Artificial Intelligence and its impact on the project profession
In June 2022, the Association for Project Management (APM) published two new research reports through its Research Fund which explores the topic of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and its impact on the project profession.
|
|
Artificial intelligence in project management, led by Nicholas Dacre, Associate Professor of Project Management at Southampton Business School and Fredrik Kockum, PhD candidate researcher, University of Southampton Business School, explores the general perception of AI and the ease of use of AI technology within projects. It highlights how it can support project planning and can enhance decision-making and problem-solving.
The report’s key findings include:
- AI enhances decision-making in projects.
- AI supports problem-solving functions.
- AI is most likely to be used during project planning.
- AI improves efficiency when analysing large volumes of data in projects.
- AI has the potential to increase project success and mitigate project failure.
- There is a positive correlation between the level of project complexity and the perceived usefulness of AI.
Dr Dacre said: "This very exciting research represents the culmination of over two years’ worth of engagement with the project management community. Our findings indicate that AI can enhance decision-making, improve the efficiency of project data analytics, and can increase project success."
Can artificial intelligence learn to be a project professional? led by Dr Ian Stewart, Reader in Project Management Education, University of Manchester and Dr Kun Wang, Engineering Project Management Lecturer, University of Manchester, provides insights on the benefits and limitations of AI for the project professional. The research aims to identify AI-aware project managers' beliefs, opinions and expectations regarding AI in the project management profession. The research evaluates these, using the sociology of professions and AI expert opinion as to how realistic those expectations are and the possible implications for the professional status of project management.
Dr Kun Wang said: “This research enables project management professionals to reflect on defensible competencies in front of AI. It motivates professional associations, employers and practitioners to rethink development approaches to build professionalism in the trend of developing AI technologies."
You can download both reports here
--Association for Project Management
Related articles on Designing for Buildings
- Artificial intelligence and civil engineering.
- Artificial intelligence and surveying.
- Artificial intelligence for smarter, safer buildings.
- Artificial intelligence in buildings.
- Artificial intelligence.
- Association for Project Management articles.
- Association for Project Management.
- BSRIA publishes Artificial Intelligence in Buildings white paper.
- Internet of things.
- Predictive analytics.
- Project management.
Featured articles and news
Government outcome to the late payment consultation, ECA reacts.
IHBC 2025 Gus Astley Student Award winners
Jack Parker of Oxford Brookes University wins for work on the role of hewing in UK historic conservation.
Future Homes Building Standards and plug-in solar
Parts F and L amendments, the availability of solar panels and industry responses.
How later living housing can help solve the housing crisis
Unlocking homes, unlocking lives.
Preparing safety case reports for HRBs under the BSA
A new practical guide to preparing structural inputs for safety cases and safety case reports published by IStructE.
Male construction workers and prostate cancer
CIOB and Prostate Cancer UK encourage awareness of prostate cancer risks, and what to do about it.
The changed R&D tax landscape for Architects
Specialist gives a recap on tax changes for Research and Development, via the ACA newsletter.
Structured product data as a competitive advantage
NBS explain why accessible product data that works across digital systems is key.
Welsh retrofit workforce assessment
Welsh Government report confirms Wales faces major electrical skills shortage, warns ECA.
A now architectural practice looks back at its concept project for a sustainable oceanic settlement 25 years on.
Copyright and Artificial Intelligence
Government report and back track on copyright opt out for AI training but no clear preferred alternative as yet.
Embedding AI tools into architectural education
Beyond the render: LMU share how student led research is shaping the future of visualisation workflows.
Why document control still fails UK construction projects
A Chartered Quantity Surveyor explains what needs to change and how.
Inspiration for a new 2026 wave of Irish construction professionals.
New planning reforms and Warm Homes Bill
Take centre stage at UK Construction Week London.
A brief run down of changes intentions from April in an onwards.
Reslating an ancient water mill
A rare opportunity to record, study and repair early vernacular roofs.
CIOB Apprentice of the Year 2025/26
Construction apprentice from Lincoln Mia Owen wins this years title.
Insulation solutions with less waste for a circular economy
Rob Firman, Technical and Specification Manager, Polyfoam XPS explains.
Recycled waste plastic in construction
Hierarchy, prevention to disposal, plastic types and approaches.
UK Net Zero Carbon Buildings Standard V1 published
Free-to-access technical standard to enable robust proof of a decarbonising built environment.