Does AI Change My Role?
SECOND EDITION
By Frank Murphy
Texas, USA
After reading this paper, readers should be able to:
- Discuss how project management can be enhanced by using AI tools while reducing the risk of decision delegation. (PS)
- Identify the Leadership roles important to project management that cannot be delegated. (PS)
- Explain how to use AI tools to reduce administrative burden and enhance your chances of project success. (WOW)
Abstract
What is project management leadership? If we consider the most important traits, can some of them be replaced by artificial intelligence? We’ll explore some of the tools you can use today to streamline your administrative burden.
Will these tools replace a human in the loop managing the actual project, or just enhance their ability to lead? To answer that question, we first have to ask what we think leadership is, can it be reduced to a checklist, and what tools are available today to make those decisions?
The term “AI” covers many tasks including machine learning and deep learning. Every software vendor seems to claim it now has AI, and is the best solution. The output is still determined by processing data and looking for patterns and decisions were made during software development on priorities and guardrails.
If we consider repetitive tasks, or ones that need to process vast amounts of data, the tools seem tailor made for projects. By definition, a project is a one-time event. It may be close in execution to other projects, but each is stand alone. It doesn’t mean you can’t learn, but it does mean there is a new path to blaze. Will we let computers make decisions? Will we require each decision to have human oversight? What if the computer (that has been programmed) makes what we consider to be a faulty decision?
Who is to blame?
As project management practices evolve, organizations are increasingly turning to innovative technologies to address the complexities of project execution. Artificial Intelligence (AI) offers a transformative approach to project management, providing intelligent automation, predictive analytics, and data-driven insights. This paper explores the role of AI in revolutionizing traditional project management methodologies.
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Editor’s note: Second Editions are previously published papers that have continued relevance in today’s project management world, or which were originally published in conference proceedings or in a language other than English. Original publication acknowledged; authors retain copyright. This paper was originally presented at the 16th UT Dallas PM Symposium in May 2024. It is republished here with the permission of the author and conference organizers.
How to cite this paper: Murphy, F. (2024). Project Management Leadership – Does AI Change My Role? presented at the 16th University of Texas at Dallas Project Management Symposium in Richardson, TX, USA in May 2024; republished in the PM World Journal, Vol. XIII, Issue IX, September. Available online at https://pmworldlibrary.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/pmwj145-Sep2024-Murphy-PM-Leadership-Does-AI-Change-My-Role.pdf
About the Author
Frank Murphy
Texas, USA
Frank Murphy works as a Program Manager for a Fortune 100 company. He retired as a CMSgt after 30 years in the U.S. Air Force. During his career he traveled to the seven continents, numerous countries, and was a key part of most military operations that needed airlift. Frank completed a DBA in Management with a dissertation that focused on remote working and employee engagement. Frank teaches business strategy and project management, is a Coach and owns a small consulting business, and manages a program implementing marketing technology for a Fortune 100 company. Frank lives in the Hill Country near San Antonio where he raises chickens, rabbits, and bees – and loves the area. He can be contacted at dbafrank@outlook.com.
