Description
Purpose
The purpose of this assignment is to assess the skills required in the project management profession in 2021.
Background
In the publication Pulse of the Profession 2021 for North America, PMI introduced the gymnastic organization, an organization that combines structure, form, and governance with the ability to flex and pivot on demand. These organizations focus more on outcomes rather than process; they don’t rely on just one single approach to project management but they select the very best ways of working, depending on the situation. Instead of using people skills—what we call power skills—primarily to motivate and seek alignment or to facilitate autonomous decision-making, gymnastic enterprises champion these skills both as a means to inspire and deliver, depending on the desired outcome.
And instead of encouraging deeply specialized skills or more generalist approaches, gymnastic enterprises aim to build both breadth and depth in their people—referred to as business acumen. These gymnastic organizations were identified by the ways in which they work. Gymnastic organizations are delivering better value by creating “changemakers”—those who, regardless of their role, feel inspired and equipped to turn ideas into reality. These organizations are enabling their people to work smarter through the mastery of new skills.
Assignment Prompt
Once you have read this week’s assigned reading, particularly the Pulse of the Profession 2021 for North America, respond to the following assignment prompts:
Select TWO power skills that top the list of talent development priorities for all organizations (collaborative leadership, adaptability, or innovative mindset).
Search UMGC’s online library to learn more about these two power skills.
Define and discuss the two power skills selected. Focus on how the two power skills can be used to adapt the way in which organizations work.
Explain how you can develop your own skills in these two areas.
Assignment Instructions
Follow these instructions to complete and submit your assignment.
Review the grading rubric attached to this assignment to understand how you will be graded on this assignment.
Compose a short essay (800–1000 words; two-to-three pages in length) that provides a critical and thoughtful response to the prompt presented above.
Review the literature that will serve as evidence to support your response to the prompt. The literature reviewed will meet the following criteria:
Use UMGC’s library of online academic databases or PMI’s website to locate at least three scholarly/professional journal articles.
Articles must be contemporary (within the last two years).
Follow APA (7th ed.) style and formatting guidelines to prepare your essay. This will include in-text citations and a References page. The essay will be organized in a logical sequence and include at a minimum level 1 headings.
Demonstrate the mastery of technology skills by meeting the following criteria:
Prepare your essay in MS Word with one-inch margins on the sides/top/bottom, double line spacing, and 12-point Times New Roman font. Insert page numbers as required in APA.
Upload your completed essay in MS Word to the Assignment folder.
The assignment is due no later than 11:59 p.m. eastern time on Tuesday of Week 1.
