International Project Management Day is celebrated annually on the first Thursday of November and is all about appreciating the important role project managers play in our organizations. This year, it falls on November 7. Without project managers, the huge projects companies take on will be frankly impossible to achieve. LaVerne Johnson and Lori Milhaven of the International Institute for Learning (I.I.L.) created this day to give project managers the spotlight and appreciation they deserve.
History of Project Management Day
During board meetings, directors and other important members of an organization gather around to toss ideas. These ideas often turn into small to large-scale projects funded by companies and investors. These projects take weeks, months, and sometimes even years to accomplish, with the help of several resources and competent teamwork. Who does the board look to help manage this possible crisis? None other than Project Managers!
Project Managers are the professionals that help keep our project goals and objectives in check. These are the individuals, who manage our projects, and the others that are working on them. They achieve all the desired goals within the time, scope, and budget of the project, using their amazing communication, organizational, leadership, problem-solving, and other management skills.
Project Management as a disciple originated from the Engineering industry in the 1950s. Before that, large projects were often handled by the engineers themselves, using ad hoc approaches like Gantt charts and other informal techniques.
The development of the critical path method (C.P.M.) and program evaluation and review technique (PERT) led to the start of a new era, and the streamlining of project management as a discipline on its own, and almost two decades later the Project Management Institute was established in the U.S. Over time, several approaches and types of project management have been developed such as Project Lifecycle and Lean Project Management. Most of these approaches can be applied across any given industry, while some are more efficient in particular industries.
International Project Management Day was created in 2004, spearheaded by LaVerne Johnson and Lori Milhaven, and the entire team of the International Institute for Learning (I.I.L.) to highlight the hard work of project managers and appreciate their management efforts.
Project Management Day timeline
The Critical Path Method (C.P.M.) is created by Morgan R. Walker and James E. Kelley Jr.
The Program Evaluation and Review Technique (PERT) is developed for the U.S. Navy Special Projects Office.
The Project Management Institute (P.M.I.) is established in the U.S.
The P.M.I. develops and publishes “A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge” (P.M.B.O.K. Guide).
Project Management Day FAQs
What is a project life cycle?
A project life cycle is the combination of phases each project usually goes through before completion. It includes five phases, namely, initiating, planning, executing, monitoring/controlling, and closing.
What is PRINCE2?
PRINCE2 is a project management approach, and it stands for Projects in Controlled Environments. It is the least popular approach and is often used for projects with environmental constraints.
What is the oldest project management approach?
The Gantt Chart is the oldest known informal project management approach. It was developed by Henry Gantt in the 1920s, and one of its first major applications was for the Hoover Dam in 1931.
Project Management Day Activities
Appreciate a Project Manager
If you work at a medium-large scale organization, your employers often require project management or maybe even employ some in-house. Spend the day appreciating these individuals for all their hard work in the organization. If you don’t fall into that category but have one or two friends that are project managers, show your appreciation for their skills by sending a text or shouting them out on social media.
Organize a work event
If you are an employer of project managers or work closely with them, take some time to plan a little work party for them. It could be as small as free lunch in the break room or as elaborate as gift hampers and cards. Whatever you decide to do, make sure it shows just how much you appreciate the project managers in your team.
Learn about project managers
Throughout history, there have been various successful project managers. Some of which include Elizabeth Harrin, Michael Kaplan, and Chris Lema. Spend the day learning about successful project managers, and if you are one yourself, you could attend the online conference held annually to learn from your outstanding colleagues. This conference attracts over 35,000 project managers across the globe.
5 Interesting Facts About Project Management
You might not need a certificate
Statistics say barely 56% of project managers worldwide are certified.
They are in high demand
As of 2017, there were over 15 million project managers worldwide, and it is projected that employers will need over 88 million by 2027.
Failure is expected
About 75% of executives expect their projects will fail, and about 70% of projects are prone to failure.
It’s not a one-man job
One-third of projects fail due to a lack of involvement from senior management.
They make a lot of money
The median salary for a project manager in the U.S. is $87,000 annually.
Why We Love Project Management Day
It encourages proper planning
Project Management Day not only highlights the relevance of project managers in our industries and business, but it also highlights the importance of proper planning and management as a whole. Project management as a discipline shows how much time, money, and energy can be saved from adequate planning, and yes, this also applies to our daily lives.
It’s an appreciation effort
This day allows us to truly appreciate a typically overlooked profession. It allows us to see just how crucial project managers are and gives us a chance to show appreciation for all their hard work.
It encourages project managers
This day also serves as an encouragement to project managers across the world. We all love to be appreciated for our efforts, and a day like this is a boost of morale for those who have chosen this as their career path. It also encourages the profession to other individuals who might have put it into consideration.
Project Management Day dates
| Year | Date | Day |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | November 3 | Thursday |
| 2023 | November 2 | Thursday |
| 2024 | November 7 | Thursday |
| 2025 | November 6 | Thursday |
| 2026 | November 5 | Thursday |
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