Author: Simon Hilde

Navigating Project Management in Switzerland: Key Insights for 2024 and Beyond

As digital transformation accelerates across industries, project management has become more vital than ever. In Switzerland, several key trends are reshaping how businesses approach project execution. The rise of hybrid work models, the increasing demand for agile methodologies, and the growing complexity of IT projects are driving the need for highly skilled project managers. Below are some critical insights into these evolving dynamics:

• Swiss Economic Landscape 

Switzerland’s economy is feeling the weight of global pressures, with the strong Swiss franc complicating things for export-heavy sectors like manufacturing and finance. As the franc rises, international competitiveness takes a hit, especially in industries sensitive to currency fluctuations. Despite these headwinds, Switzerland's GDP continues to grow modestly. However, uncertainty is making companies more cautious about investing in growth and expansion.

• Recruitment Trends in Switzerland 

2024 has been a year of shifting trends in recruitment. The Swiss Staffing Index reports a 20.8% drop in permanent placements, driven by conservative hiring approaches across industries. Temporary staffing is also shrinking as companies focus on efficiency, often combining roles to cut costs. 

For example, many businesses are merging the roles of Project Managers and Business Analysts, reflecting a trend toward consolidated responsibilities. While IT roles have traditionally been resilient, even this sector has seen a 25% reduction in openings. However, specialized positions like Data Scientists, Software Developers, Cybersecurity Experts, Cloud Engineers, and IT Project Managers remain in high demand as companies continue to push for digital transformation and enhanced security.

• Evolving Project Management Market

Project management in Switzerland is undergoing a transformation. Agile methodologies such as Scrum and Kanban are now the norm, particularly for software development and digital projects. Remote collaboration tools like Microsoft Teams, Jira, and Asana are critical for managing distributed teams.

AI and machine learning are also making a mark, enabling more data-driven project decisions. Meanwhile, sustainability is becoming a top priority, with companies seeking eco-friendly and socially responsible project practices.

How to Stay Competitive as a Project Manager

To thrive in Switzerland’s changing project management landscape, consider these strategies:

• Certifications: Earning certifications like PMP or Agile (Scrum Master) will boost your credentials and make you stand out.
• Agile Mastery: Agile frameworks are becoming indispensable. Mastering them is crucial.
• Digital Fluency: Familiarity with tools like Jira, Trello, Asana, and Microsoft Project is essential, especially for remote work environments.
• Networking: Attend industry events and engage with professional communities to stay connected and informed about the latest trends.
• Soft Skills: Strong leadership, communication, and adaptability will set you apart in managing diverse teams and projects.

Final Thoughts

The Swiss project management landscape is changing rapidly. By embracing new methodologies, staying ahead of digital trends, and honing soft skills, project managers can successfully navigate these shifts and keep their careers on track.

Through different initiatives SuisseCo will explore new avenues to support the professional development of project managers. Together with PMI Chapter, we will work to create a community where IT professionals and project managers alike can share knowledge, develop skills, and build meaningful connections. 

Stay tuned for upcoming joint events and programs designed to empower your project management journey.

Simon Hilde, Sales Director – SuisseCo

SuisseCo, a leading provider of recruitment and placement services for highly skilled IT professionals in Swzerland, has partnered with the PMI Switzerland Chapter. This collaboration brings together two organizations committed to advancing project management practices, while responding to the evolving needs of the Swiss business landscape, especially within the dynamic IT sector.

About SuisseCo: SuisseCo (https://www.suisseco.com/) specializes in the European-wide recruitment and placement of highly skilled IT professionals for companies in Switzerland. At SuisseCo, we connect skilled IT professionals with companies across Switzerland. Our services, including IT staff leasing, permanent staffing, software solutions, and payrolling, help businesses build and manage tech teams efficiently and cost-effectively. 

Author: Florian Ivan PMP, IPMA B, DAC, DASSM, CSP

Generative AI is often used for answering questions, but in project management, it can be a powerful tool for solving complex problems and challenging your thinking. Here’s how project managers can use AI beyond simple inquiries.

Problem-Solving Partner

Instead of using AI to gather information, present it with project management challenges. Whether you're facing a tight deadline, resource constraints, or risks, AI can help break down these problems. For example, describe a project timeline and ask AI to identify potential bottlenecks, suggest risk mitigation strategies, or recommend resource optimization. The AI can analyze your project’s scope, dependencies, and risks, offering solutions you may not have considered.

Challenging Your Assumptions

AI can help sharpen your critical thinking by asking you thought-provoking questions. After outlining your project plan, ask the AI to challenge your strategy. It might ask, “What happens if a key milestone is delayed?” or “How will the team adapt to changing requirements?” These questions push you to rethink your assumptions, explore alternative approaches, and improve the overall project plan.

Stimulating Innovation in Project Delivery

Generative AI can also drive creativity in project management. By posing it complex scenarios—like managing a multi-disciplinary team across different time zones—you can receive fresh perspectives and innovative ideas. AI can suggest methods to enhance collaboration or ways to streamline workflows, sparking new ideas to improve project execution.

Should you wish to deepen your understanding of how AI can be effectively applied in project management, we would like to invite you to attend the 1-day masterclass on November 9th. This class has been designed to equip you with the knowledge, tools and insights that would allow you to put AI to work in real-life scenarios.

For further information and registration, please visit the event page.

