Project managers must also manage people. Misunderstanding team members' emotions can cause a lot of tension in the team.
3. Flexible and Result-Only Work Environment. More trust, less control.
A results-oriented work environment (ROWE), sometimes known as a results-only work environment (ROWE), seeks to increase productivity by allowing employees to work as long as they need to as long as they deliver results. As a result, the traditional paradigm of arriving on time and leaving on time is no longer the norm. Instead, employees work as long as they need to achieve results. and research shows that the amount of time spent on work is relatively higher, and those hours are wisely spent working from home.
Prioritize results and goals: team members know what they need to achieve and how it fits into the company's overall goals.
If the due date is met and the result is excellent, why micromanage the rest? Earnings depend on the work done and not on how much time you spend in your working area.
At Devolon, the employers are adopting ROWE. For us, the primary key is feedback and transparency. If the results are not achieved in some cases, we are open to analyzing and refining goals that help us achieve lasting results, as is the case with the Lentoparkki project.
4. Integration of change management for project success
The difference between project and change management
Change management and project management both contribute to the success of the project. By integrating these subjects from the beginning to the implementation of the project, we combine the human-technical side of the change, assuring the organizational benefits of development.
Change management helps leaders understand how organizations and people are prepared for change by considering the scope and timing of change, culture and values, and the flexibility and capabilities of change.
That is why combining these two management processes means that project obstacles and risks can be identified, and the right actions can be taken in advance to mitigate project risks.
5. Automation and AI
Future trends in Project Management can not be mentioned without the importance of automation. Therefore, it is inevitable that the bots and AI will find their way into project management. E.g., you may set up a bot to provide regular updates on your projects or alert you to potential risks.
As AI becomes more innovative and better at storing data, we will be able to feed these tools information about specific projects (for example, client company X sends us revenue of Y annually) and receive information on improving productivity, not just doing repetitive tasks through automation.
Applications of AI in a Project Management
In 2022 AI will be more and more present in project management flow to help automate risk assessments, resource management, and KPI analysis.
Embedding AI capabilities can assist project managers and organizations in achieving transparency.
AI can successfully detect potential threats in a project and improve a project leader's decision-making abilities by simultaneously assessing data from several projects.
Artificial intelligence can improve risk assessment: We all know how deadlines are pushed ahead due to poor estimation or unknown external circumstances. With the help of AI, PM can get the proper estimate of a project's duration, costs, and progress, which will allow us to predict realistic timelines for a project.
Project managers need to use AI in project management and then learn to use it for successful project completion.
6. More focus on data analytics
Project management involves a lot of data. As a result, project managers rely on data insights to make informed decisions to better manage projects and boost corporate development.
A large amount of data is involved in project management. As a result, project managers rely on data insights to make rational decisions for better managing the projects and boosting organizational success.
Whether it is project planning, quality management, or risk estimation, extensive data analysis has already started to change the world of project management. For example, the data will help us learn how to organize the team, team size, involve and position team members, and the skillsets needed for better project management.
To conclude, here is a list of all 6 project management trends for 2022:
Trend 1 : Hybrid work is inevitable.
Trend 2 : A more significant focus on soft skills.
Trend 3 : Flexible and Result-Only Work Environment. More trust, less control.
Trend 4 : Integration of change management for project success.
Trend 5 : Automation and AI.
Trend 6 : Continued Focus on Agile Methodologies.
So these are the project management trends that we believe are likely in the future.
Is there any other project management trend You Would Like to Add ?
We look forward to your feedback.