Artificial Intelligence Use in Project Management
SERIES ARTICLE
By Ivano di Filippo, Dr. Josh Ramirez, Darrell Mesa, and Rebecca Winston
Italy and USA
Introduction
Artificial intelligence (AI) is receiving a great deal of press, and the bulk of the press is positive. Even when acknowledging the positive attributes of using AI, the project manager and team members need to be as aware and knowledgeable of the issues that AI use can present to the project.
The term artificial intelligence is used for the theory, continual development, and the application within computer systems to accomplish tasks that had been the domain of human beings. The term intelligence is used to mean the rational review of available data to present solution sets to various queries by the user. It is not intelligence as used when referring to a human being, thus the first issue. Human beings use not only their cognitive intelligence, but they use their social and emotional intelligence to go beyond the data. What does this mean? Even those AI tools that can attach social data to the general data being queried, they do not have the means to add to the solution set the emotional understanding of the application of the data. So why is the social intelligence not enough? A context of environment of application of data is not a complete understanding of social environment. The AI technology can provide a list of stakeholders, generally potential and actual stakeholders; it cannot provide a complete understanding of the messaging in team environments, which is a critical task for a project manager.
For a more complete understanding of the approach to be used in the series of papers that will cover this topic, these definitions are provided:
- Cognitive intelligence – often referred to as the intelligence quotient, but it goes beyond that to a broader understanding including capabilities, skills, and experiential learning.
- Emotional intelligence – ability to perceive, understand, and manage one’s own emotions and relationships that requires not only being self-aware, but being aware of others emotional interactions, social awareness.
- Social intelligence – ability to understand one’s and others action in the environments where one is interacting and the ability to apply aspects of past interactions and understanding the social constructs presented by any interaction with groups of individuals.
- Algorithms – set of processes or rules to be followed for calculations and other operations, including providing a response to queries requiring data and other information to be provided to answer queries
- Bias – prejudice, distortion, or skewing of data or text responses; can also include how data supplied by AI is used and the context in which it is applied; can include the human and systemic
- Machine learning – considered a subset of AI, includes the system of algorithms or the neural network within the broader AI system that builds upon data sets to facilitate the performance of the computer or computers to analyze data and make predictions without human intervention outside of the algorithms developed to achieve the building of analysis approaches and the use of data for predictions
- Neural science – multi-disciplinary approach to examine the structure and function of the human brain, inclusive of the nervous system
- Behavioral neuroscience – studies the interfaces presented in a given environment as it relates to the human being in the case of AI
Throughout the series of papers other terms will be defined for greater understanding of the topics presented.
More…
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Editor’s note: This article is an introduction to a series of articles by the authors on the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in the project management field. While the authors recognize the rapidly growing attention on the potential power and impact of AI on project management, they also want to point out the risks of assuming AI and human intelligence are or can be equated. The authors have previously researched and published on topics related to neuro-behavioral issues and cognitive intelligence in project management.
How to cite this work: di Filippo, I., Ramirez, J., Mesa, D., Winston, R. (2024). Part 1: Issues That Project Managers and Other Members of the Project Team Should Be Aware of, Artificial Intelligence Use in Project Management, series article, PM World Journal, Volume XIII, Issue VI, June. Available online at https://pmworldlibrary.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/pmwj142-Jun2024-di-Filippo-et-al-AI-in-Project-Management-series-1.pdf
About the Authors
Ivano di Filippo
Rome, Italy
Applied Cognitive Neuroscience Scientist specializing in Project Management and AI
LinkedIn Profile | Official Website | Publications | Link to the book
Ivano di Filippo is a distinguished scientist in Applied Cognitive Neuroscience, focusing on project management and artificial intelligence. He currently leads the Cognitive Readiness Research Program, which is dedicated to advancing the mental preparation of leaders. From 2017 to 2019, Ivano served on the Board of Directors at the Italian Institute of Project Management (ISIPM), where he also holds certification as a Project Manager.
Educated in medicine at La Sapienza University of Rome, Ivano furthered his technical skills in computer science, working for ten years as a professional IT and Web programmer. His diverse expertise is enriched by over 30 years of studying and practicing Zen, integrating oriental disciplines into his professional and personal life.
In 2011, Ivano joined forces with Prof. Dr. Russell Archibald and Dr. Daniele Di Filippo in the international research program on Cognitive Readiness, eventually succeeding Dr. Archibald as the Program Director at his request.
In November 2022, he was appointed the Scientific Referent at ISIPM, continuing to impact the field with his innovative approach to integrating neuroscience into project management practices.
