Top 10 Project Management Predictions for 2016

Project management is considered a very static field, but in 2016, this static field is predicted to head towards an anomaly. This article focuses on top 10 predictions for project management in 2016.

1. Agility would be the success mantra in the year 2016

Agile will be even more vital in 2016. Agile methods have become the best alternatives to the waterfall or traditional sequential development models. Agile methods can be easily synchronized with other software project management software applications which help in process automation and also benefit data analysis.

2. Bigger roles and responsibilities for project managers

In 2016, we can expect bigger roles and responsibilities for project management teams. Participation is sales cycle will be a the big thing in 2016. Project managers are predicted top play a key role in the sales cycle. In future, we hope to see project managers will be actively involved in budgeting the resources and balancing schedules even before the deal is signed with the client. It is also expected that team members will also have to take up additional roles and responsibilities in near future.

3. Higher demand for certified project managers

In the year 2015, most of the organizations accentuated on better project management, especially in the IT sector. This trend is expected to continue in 2016 as well, but this year the preference will be given to the certified project managers, due to the increase in the complexities of IT projects, the emergence of new technologies, and the cost involved in the projects. The bottom line is certified project managers will hold better cards to win in the job race.

4. 2016 - Big year for Big Data and IoT

Internet of Things (IoT) has been in the news in 2015 and this year it is expected to be same. IoT is gaining good momentum and people are getting inclined towards this technology. Project managers can bank on the IoT popularity and integrate IoT to their existing systems and make use of the data IoT produces. On the other hand, Big Data is also expected to play a prominent role in 2016 as well. In 2016, Big Data is expected to take a substantial seat in project management process.

5. Emphasis will be on mobility

Cloud computing technologies have paved new avenues for the project management teams. Project management teams now have an advantage of accessing the data from any point. The cloud technologies have now become critical for the project management teams as they have the flexibility to connect to their clients virtually from anywhere. This trend will be on the rise in 2016 as well.

6. Cybersecurity will be the top priority

With the steep rise in cyber crimes, cybersecurity would be the top priority for the organizations in 2016. Organizations are leaving no stone unturned to protect their confidential data from cyber attacks. Organizations which overlooked cyber threats have faced catastrophic consequences. In the year 2015, we have already witnessed data breaches on most secure systems that affected millions of people in United States. These data breaches have underlined the importance of cybersecurity.

7. The need for design and innovative thinkers

The need for design and innovative thinkers is expected to rise sharply in 2016. Organizations will be looking professionals with innovative problem solving techniques. We can expect massive job openings in 2016 for innovative and design thinkers.

8. Higher emphasis on portfolio & programme management

To bridge the gap between strategy and execution, the demand for portfolio and programme management has increased. The future project managers have to develop an understanding on how various projects can affect others while maintaining a strategic perspective.

9. Improtance will be given to paperless project management

You can expect importance for paperless project management in 2016. More and more companies will move towards or prefer dashboard reporting of project performance over paper handouts. Companies have also noticed the importance of paperless project management methods as it will reduce the overhead cost of paper. This will also mean that organizations will focus on environment friendly approaches.

10. New ways to track assumptions and constraints

We can expect to a see a new approach employed by the project managers to track the assumptions and constraints of their projects. The new tracking approach will make the job of project managers to manage failing projects and projects that fail to provide the expected benefits and value.

Trends That Are Expected To Take The Centerstage

  • Agility would be success mantra in 2016

  • Smartphone apps is expected to camouflage terminal based project management systems. Emphasis on mobility will be higher in 2016

  • Demand for certified Project Managers will be increased. Many organizations are expected to give first priority to the certified professionals

  • Cybersecurity will be given top priority. Organizations will be looking to fortify their data and will be focusing on steps to keep hackers at bay

  • Big data will be an integral part of project management process. This will help project managers to make accurate forecasts and also manage risks in a better manner

Conclusion

Every year we have witnessed various changes in project management. Though some may be cosmetic and some changes require real efforts to execute. But one thing that we can be sure is that change is inevitable. Each year the landscape of project management is constantly, giving rise to new approaches and methodologies. We hope to see new ideas and methodologies in 2016 as well.
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Stella Morey
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