Author: Mubarak Muritala PMP

Dear PMI Members and Friends,

On September 23rd, 2024, Lausanne’s Hotel Aquatis hosted the 13th Project Management Conference, themed "AI Unveiled: Transforming Projects and Organizations with Smart Innovation." With 131 attendees and a remarkable 95% turnout, the event included 16 expert speakers, 29 onsite volunteers, and representatives from 8 sponsors and partners, marking one of the most impactful PM conferences to date.

A significant 30% of the attendees were experiencing their first PMI event, underscoring the growing interest in AI’s influence on project management. Behind the scenes, 33 dedicated volunteers ensured the event's seamless execution.

The conference highlighted AI’s growing role in modern business strategies and how intelligent solutions are reshaping project management, decision-making, and organizational growth.

Key Topics and Takeaways:

- AI Applications Across Industries: Real-world case studies showcased AI’s transformative impact in sectors like finance, healthcare, logistics, and marketing.

- AI in Decision-Making: Experts demonstrated how AI-driven data analytics empower project managers to make faster, more informed decisions, reducing risks and boosting efficiency.

- Human Leadership in the Age of AI: Despite AI’s capabilities, speakers emphasized the irreplaceable value of human leadership, creativity, and emotional intelligence in ensuring project success.

- Legal and Sustainability Challenges: The need for ethical regulatory frameworks was stressed to ensure AI’s responsible and sustainable use.

- Future Trends and Skills: Sessions explored evolving skill sets, highlighting the importance of continuous learning, data literacy, and AI fluency in an AI-driven future.

Networking and Collaboration:

The event fostered a dynamic networking space, where professionals exchanged ideas, explored partnerships, and committed to leveraging AI for business and societal advancements.

Notable Quotes:

- Adetoyese Adedokun: “AI won’t replace project managers, but project managers who use AI will outperform those who don’t.”

- Alexandre Rezende: “Vision sets the compass, but you need a GenAI roadmap to turn aspirations into actions.”

- Philipp Rosenauer: “Aligning interests across legal, procurement, and finance is complex but crucial for identifying the right AI use cases.”

- Tim Kley: “Many underestimate the complexities of AI implementation. Our role is to guide them through the right strategies.”

Conclusion:

The 13th Project Management Conference was a resounding success, equipping attendees with practical strategies for integrating AI into project management. As AI continues to revolutionize industries, participants left prepared to lead their organizations into a future driven by smart innovation.

Special thanks to sponsors Capture and PostFinance, partners SMP Société Suisse de Management de Projet, LA Click, and Projektmagazin, and the organizing team, particularly Conference Lead Pia Henzelmann, whose leadership ensured the event's success.

Warm regards,

Mubarak Muritala PMP

PM Conference Photographer and Journalist

Author: Pia Henzelmann, Events Experience Director (PMI CH)

Dear PMI Members and Friends,

By now, I can imagine that you must have seen a LinkedIn post or two of the expert speakers at the 13^th Project Management Conference, or some of your peers have asked you whether you are attending on September 23^rd in Lausanne. Excitement is indeed building up around the PM Conference, so I am taking this opportunity to share with you the reason!

Let me start by sharing some insights on our All-day Program, which our team has worked tirelessly on. Our top focus during the initiation of this event was to provide exclusive and quality content on major topics revolving around AI n Project Manager. Making every effort to ensure this, our Speaker Team interviewed around fifty speaker applications, covering topics such as:

• AI & People
• Human Excellence
• Industry Use Cases
• Legal & Sustainability
• Transformation

After countless hours conducting virtual interviews and rigorous assessments, the Conference Speaker Team narrowed their proposal to fifteen sessions, which comprised several talks, three industry use case sessions, and two workshops. On top of this, we are fortunate to have secured a Keynote presentation from Capture, our Gold Sponsor's, on AI-Driven Transformation. I will not delve further into the details of each session, or how much you will benefit from the event - Let's be honest... that's what every event claims! I take pride in the program that we have created, so I will let our program page do the talking.

A further reason that we are so excited for the PM Conference is that apart from having sessions from seasoned experts, this year's program is designed to deliver novel formats, with the aim that attendees will gain at least one new experience, in one form or another. Experimental formats available for participants include:

• Ask Me Anything Session
• Unconference
• PechaKucha Session
• Brain Date for PM Conference LinkedIn Networking Group

Beyond the program, it is our hope that attendees delight in simple, yet thoughtful moments, whether it be in mindful short breaks between sessions, or having personal freedom to choose between sessions according to their own personal preferences. And as attendees will no doubt have difficult choices to make, we have scheduled the top two in-demand sessions to occur twice so that you do not miss out.

There is also an abundance of networking opportunities, the first of which already available to registrants - The PM Conference LinkedIn Networking Group. Attendees will also have the opportunity to engage with our Sponsor and Partners at their dedicated stands, and of course, the chance to create new connections during the 3-course lunch and post-event Apéro.

Be on the lookout for the onsite AI experience - an exciting addition to the event!

Lastly, and tying back to my first point, it is clear that AI is generating a lot of buzz, with umpteen new trends emerging almost daily. The novelty of AI is exciting, yet navigating through all of this, while still trying to apply it to projects, can be overwhelming. The 13^th PM Conference offers you the chance to learn from experts who have already traversed this landscape and can distinguish between passing fads and real innovations. By connecting with professionals who have this practical experience, you will gain a clearer understanding of which technologies are truly impactful.

Should you not yet have secured your spot for the PM Conference 2024, I hope that what I have shared has spurred you to seize the opportunity to attend this exciting experiential event - Reserve your spot now!

I look forward to meeting you on September 23rd in Lausanne!

Best regards,

Pia Henzelmann

PM Conference Lead