Quantitative Measurement of Project Manager Competencies
Project manager competence has historically been evaluated by qualitative means which have been born out of past relationships, familiarity, and feedback from colleagues. In many cases, this approach may lead to insufficient development of needed competencies and inappropriate assignment selections. The membership of the Construction Industry Institute commissioned the Research Team 306 (RT306) “Quantitative Measurement of PM Competencies” to perform the research necessary to develop a list of key PM competencies, to create a consistency in PM evaluation, to develop a quantitative scoring method for PM competence, to develop a standard industry measure for PM competence, and to create a tool to quantitatively measure PM competencies in a reliable and consistent manner.
In order to achieve the aforementioned objectives, the following research methodology steps were developed: (1) create a comprehensive list of PM competencies and PM job-specific definitions from focus group discussion and an extensive literature review; (2) administer a preliminary survey to finalize the competency list and obtain competency weights; (3) develop and disseminate to the industry a detailed survey to confirm competency list, provide industry benchmarks, and determine a standardized scale; (4) lastly, develop a PM competency assessment tool and validate its reliability and ease of use through pilot testing.
From the research methodology and data results, the Project Manager Competency Assessment Tool (PM CAT) was developed. PM CAT is a user-friendly tool that offers a method of assessing PM competency on an industry-based scale. The PM CAT quantitatively measures competencies of PMs working on construction projects. These projects include all or part of typical Engineering, Procurement, and Construction (EPC) project phases.
The PM CAT provides the construction industry with the ability to: (1) assess the competencies of a successful PM, (2) identify overall training and developmental needs to improve effectiveness, (3) improve individual training by pinpointing competency gaps and specific needs, and (4) enhance the selection process of qualified PMs for placement on construction projects. Results are compared to industry benchmarks determined by data collected from EPC companies. It is replicable and versatile so that it can be widely used by contractors, subcontractors, owners, architects, engineers, and other EPC companies. The deployment of the PM CAT will help enhance overall project performance by improving the process by which Project Managers are developed and selected. This, in turn, will contribute to CII’s mission to improve overall industry performance.
