There is demand across industries for graduates with skills in project management.  ITAM currently offers a successful minor in project management.  This new specialization meets the growing need specified by employers for skilled employees capable of leading projects.  ITAM students and other majors will complement their studies with this specialization providing them greater job opportunities.  ITAM already offers four PM classes and has a number of industry-qualified PM experts on staff.  The five classes in the PM specialization will be offered 100% online and on campus over 4 quarters.   The specialization was researched, discussed and recommended by the ITAM advisory board as an area important to their employer needs. 

The Need/Demand:

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the Office of Occupational Statistics and Employment Projections (2014), these professionals plan, coordinate, and direct projects in an organization. They help determine the goals of a department or unit and are responsible for implementing systems including those in the IT areas.  Research indicates that we need more qualified employees to work in this field to ensure successful projects (The Standish Group, 2013).  For example, a study by McKinsey & Company indicated that half of all large IT projects run over budget, exceed time, or deliver less than the expected return on investment (Bloch, Blumberg, & Laartz, 2012).  “Excelling at core project management practices” is one way to improve an organization’s chances of success (Bloch, Blumberg, & Laartz, 2012). 

Projects indeed fail for various reasons.  Phillips (2014) found that projects fail because of a lack of sufficient planning or a failure to follow a standard approach. Gulla (2012) provides seven reasons for project failure, with the number one reason being poor project planning. Additional reasons for failure include poor stakeholder supervision, failure to properly define and lead the project scope, and a lack of best practices, to name a few (Waters, n.d.).  The Standish Group identifies a direct relationship between project success and trained PM employees (The Standish Group, 2013).

There are significant overlaps with modern systems analysis and design methodologies and PM, causing some traditional IT management texts to include detailed discussions of professional PM practices and how they can be incorporated into projects (O'Brien & Marakas, 2011; Shelly & Rosenblatt, 2011; Whitten & Bentley, 2008).  Projects today deal with challenging new technologies and changing organization IT needs (Phillips, 2014).  Successful project planning and implementation are key investments in the organization. As such, successful IT projects require an organizational commitment to information technology (Schwalbe, 2014).

Gillard (2009) feels that supervisors and employees chosen for PM have their technical expertise in the areas of systems analysis and design, and/or other IT and administrative management functional areas such as those taught in the ITAM department. In addition to IT competencies, soft skills, specifically communication and interpersonal skills are needed to bridge complex organizational structures, again, those areas currently taught in ITAM. Leading rather than managing projects can impact project teams in a positive way with a positive impact on project outcomes (Gillard, 2009).

The PMI’s Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK) emphasizes the need for interpersonal or soft skills when leading project teams suggesting “..skills such as empathy, influence, creativity, and group facilitating are valuable assets when managing project teams” (Project Management Institute, 2008, p.232). Appendix G of the PMBOK lists eight interpersonal skills necessary for a person managing a project. These skills include leadership, team building, motivation, communication, influencing, decision making, political and cultural awareness, and negotiation (Project Management Institute, 2008, p. 417), all areas taught in ITAM.   Another report from PMI (2012) suggests that project managers should understand Agile workflow processes as an important job skill. According to the report, when Agile techniques are incorporated with traditional PM techniques, project were “16 percent more productive.” ("Must-Have Job Skills for IT Project Managers," 2012). Finally, for those trying to enter the field of PM, the PMI identifies needed education in enterprise leadership, PM basic skills, emotional intelligence, and assertiveness ("4 Valuable Skills to Break into Project Management," 2012).  The ITAM PM specialization will develop and enhance these basic industry-wide PM skills.

Career Outlook

The Project Management Institute (PMI) is the largest and most recognized professional body for setting PM process standards and certifying PM professionals. The PMI’s Project Management Talent Gap Report (Project Management Institute, 2013a) found that the profession will experience a 12% increase in demand for PM professionals globally between 2010 and 2020. This prediction is not specific to any single industry. The United States will see an increase of almost 700,000 jobs alone, indicating a strong demand for highly skilled professionals. Finally, the PMI identifies information technology as one of seven industries that is considered “project-intensive” (Project Management Institute, 2013a, p. 2).

There are no job numbers from the BLS specifically for PM, general or specialized. The BLS does not show project management as a specific job class. Both IT and construction management mention PM as an activity, with IT referring to IT project managers as a job title. While the PMI does not represent an official view of the occupation, they do have a pulse on the industry, more than just member statistics.

Finally, as there is no specific job code for either project managers or information technology project managers in the Bureau of Labor Statistics database, the Computer and Information System Manager job code was evaluated (Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2013). This job code includes project manager skills as part of the functional job requirements.  This was also captured by the ITAM Advisory Board when addressing the PM skills sets of ITAM graduates.  Computer and Information Systems managers can expect a 15% growth in job between 2012 and 2022, outpacing the average job growth of 11% for all occupations for the same period. Additionally, these managers can expect a better than average median pay of $120,950, where the national average median pay for all workers is $34,750. The PMI salary survey (2013b) suggests that certified PM professionals earn, on average, $108,000.

Regional Growth – Occupation Group

As the EMSI data indicates, the projected job growth in the fields related to computer and information systems managers and computer systems analysts shows a 25-28% increase of the next decade, respectively.

CWU ITAM currently offers project management as a minor.  In addition, the following community colleges have a certificate or minor in project management: Everett Community College, Edmonds Community College, South Puget Sound Community College, Spokane Community College, Highline Community College (certificate), and Bellingham Technical College (certificate).  The following 4-year institutions have a certificate, specialization, or minor in project management: City University of Seattle, North Seattle College, Bellevue College (certificate), University of Washington (certificate). Of these schools, City University, Edmonds College, Everett Community College, Puget Sound Community College, and the University of Washington are registered education providers with the Project Management Institute.

New Program Proposal Library Resources Assessment Pt. 1

This section should be completed by the Originator or Department Chair

• List all new courses required in this program’s curriculum (Prefix, Number, Title, Credits):

All courses are already approved. There are no new courses.

• For any program courses that will be offered in an online or hybrid format, will streaming video be needed? NO

• If yes, please advise the anticipate the average number of sections that will need streaming video per term:

• Estimated annual student credit hours (SCH): 20

• Estimated number of new faculty: NONE.

• Once approved, is it anticipated that this program will seek professional accreditation (this does not include NWCCU accreditation). NO

• If yes:
  • Accredited by whom?

• Are there any resources required for accreditation? If yes, list them here:
• Are there any additional subscription resources being requested by the department to support the new program: NO
  • Journal subscriptions:
• Databases:

• Other subscriptions: