Grooming the next generation of project managers

The world's growing urban population and accelerated climate change is leading to growing demand for transformational infrastructure projects, as well as construction industry professionals who can manage these complex and large-scale undertakings.

In Singapore, the government announced plans earlier this year to issue $90 billion worth of new bonds to support the development of Singapore's long term infrastructure; including new MRT lines and tidal walls to cope with rising sea levels.

Indeed, construction demand continues to be high in Singapore. Contracts valued at around S$5.7 billion were awarded in Q1 2021, a decline of only 0.1% compared to the previous quarter, according to data from Turner & Townsend.

However, the operating environment continues to be challenging for construction and infrastructure players. Persistent supply chain disruptions due to the pandemic, as well as more costly materials and manpower, are expected to cause tender prices to escalate by 10 to 15%. As a result, construction and property companies in Singapore will continue to be pressured to do more with less by leveraging digital and other productivity enhancing solutions.

"With rising costs and continued constraints from the pandemic, the construction industry and its professionals in Singapore need to be more agile to navigate disruptions and steer towards success. This need for flexibility is also exemplified by the government's recent move to prepare more than one concept plan for long-term land use for the first time in 50 years," said Ben Breen, Managing Director, Asia Pacific & Global Head of Construction, Project Management Institute (PMI).

Behind the innovation curve

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There is room for greater digitisation in the construction industry and it is yet to develop a culture of innovation. According to McKinsey, construction projects typically take 20% longer to finish than scheduled, and are up to 80% over budget.

These findings are in line with the PMI's 2020 survey of more than 40,000 global Project Management Professional (PMP)® certification holders in the construction industry, which found that 72% of them experience project delays always or often, while 73% of projects ended over budget.

Thankfully, the situation appears to be changing for the better. McKinsey estimates that construction and engineering firms have doubled their investments in technology over the past decade to reach US$18 billion. This has resulted in rising adoption of technologies like 3D printing, robotics and modularisation to boost productivity and shorten project timelines.

New skills needed

As the construction sector becomes increasingly digitised, project managers will need to possess the skills to oversee new technologies that are being employed in more infrastructure projects.

In particular, augmented reality capabilities and Building Information Modelling (BIM) solutions, which gives construction professionals advanced insight into designing buildings and infrastructure, will be especially relevant in enhancing productivity.

Understanding the challenges affecting the industry and the need for upskilling and reskilling, PMI worked with leading global construction organisations to create learning solutions to help construction professionals evolve their project management skills and lead their projects and organisations forward. The new offering, Construction Professional in Built Environment Projects (CPBEP)™, includes seven online learning courses, three of which include the opportunity to earn a micro-credential upon course completion, is designed to provide candidates with the knowledge and skills required to complete any construction project - from home improvement to large-scale infrastructure - on time and within budget. Individuals can earn the full CPBEP certification upon passing the capstone exam.

"With more than five decades in the project management industry, PMI is uniquely positioned to help equip professionals with the skills needed to transform the surging industry through developing these innovative learning methods and practices," said Mr Breen.

"Construction and the larger built environment are key to the world's constant state of transformation - the CPBEP can not only future proof your skills, but also allow you and your team to lead the way."

Helping realise transformational projects

The world is relying on construction professionals and organisations more than ever. As outlined in PMI's Megatrends report, these professionals are being tasked with leading rapid industrialisation efforts globally, and they will need the relevant skills to successfully carry out their roles.

In Singapore, there are various ongoing infrastructure projects that will have a significant impact on the nation. For instance, the Sembcorp Tengeh Floating Solar Farm will help the country meet its goal of quadrupling solar power production by 2025. The 60-megawatt facility will power Singapore's five local water treatment plants, reducing carbon emissions by about 32 kilotonnes annually, the same as taking 7,000 cars off the roads.

Another transformational project is the Johor Bahru-Singapore Rapid Transit System. As almost 300,000 people crossed the Malaysia-Singapore border daily for work before the pandemic, this new 4-kilometre rapid transit system will significantly speed up their commutes.

Construction industry project managers equipped with the right skills and knowledge will play a crucial role in realising these and other important infrastructure megaprojects. Said Mr Breen: "To lead local, national, and global transformation efforts, the construction industry itself - as well as industry professionals - need to transform."

PMI's Construction Professional in Built Environment Projects (CPBEP)™ is a full certification for project professionals in construction. It includes 7 e-learning courses, 3 of which are micro-credentials. The certification defines the standard for construction management.

Three courses that were launched in Nov, 2021 are:

• Built Environment Project Communication Pro: Micro-credential with a course focusing on the power of effective communication and how to improve on this skill specifically for built environment projects.
• Scope and Change Order Management in the Built Environment: Course focusing on project outcomes and understanding how technology can support scope development, management, and change order processes.
• Interface Management in the Built Environment: This course focuses on the need for interface management in engineering and construction projects and the key benefits that the implementation of effective interface management brings to these projects.

Each course can be taken on its own, and courses can be taken in any order. The courses provide learning in bite sizes with engaging downloadable content, allowing learners to apply the course material at work. Within the first week of launching, there have been more than 400 enrolments.

For more information, visit www.pmi.org/certifications/construction.