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New research released this year has identified the top global project management trends for 2011: the key themes for this year include building the project manager’s influence, and accelerating new leadership and communication skills.

The survey of a global panel of consultants and senior executives by ESI International showed that “Leadership skills will be the PM’s critical success factor”.

The study suggests that leadership skills such as critical thinking, crucial communication and organisational change management will be strategically imperative project management competencies to master for the contemporary business environment.

The survey reveals a second major trend for this year: there is a war on for project management talent and visionary retention strategies, and skills development will play a greater role in curbing poaching.

“Despite local businesses feeling positive about this year, as the recession is largely considered to be over, things have changed, and the challenges above exist and need to be addressed,” says Dennis Comninos, who directed the Strategic Project Management short course at the University of Cape Town Graduate School of Business in March. The course develops high-level project management skills in South Africa.

Comninos is an international author and lecturer.

“One thing is clear: we’re all in a new phase of doing in 2011, and this will require business and government to step up their game to deliver results,” he adds.

Businesses in South Africa may have struggled in 2010, but have an opportunity in 2011 to take a more strategic approach to their projects.

Comninos points out that selecting the right projects will be vital if companies want to achieve post-recession growth.

“South Africa has a shortage of skilled strategic project managers; these are project managers who are critical and creative strategic thinkers, and they focus on business and strategy, and not only on methodologies and standards,” he says.

It is not only business that can improve on projects. Ill-chosen projects, poorly selected investments, and a lack of strategic project management skills are also what stand in the way of the government meeting its mandate to the people

Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan, quoted in a recent Financial Times article, said that “with clear timelines and goals, South Africa does have the capacity to deliver,” but explained that, “provincial, municipal and national departments have been unable to translate aspirations into concrete programmes.” ☑

Article courtesy of the University of Cape Town Graduate School of Business

www.gsb.uct.ac.za