He is the co-author of the book “Cognitive Readiness in Project Teams – Reducing Project Complexity and Increasing Success in Project Management”. He can be contacted at
Dr. Josh Ramirez
Washington, USA
Dr. Josh Ramirez, PMP, NPPQ, is CEO of the Institute for Neuro & Behavioral Project Management, which he founded with Dr. Jodi Wilson. Josh is also co-author of the NeuralPlan (www.neural-plan.com) NPPQ master planner certification with Dr. Shari De Baets from Belgium, and he is an adjunct professor of project management, with experience that includes project management and project controls, including work at several national laboratories and other projects throughout the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) complex. He has authored best practices for the DOE Energy Facilities Contractors Group and wrote for other project management periodicals. His doctoral dissertation is titled Toward a Theory of Behavioral Project Management. You can view an introduction to Josh and his colleagues’ work in Behavioral Project Management at https://youtu.be/miqbagN_4dQ. The future of project management is designing PM methodologies around the beings that predict and deliver projects: humans. You can also listen to some of the podcasts Josh and his colleagues have been featured on, here: Behavioral PM: the Freakonomics Approach to Project Delivery with Dr. Josh Ramirez – https://pmhappyhour.com/ep077/; Neuroscience in Project Management – https://www.pmi.org/chapters/wdc/pmi-resources/pm-podcasts/pm-point-of-view-69; Tips from Behavioral Science – https://www.pmi.org/chapters/wdc/pmi-resources/pm-podcasts/pm-point-of-view-95.
Darrell Mesa
California, USA
Darrell Mesa, a Senior Program Planner / Scheduler and a dynamic intrapreneur, with extensive expertise in project management, including program planning, scheduling, and risk management. As a certified Project Management Professional (PMP), he has a demonstrated history of steering large-scale projects to success by applying industry best practices, with special proficiency in Earned Value Management (EVM), Critical Path Schedule Management, and Work Breakdown Structure. His role as a Microsoft Project Practitioner at Denver Corporate Search showcases his ability to develop and update intricate MS Project schedules, adhering to stringent government regulations.
Darrell’s professional journey is marked by significant roles that have allowed him to leverage his skills effectively. At Projitz LLC, as a Senior Program Planner / Scheduler, he enhanced project efficiency through meticulous application of Work Breakdown Structure and Critical Path Analysis. As a Senior Integrated Master Scheduler at Highbury Defense Group, he made notable improvements in program efficiencies through the execution of Integrated Master Schedules and the integration of Earned Schedule methodologies. A key achievement in his career was the development of 89 Project E-cademy training courses, which increased team productivity by 10%. In his capacity as a Learning Management Administrator, he demonstrated dedication to knowledge dissemination, using WordPress Tutor LMS to bolster team skills in Project Scheduling using Microsoft Project Professional and Project Web App.
In addition to his corporate roles, he is the founder of Influence IPM LLC, a business focused on Integrated Project Management, where he leverages his vast experience to provide cutting-edge project management solutions. More about his entrepreneurial venture can be found at influenceipm.com. Beyond traditional project management, he is also an active AI Influencer through his YouTube channel (Restless Minds), where he creates and shares content on AI advancements, fostering a community of tech enthusiasts and professionals keen on the latest in artificial intelligence. Based in Murrieta, California, he is keen on connecting with like-minded professionals and can be reached via email at darrell.mesa@pm-ss.org or through LinkedIn at https://linkedin.com/in/darrell-mesa-pmp-csm-4bbb8955.
Rebecca (Becky) Winston
Idaho, USA
Rebecca (Becky) Winston, Esq., JD, PMI Fellow, is a former Chair of the board of the Project Management Institute (PMI®). Becky has over 30 years of experience in program and project management, primarily on programs funded by the US government or their contractors.
Active in PMI since 1993, Rebecca Winston helped pioneer PMI’s Specific Interest Groups (SIGs) in the nineties, including the Project Earth and Government SIGs, and was a founder and first co-chair of the Women in Project Management SIG. She served two terms on the PMI board of directors as director at large, Secretary Treasurer, Vice Chair (for two years), and Chair (2002). She was elected a PMI Fellow in 2005. She is also a member of the American Bar Association and the Association of Female Executives in the United States. She currently is the Executive Vice President of the College of Performance Management and the lead for their ISO standards committee given her 25 plus years of ISO experience.
She has served as an advisor to organizations such as the National Nuclear Security Administration (USA), U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) on topics ranging from Program and Project Management to project reviews, risk management, vulnerability assessments, software development and artificial intelligence. She served on the Air Force Studies Board for six years and serves the Intelligence Science Technology Engineering Group for the National Academies of Science, Engineering, and Medicine, as well as actively serving on many studies for the National Research Council. She can be contacted at rebeccawinston@yahoo.com
