Two key project management trends for 2017 are identified. Automation tools like Slack and chatbots will reduce workload by providing updates and answering questions, ensuring teams stay on the same page. Additionally, emotional intelligence and soft skills will become more important for project managers, as employers seek those who can regulate emotions and motivate teams.

1. Two Project Management Trends
for 2017
Miro Medvedec

2. Introduction
• Miro Medvedec completed undergraduate studies at La Salle University and earned an
MBA from Indiana Wesleyan University. Miro Medvedec is a former manager with DME
Company, where he took responsibility for applications, sales, and project management.
Project management constantly evolves as new tools and ideas come to the fore. Here are
two of the key project management trends of 2017.
1. Automation will become a core component of projects, reducing the workload of
project managers and ensuring they don’t need to constantly ask team members for
updates. Conversational tools, such as Slack, provide notifications to ensure all team
members stay on the same page. Further, many of these tools are beginning to use chatbots
to answer generic project-related questions.
2. Emotional Intelligence (EI), otherwise known as soft skills, will begin to take
precedence over traditional project management certification, such as PRINCE2.
Employers will look for project managers who can help team members regulate their
emotions, thus keeping them on course and motivated.