"Hey Siri, will AI replace project managers?" : Navigating the AI era: Impact of Machine Learning on Project Manager's Core Competencies

Abstract: This paper examines how the advance of Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies may affect the role of project managers. It draws on a narrative literature review and semi-structured interviews conducted with seventeen project managers from various industries in Sweden. The theoretical framework of the study is based on Wachnik's stages of AI development and categorization of core competencies for project success of Alvarenga et al. The results of this paper suggest that even though the current uptake of AI technologies is still low in project management practices, project managers can already start preparing for the potential paradigm shift by focusing on developing competencies such as communication, leadership, and understanding the technological context. Moreover, the authors developed the Holistic Competencies Triangle model to navigate project managers through the competencies needed for successful and effective project management when AI is more widely adopted.