Project Management is an applied science which does not have any physical dimension. But it does have a dimension which are governed by the factors of managerial and computational skills. It’s all about process development and activity generation and it will keep on gaining momentum in the future.
A project is essentially a process that leads to completion of a product within certain parameters of time, resources and finance. There have been projects for as long as man has been in existence. Whether it was cave paintings, building the Pyramids or the Taj Mahal, or even sending a man to the moon; each of these was a project by itself. In the earlier days projects also had to be managed to be completed, but there was no distinctive management process that was identified, or even a recognition that such processes were at work. 
It is only in the last three or four decades that project management has been recognized as a science that can be identified as one, learnt as a science and applied as a science. Its application in almost all spheres of life and activities has lead to its quick development. Its impact will increase as time goes on, and it is time one looked at its future. Project management is also now applicable to activities that do not have a physical dimension to their completion, and are limited to only the thinking process.
What does the Future Look Like?
A company management’s view of projects is to complete a task within the time and resources available all of which are within their control. Stakeholders in a company would however view a project as a goal to be achieved. The tendency therefore nowadays is to bring these two viewpoints together by participative management. This can be achieved by having in place firmer leadership that can respond to the demands made by a better informed shareholder and those made by the workforce on the project which is equally enlightened.
The electronic revolution will play a very big role in how projects are monitored and executed. Accountability within teams on a project would increase with each team member having to monitor himself while executing a project and delivering it. Power within a project would be shared and skills needed for a project would be available to all its members from a shared pool. It is quite likely that within a project, the leaders for each step or aspect of the project would change depending on the skills or capabilities of the person concerned, or the needs at that particular time.
Project Management and Technology in the Future
Presently the monitoring of projects is done by specialized teams whose skills in the matter are governed by their knowledge of particular computational skills. As software becomes more and more user friendly it is likely that every person in a project would acquire these skills himself/herself and such specialized teams for monitoring may no more be needed. The responsibilities for each team member would therefore increase and make him more responsive to the project’s requirements. This may further extend to financial and resourcing and literally make each team member totally responsible for his/her part in the project.
Future projects are likely to be totally paperless with all information being shared over the net. Software will be developed that will automatically gather information from all participants and collate it into a larger picture that will be instantly available to management as well as all members of the project team.
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