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Tracking the Evolution of the Project Management
A project manager plays an important role in managing human resources and handling all aspects of a project efficiently. They are mainly associated with the construction and engineering industry, but with the increasing popularity of effective project management, the demand for a manager has been growing exponentially across various industries.
A project manager is known for their ability to complete and deliver all types and complexities of projects in a timely manner. They provide leadership and direction to their teams, helping them navigate the tricky parts of projects efficiently. For the past three decades, the PMP exam has been considered the main qualification for a project manager.
Evolution of the Project Management
Over the past few years, we have seen tremendous changes in project management. Most of these changes are due to technological advancements and the fact that the focus has been shifting to stakeholders. Automation, Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, VR & AR tools, and the IoT are a few examples of technological advancements that have brought the biggest change in the project management industry.
These technologies work with an extensive range of software applications to help managers achieve their project goals while staying within budget and timeline and without wasting resources. Today, the goals of a manager go beyond the basic management process. It’s more about achieving stakeholder satisfaction and ensuring that each process is executed according to the client’s instructions with minimal risk of errors.
Evolution of PMBOK Guide
PMBOK (Project Management Body of Knowledge) is a guide for aspiring project managers that are planning to appear for the PMP exam. Although the content in the guide has changed over the past few years, the primary goal remains the same. PMBOK is one of the most crucial elements of project management. It helps you learn the basics of project management, the emerging trends in this industry, and the latest technological changes and the impact they have on your projects.
The first PMBOK was released in 1996 as a guide that teaches aspiring project managers the fundamentals of management, challenges a manager faces, decision−making, and so on. This guide covers the entire syllabus of the PMP exam.
Four years later, the second version of the PMBOK was released. The guide was filled with more valuable and informative content for the project manager’s growth. It also included practices and techniques which proved beneficial for managers. Then came the third version that included the latest and revised project management processes, improving the project’s lifecycle and making the management part more efficient. This version covered integration, cost, risk, time quality, procurement, and scope management.
The fourth version of PMBOK is one of the most popular editions, as it introduced stakeholders as key players in any project. The guide focuses on how to improve a project’s efficiency and ensure the successful completion of a given project while satisfying the needs of stakeholders and keeping them up−to−date with the project’s status. The PMBOK’s fifth version continued the focus on stakeholders.
Latest Editions of PMBOK
You may have heard of different project management methodologies and their role in improving management and bringing efficiency to all organizational processes. Well, to gain knowledge about project management, you need to check the 6th and 7th editions of PMBOK that introduced agile project management methodologies.
In addition to that, you can notice changes in the techniques, management processes, and other aspects of project management after going over the 6th edition of PMBOK. Among other concepts, it discusses Agile methodology applications. Agile methodology is about dividing the project into several sprints, which can be accomplished more efficiently than traditional management. The 6th edition has also highlighted the role of strategic thinking in project management and how it plays a crucial role in driving business growth.
The latest edition of PMBOK, i.e., the 7th part, was released recently in 2021. This latest version talks about the drastic change brought to the PMP format. The focus has now been shifted to reducing those lengthy guides into shorter management procedures. Now, the section is expanded to cover a wide range of project management techniques, which are efficient, manageable, and generate better results than the previous models.
The syllabus meets the demand for the changes introduced recently in the PMP exam. For example, the most common change in the 7th edition is the increased focus on principles instead of management processes. If you have read all 6 versions, you may have noticed how the focus had always been on the individual tasks. In the last few editions, managers shared techniques and tools that can help you achieve success in different tasks. The latest version, however, focuses more on the project and the final delivery.
What does Project Management Look Like Today?
Today, project management has a broader scope than in previous decades. The latest challenge that nearly all project managers have faced is shifting to a remote and hybrid work environment. As most businesses had shut down during the pandemic, people had to move work to the cloud. Businesses allowed employees to operate work from home so that the work could be continued.
Although the pandemic ended and operations returned to normal, the work−from−home trend hasn’t changed. This has presented new challenges for project management. Communication, for instance, has become the biggest challenge for project managers handling remote teams or a combination of remote and hybrid workers.
Fortunately, we have several tools, like Zoom and Skype, that makes communication easier and allows managers to conduct face−to−face interactions. The role of a project manager isn’t limited to overseeing different tasks, but it’s equally important that you know how to resolve conflicts, give and take feedback, conduct regular meetings, and divide your projects into smaller and achievable tasks. Note that finishing a project requires dedication, hard work, and the right management strategies.
This was all about the evolution of project management and how PMBOK has come a long way in making project management an effective, better, and more cost−efficient process. If you are planning to become a project manager, check the 6th and 7th editions of PMBOK to prepare for the PMP exam.
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