Technological Intelligence for Project Managers, a Nice to Have or a Necessity?

Project management nowadays is more than defining the scope, creating a project plan, and keeping track of costs. Instead, companies ask for complementary skills in leadership and business intelligence to support their long-term strategic objectives.

But is the combination of technical, leadership, and business management skills sufficient to thrive in the digital era?

Companies need to adapt to the constant whirl of change as a result of technological progress. In a way, it's not surprising that many companies– such as those in the healthcare industry– still waste an average of $121 million for every $1 billion spent on projects and programs due to poor project performance. A number that, according to PMI's latest Pulse of the Profession survey, has barely budged over the last five years.

The time has come to add another set of skills to the list of 'must haves'for project managers. And this time, technological intelligence must get a seat at the table.

But what defines a Project Manager's Technological Intelligence and how can they use it to improve project performance?

Introducing 'TQ' or technology quotient -next to IQ and EQ, representing a project manager's ability to understand, embrace and integrate technology into projects and procedures-will be a defining factor for project success as the digital world unfolds before us.

The good news is that like EQ, TQ is not fixed as someone's IQ and thus can be increased easily with immediate results on the overall project performance.

According to PMI's latest Pulse of the Profession, there are three characteristics that a project manager with high TQ has:

• A never-ending curiosity for technology
  Always on the lookout for new approaches and technologies, trying out and improving new project delivery approaches tied to technology. The talent of knowing when to integrate emerging project delivery practices without chasing after every new digital trend.

• All-inclusive leadership
  Understanding that getting the best out of a team, no longer means 'just' managing people, but also managing technology and the people working with it.

• A future proof talent pool
  The will and the ability to keep up with the latest trends, to adapt new digital skills and to stimulate others to do the same, all to ensure the know-how and right mindset is maintained into the distant future.

It's clear that, in a world constantly being remodelled by technology, TQ will be the must have, make-or-break skill set to improve project outcomes.

Source: Pulse of the Profession 2019