Percentage of AE Firms Providing Mandatory PM Training Reaches All-Time
The percentage of architecture, engineering, planning, and environmental firms providing mandatory training for project
managers is at an all-time high. More than half of firms (52%) currently
provide mandatory PM training, a significant increase from just 17% five
years ago, according to ZweigWhite's “2003 Project Management Survey of
A/E/P & Environmental Consulting Firms.” Firms are equally likely to
provide voluntary training — 53% reported this is available to project
managers.
ZweigWhite president and CEO Mark Zweig said, "We're seeing more and more
companies requiring mandatory PM training, and that can only help make
things better. It's pretty interesting to me to see how many firms have
come to the awareness that being a capable designer or engineer does not
necessarily equip one to be a good project manager. On the other hand, I
have seen a lot of that training, and I must say that it often leaves a
lot to be desired. There's too much emphasis on budgeting, scheduling, and
liability stuff, and not enough on how to have good communications among
all parties, the real key to better project management in an A/E or
environmental firm."