The Future of Project Management: Why Doing M.O.R.E. Matters

Earlier this year, PMI unveiled a broader perspective for the project profession, known as M.O.R.E. It’s a call to action for project professionals to take accountability for their projects beyond meeting predetermined success metrics. It’s not just about executing well; it’s about delivering value to core project stakeholders. This perspective is grounded in four guiding principles that challenge project professionals to think and act differently:

• Manage Perceptions: For a project to be considered successful, the key stakeholders must perceive that the project's outputs provide sufficient value relative to the perceived investment of resources.
• Own Project Success beyond Project Management Success: Take ownership of the entire breadth of a project and take accountability for delivering tangible and perceived value.
• Relentlessly Reassess Project Parameters: Recognize the reality of inevitable and ongoing change and continuously reassess the perception of value and adjust plans.
• Expand Perspective: Consider the broader picture and how the project fits within the larger business, goals or objectives of the enterprise, and ultimately, our world.

Like everything else at PMI, the work is amplified and supercharged by volunteers, chapters, and partners, and PMI chapters around the world are getting in on the M.O.R.E. action.

Recently, Lenka Pincot, PMI’s Chief of Staff to the CEO and leader of PMI’s Thought Leadership, met with PMI members to discuss the M.O.R.E. call to action at the Project, Agile, & Leadership Conference in Prague, Czech Republic.

The message was clear: Now, more than ever, we need to collectively do M.O.R.E.

Why now is the time to do M.O.R.E.

Volatility is the new norm

The world is facing poly-crises that are challenging leaders across all industries, geographies, and verticals. Climate emergency, trade tensions, economic disruption, geopolitical shifts, and technological disruptions are changing the way we work and live. And there’s no end in sight.

And it’s accelerating the need for transformation

Industries, consumer preferences, and the regulatory environment are changing rapidly. This is forcing organizations to transform, consistently, and to do so while the world around them remains in flux.

Meanwhile, the life cycle of skills is shortening

At the same time, the prevalence of new tech means professionals, to remain relevant,  need to attain new skills at a more rapid pace. In a recent IBM study, executives estimated that 40% of their workforces will need to reskill in the next three years due to AI and automation.

And the need for project professionals is growing

The need for successful, repeatable transformation is driving the demand for project professionals. PMI research shows that up to 30 million new—and skilled—project professionals will be needed by 2035.

This is good news for project professionals, but to truly thrive in this new world, upskilling, developing new skills, and meeting the M.O.R.E. call to action is absolutely crucial.

The power of PMI chapters in shaping the future

PMI is leading the way in future-proofing our profession by providing upskilling opportunities, and our large global network of more than 300 chapters is helping hone our offering.

The M.O.R.E. workshop held in Prague has been repeated by multiple PMI chapters worldwide, and the insights revealed are significant. At the LIM workshops, project professionals discuss M.O.R.E. in the context of their current challenges, and they identify tangible ways that PMI can support hardwiring M.O.R.E. into the profession.

There are hundreds of examples, but here are 5 ideas that are often sighted:

1. Train professionals to speak “business language”
2. Foster storytelling, case sharing, and workshops on value communication
3. Promote structured communication frameworks, empathy building, two-way feedback
4. Recognize project professionals who demonstrate a "business ownership" mindset
5. Partner with other organizations to spread change and resilience practices

PMI relies on the unique experiences of its global community to produce resources from which everyone can benefit. Do you have any other ideas? We’d love to hear from you. Connect with your local PMI chapter or follow us on LinkedIn to share your thoughts.

Tags: Future of Work | Project Management | Project Leadership | Professional Development

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