Project management professionals working in the construction sector are rapidly embedding AI into their day-to-day work, transforming how projects are planned, delivered and managed, according to new research from the Association for Project Management (APM)
Findings from the research show that over a quarter (28%) of project professionals in construction say that AI is now fully embedded into their workflows and is used to support a wide range of activities including supporting decision support through data-driven insights (24% of respondents), administrative support (22%), predicting project outcomes and improving forecasting accuracy (21%), assisting with resource allocation (21%), and enhancing risk forecasting and mitigation strategies (20%).
This breadth of use signals a clear shift: AI is evolving from a productivity tool into a strategic capability underpinning project delivery.
Ethical considerations come into sharper focus
As AI becomes more embedded in project environments, ethical considerations are also rising up the agenda. Project professionals pointed to concerns around transparency, lack of accountability, and the reliability of AI-generated outputs.
In particular, the main ethical concerns of using AI at work for those working in projects in the construction industry were highlighted as being lack of transparency from employers on their intended use of AI (17% of respondents), AI-generated outputs eroding authenticity and trustworthiness (15%) and lack of clarity on how decisions made by AI are reached (15%).
Other issues raised included Use of AI tools to monitor and evaluate employee performance, as well as erosion of creativity and critical thinking skills due to reliance on AI.
Skills gaps and training
APM also found there is increasing recognition that more advanced skills are needed to fully realise AI’s potential. When asked which skills are becoming the most critical for
project managers to succeed for the future, the top-ranking responses were:
- Stakeholder engagement and relationship management (43%).
- Data literacy and AI-enabled decision support (35%).
- Ethical decision-making and professional judgement (35%).
- Leadership in remote and hybrid environments (29%).
- Technical project management tools and methods (26%).
There is a growing need for structured learning to help project professionals move from basic use of AI tools to more sophisticated and responsible application.
APM launches data literacy learning for project professionals
There is a clear need to build more advanced skills, particularly in areas like prompt engineering, ethical decision-making and data-driven leadership. That’s why, to support its members, APM has developed a data literacy learning pack including prompt engineering for project professionals designed to equip project professionals with the skills needed to use AI effectively and responsibly, and with confidence.
Featuring videos of project professionals sharing their experiences and ideas, alongside practical activities, this three-part module covers:
- How project managers are using AI in real-world scenarios.
- What prompt engineering is and why it is critical for project professionals.
- How to create effective prompts using the RACE and CRIT frameworks, as well as meta-prompting techniques.
- Ethical considerations in using prompt engineering.
- Practical use cases and expert tips from project professionals at companies including Gleeds and WSP.
Project professionals will have the opportunity to find out how data literacy and project management work together to help teams plan with confidence, make smarter decisions and deliver meaningful results, and explore the key themes of the APM Data Literacy Skills Framework.
APM members get exclusive access to APM Learning as part of its ongoing commitment to provide members with opportunities to learn, share and develop their understanding with a range of interactive digital learning content that is quality assured and approved by APM.
Find further details about APM’s AI and Data Analytics Interest Network, as well as interviews with project professionals sharing insights on how artificial intelligence can support the project profession.
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