Surveying Practicing Project Managers on Curricular Aspects of Project Management Programs: A Resource-Based Approach

Abstract

Project management, as a discipline of study, deals in the explanation of conceptual and quantitative approaches used to manage nonrepetitive tasks within the organization's constraints of time, cost, and performance.. Area project management professionals in the metropolitan Pittsburgh area were surveyed concerning interest in pursuing coursework in and relative importance of project management and work efforts as defined by the Project Management Institute (PMI). After a follow-up letter, a total of 50 out of 210 (23.8%) responded to the questionnaire. A few of the highlights of the survey included the following: 68% of respondents thought more than half of their job involved project management; 56% felt more than half their subordinates do project management work; 64% would recommend graduate training in project management; and many respondents were interested in learning (90%+) topical areas. The nature of project management tasks, both in the technical and nontechnical disciplines as well as any certification and training programs and their intended curricula should explore these differences.