After the pandemic, most businesses have switched to remote working, which has left the project managers worried about the future of their projects. The global crisis has changed the face of any predicted project management trends, therefore staying on top of all of the recent trends and advancements is very important. Below are the five most important project management trends that can boost your project management and delivery in 2021.
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The AI advantage
Various applications for Artificial Intelligence in project management exist today, and in 2021, we will continue to see the integration of AI in different projects.
- Businesses will use AI to streamline project tasks and make better decisions using AI analytics.
- AI can play an active role in project team selection by integrating previous project learnings and providing suggestions based on project needs and resource skills.
- AI can be used to automate repetitive tasks so that the team can spend more time on problem-solving.
- AI can be used to improve project results by using historical data.
- In projects, there are several unforeseen changes and critical success factors involved. AI will be able to tell what impact those changes will have on the project based on how similar changes impacted previous projects.
Microsoft Outlook’s MyAnalytics provides AI-powered suggestions to boost productivity and provide suggestions for effective collaboration, work schedules, and staying on top of tasks.
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Hybrid project management
All projects are different, carrying different goals, challenges, and intervening factors. Therefore, teams can not stick to one specific methodology for all projects. For this reason, the concept of hybrid project management will be more important in 2021, and more and more project managers and Scrum masters will be combining more than one methodologies for project management. Combining traditional methods with fast and responsive agile methodology benefits projects in the following ways:
- Project progress can be marked easily as the entire scope of work is already known in advance.
- It is easier to scrutinize and document all primary requirements of the project.
- Agile capabilities allow managers to react to requirement changes appropriately.
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Data analytics for quality management
Project management involves a lot of data. AI-powered data insights can be leveraged by project managers to make informed decisions to handle projects more efficiently and increase business growth. Big data analysis can help project managers in the following ways:
- Project planning
- Quality Management
- Risk Estimation
- Team Formation
- Including and positioning team members
- Using the appropriate skill sets for better project outcomes
If project managers use data analytics the right way, it has the power to produce a lot of business value. Tech tools such as Tableau and Google Data Studio can be very helpful when working with data.
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Increased reliance on virtual project teams
The pandemic pushed a lot of professionals to work remotely. In 2021 as well, we will see more companies switching to work remotely and establishing hybrid teams. Companies will also be tapping into the freelancer market to augment their workforce this 2021. This will help the projects in the following ways:
- By controlling the overhead project costs.
- By utilizing the skills of highly skilled individuals.
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Emotional intelligence
The COVID-19 related worries coupled with the stress of completing projects on time caused many professionals to suffer from severe stress. Therefore, the demand for project managers with high levels of emotional intelligence is growing. Such project managers can not just get the best out of their team members but also help them stay motivated during stressful times.
The project managers with social skills and the ability to show empathy will be highly valued as businesses learn to cope with the challenges brought by the pandemic.
