A Must-Have for Modern
Project Managers
ADVISORY ARTICLE
By Fope Opeola
Hampshire, UK
When we hear the word “twins,” what comes to our minds first is a set of two individuals that are born with identical physical traits. Twins also share some behavioral traits, especially because they are brought up in the same environment.
How about a “digital twin,” a concept that has been rampant in project management? To understand the concept of the digital twin mindset, we must first understand the evolution of project management and the complexities and expectations of projects in the information age.
In an era where the projects are growing more complex and the managers are becoming demanding, the digital twin mindset has been adopted for reshaping how managers think and lead their followers. Today, the digital twin mindset is rapidly moving from a “should have” to a “must have” approach. Project managers are required to have a digital mindset not only to reduce the costs incurred in a project but also to enhance how a project is executed.
What is the Digital Twin in Project Management?
The digital twin is a real-time, virtual replica of a physical asset, process, or system. It’s a concept that began in the 1960s when NASA researchers were rapidly exploring the universe. In their digital twin, they built a mirror-image spacecraft on the ground that would troubleshoot the issues experienced in orbit
Today, the digital twin is applied in almost all segments, including the building and development of jet engines, wind farms, solar power machines, and smart cities. It revolves around every major project that we see in the world today.
A project digital twin is responsive with a data-rich model that mirrors all the aspects of the initiative in real-time. It corresponds with the initiative in terms of the schedule, cost, resources, quality, supply chain status, environmental conditions, and even the risks witnessed in a project. The “twin” usually mirrors everything available in the real initiative.
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How to cite this work: Opeola, F. (2026). The Digital Twin Mindset: A Must-Have for Modern Project Managers, advisory, PM World Journal, Vol. XV, Issue I, January. Available online at https://pmworldjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/pmwj160-Jan2026-Opeola-The-Digital-Twin-Mindset.pdf
About the Author
Fope Opeola
Hampshire, UK
Fope Opeola is a Project Manager at the National Oceanography Centre, United Kingdom, one of the world’s leading institutions for oceanographic research. In 2021, he earned his Master’s degree in Project Management from the University of Portsmouth, and since then has built a career managing complex, high-value projects across diverse industries. His work is rooted in meticulous planning, resource and budget management, risk management, team collaboration, and benefit realization all aimed at aligning his projects and programmes with organisational goals and realising value early. As an entrepreneur at heart, he is driven by curiosity, creativity, and the pursuit of meaningful impact through well-delivered projects. He is a Full Member of the Association for Project Management (APM) and the British Computer Society (BCS). He is an active APM volunteer within the Wessex Network and also sits on the APM Membership Panel. He can be contacted at fope.opeola@gmail.com
