The Project Management Deployment Index provides a realistic depiction of how project management is faring in European nations.

In his chapter, "The Deployment of Project Management: A Prospective View of G8, European G6 & Outreach 5 Countries in 2025," Christophe N. Bredillet, PhD, discusses a framework to predict future project management usage trends around the globe.

Dr. Bredillet, dean of postgraduate programs at ESC Lille, Lille, France, predicts the project management discipline will continue to be adopted in more and more organizations.

Can you explain the Project Management Deployment Index (PMDI)?

PMDI is the number of people having a professional credential in project management in a given country, divided by the total population of that country.

And how can this model help us improve and understand project management?

It's a realistic depiction of how project management methods could be used now and in the future.

Usually it's coordinated with GDP development, so it can help professional bodies or similar institutions, for example, see where to focus development to meet the expected needs of the profession.

What was the most surprising trend you uncovered?

The United Kingdom came in behind Canada and the United States, but according to the model, the United Kingdom will pass those countries in 2025.

In a similar vein, project management was not very popular in Japan. But when you consider the trend, you can see that Japan should become among the third- or fourth-most-developed country by 2025 in terms of the PMDI.

What countries are lagging right now?

According to the calculations, countries like Brazil, Russia and even India seem to stay behind even in the future. And when you consider what is expected of the BRIC countries [Brazil, India, Russia, China] in terms of economic development, professional bodies and governmental organizations will need to focus on project management education and competence development to support this growth.

What methodologies would these countries benefit from?

We know they will need more project management. The purpose of the chapter is not to address any specific methodologies. For this, we will need a special study. But for sure, what we can say is they will need more project management.

Why is it important to develop trend forecasts?

Understanding the dynamic within specific countries will help to adapt the development rate of project management to meet the economic goals of these countries.

What are the most important lessons project managers can glean from the PMDI scores?

For one thing, project managers looking for a job can focus on countries where the needs are huge. And I think the index could help professional bodies to focus on where the needs are really important.