Companies are increasingly realizing that skilled project managers are a business necessity. For a company to thrive, it must deliver on its strategic initiatives consistently and reliably. A trusted pilot to steer the project home is key to success.
The Project Management Institute's (PMI) “Pulse of the Profession” report identified four global trends that are increasing the demand for project managers:1
- Digital advancements: “By 2025, the share of tasks performed by robots will rise from a global average of around 10% to about 25% across all manufacturing industries,” according to PMI. Wider use of automated technologies increases productivity while vastly reducing the need for labor.
- High customer expectations: Social media has altered the customer-company relationship. Customers are able to provide instant feedback on products and services and to make demands on companies in real time, forcing companies to respond to customer demands quicker.
- Disruptive organizations: Technology allows companies to spring up faster and to do with an app and a few computers what used to require a workforce. Services such as Uber, Airbnb, Craigslist, and Poshmark have created new markets and upended profitable and formerly stable industries.
- Changing workforces: Baby boomers are stepping out and millennials are taking over. These generations have widely different strengths, weaknesses, and workplace expectations.
“Project management has evolved from a technical discipline specific to certain industries to a universal business model for accomplishing strategic objectives, said Dr. Kathleen Simmons, program director for Walden University’s MS in Project Management. “Qualified project managers are in demand in virtually every industry sector and a wide range of occupations, such as banking, pharmaceutical, consulting, advertising, legal, healthcare, and higher education.”
The changing work environment demands a skilled manager who can not only navigate these trends but also work them to a company's advantage. To do that, a project manager must combine technical knowledge, leadership abilities, organization skills, and strategic thinking. Walden University's online MS in Project Management can prepare graduates to tackle complex business challenges and deliver on strategic initiatives. Walden's program is one of the few certified by the Project Management Institute Global Accreditation Center for Project Management Education Programs.
Learn more about Walden University’s MS in Project Management program and discover how an accredited online university can help you earn your degree in a convenient, flexible format that fits your schedule and busy life.
Walden University is accredited by The Higher Learning Commission, www.hlcommission.org.
Walden University’s MS in Project Management program is accredited by the Project Management Institute (PMI) Global Accreditation Center (GAC) for Project Management Education Programs. PMI GAC is the world’s leading specialized accrediting body for project management education and related degree programs, affirming that Walden’s curriculum meets rigorous quality standards established by the GAC.