Training important for new project managers

Press Release: June 29, 2011 FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. (June 29, 2011) – With the economic challenges that architecture, engineering, planning & environmental consulting firms have faced in recent years, effective project management skills remain a crucial element to business success. Nevertheless, only 21 percent of project managers report that they receive job-specific training before being promoted to the position of project manager, according to ZweigWhite’s 2011 Project Management Survey. Moreover, less than a third of firms reported that they always provide project management training to new project managers. Christine Brack, PMP, principal, ZweigWhite Consulting says, “When professional liability carriers track non-technical risk drivers of failed projects, they have found a majority of the cases involved an inexperienced project manager. “When they dig a little deeper, they usually discovered the PM lacked the proper communication skills, negotiation and problem solving skills, and good judgment that come with experience and training,” she adds. Half of all project managers and 35 percent of firm management agree that the top training need for project managers is financial management/budgeting, according to the 2011 Project Management Survey. Meanwhile, 20 percent of firm management and 44 percent of project managers believe that project management is a top training need. Leadership/staff management is a top training need for 15 percent of firm management and 40 percent of project managers. And finally, 10 percent of firm management and 35 percent of project managers claim that marketing/business development is a top training need. ”Everyone learns something on the job everyday – but to put an untrained PM on a project and hope for the best is a complete risk,” Brack says. ZweigWhite is hosting a one day course Best Practices in A/E/P Project Management on Sept. 8, 2011, in New York, N.Y., and November 8, 2011 in San Diego, Calif. To learn more about the 2011 Project Management Survey or the Best Practices in Project Management Seminar visit www.zweigwhite.com Press Contact: Christina Zweig christinaz@zweigwhite.com www.zweigwhite.com