Project Management Institute (PMI) has disclosed that the current wave of infrastructural development seen across Africa is driving the demand for project management-oriented skills. However, the PMI said that the global economy needs 25 million new project professionals by 2030, on the back of the rapid expansion that stems in part from the global economy becoming increasingly project-oriented.
“Every sector you can think of, from healthcare, construction, finance, and manufacturing to information technology and fintech, all require project management talent. The pivotal role played by a project manager and other stakeholders in building infrastructure can raise countries’ productivity and drive the economy,” George Asamani, MD, SSA, PMI, stated during the recent International Project Management Day (IPMD), celebrated every first Thursday in November.
According to him, demand is especially significant in developing economies like South Africa and Nigeria, with nearly every organisation needing skilled project managers to drive change and innovation. “It will be critical to upskill the current workforce and introduce project management to a new generation of professionals to meet demand,” he stated.
According to McKinsey, the volume and value of current African infrastructure projects is estimated at $2.5 trillion in active projects to be completed by 2025. However, it must be noted that not all those projects come to fruition, as more than 50 percent remain in the feasibility stage of development.
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However, Asamani stated that project managers make ideas a reality by helping organisations that strive to remain competitive, to execute complex tasks and strategy. According to him, professionals in the field add immense value to the business with their ability to see the ‘devil in the details’.
“The ability of project managers to manage scope, time, and cost coupled with analytical proficiency, communication, and problem-solving skills have resulted in a surge of hiring in industries traditionally less project-focused like healthcare.
“The pandemic may have caught the world by surprise, but the ensuing race against time to develop, mass produce, and double vaccinate global populations was a success made possible by project managers,” Asamani stated.
He further disclosed that a recent survey by the PMI shows that project success does not only depend on the technical execution and the iron triangle of scope, cost, and time but also on the power skills of the project manager.
“I continue to encourage project managers and budding project managers and those whose success relies on project managers to – keep your skills and knowledge up to date, keep growing your network and keep developing your power skills, ” Asamani stated.
