Quantitative Measurement of Project Manager Competencies

Construction organizations have historically used past relationships, familiarity, and feedback from colleagues to evaluate project manager (PM) competence. In many cases, this qualitative approach may have led to insufficient development of needed competencies and inappropriate assignment selections. The Construction Industry Institute (CII) chartered Research Team (RT) 306, Quantitative Measurement of Project Manager (PM) Competencies, to develop a list of key PM competencies and create a tool to measure them in a reliable and consistent quantitative manner. The team created and distributed a survey to CII members. To obtain the accuracy of a knowledgeable outside source, the team administered the survey to PMs’ direct supervisors, allowing for an objective understanding of the PMs’ competency levels. The supervisors were asked to answer the survey questions twice: once regarding their most “stellar” (excellent) PM and once regarding an average-performing PM. The research team then developed the Project Management Competency Assessment Tool (PM CAT). The tool should be used to measure the competencies of PMs managing all or parts of typical engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) project phases. The tool may also be adapted to evaluate PMs for a broader set of projects.

The team designed the PM CAT to identify competency gaps and, thus, pinpoint training and development opportunities for PMs. Because it is replicable and versatile, the tool can be widely used by contractors, subcontractors, owners, architect/engineers, and other types of EPC companies. Consistent use of this tool will help construction organizations improve project performance by increasing their ability to do the following: 1) assess the competencies of a successful PM; 2) identify overall training and developmental needs to improve effectiveness; 3) improve individual training by pinpointing specific needs; and 4) enhance the selection process of qualified PMs for placement on construction projects.