The creation and implementation of new ideas can be defined as ‘projects’ and need to be managed to ensure project stakeholders receive maximum benefit. New ideas may take the form of products, services, systems, or other deliverables and may be standalone projects, programs (aligned sets of projects) or portfolios (collections of projects and/or programs). Most importantly, projects can apply to any industry sector or field of endeavour, including but not limited to building and engineering infrastructure, software development, innovative business models, government-led social change, mining, space exploration, new technological inventions, and natural disaster recovery efforts. Project managers can find work as team leaders within client organisations in the public or private sector, within external consultancies, or alternatively they can run their own business. Their job may entail responsibility for specific projects, programs, or portfolios, being an expert witness in contract disputes, mentoring and training of others, or solving unique problems that arise in the course of client-led business activities and can apply their skills on local, national, or global projects, as part of co-located or virtual project teams.
The Project Management Institute, just one of many industry bodies that govern our discipline, has certified over 750,000 professional project managers worldwide across a range of roles.