The Imperative to Innovate in Project Management

Professional development is not simply learning a few skills to put in your toolbox – it is about constantly improving yourself and being aware of trends. As a graduate of UW Tacoma’s Project Management program and a member of the Project Management Institute (PMI), I find it critical to stay up on both and encourage others to do the same. One recent article on PMI Thought Leadership, in particular, caught our attention here at the Professional Development Center: The Innovation Imperative (2020). We are in a time of nonstop disruption “and the need for unconventional thinking will only grow more urgent as organizations emerge from the COVID-19 crisis to face tremendous economic uncertainty.” 

Here are the three big ideas for innovative companies to focus on – and how UW Tacoma can help you: 

  • Future-Proof the Project Team 
    • Hire people with the skills. Invest in them. 
  • Put Data in the Driver’s Seat 
    • Avoid making decisions on faulty information. 
  • Build the Infrastructure 
    • Create a culture of innovation. 

According to the Project Management Institute, “three in four project leaders say their organizations will invest more to promote project management innovation over the next 10 years.” Learn more about the current trends of innovative organizations and the keys to focus.

What are you waiting for? Get all of your team up to speed on these skills and trends with our Project Management course taught by Angel Latterell, which starts on February 4th! 

Contact Christopher Cellars, or the rest of our team, at uwtpdc@uw.edu if you have questions about this program or any others offered through the UW Tacoma Professional Development Center. 

Meet the Instructors: Angel Latterell, Project Management

[Meet the Instructors is a series intended to introduce you to one of the greatest resources the University of Washington Tacoma Professional Development Center has to offer: its diverse team of veteran, industry-tested professionals. The Center’s professional development programs are designed to be rewarding, challenging and cutting-edge. Our instructors play no small part in that, ensuring students are exposed to the most current industry trends while remaining well-versed in the tried-and-true best practices of their professions. We’re excited to share our instructors with you, and their stories are a great place to start.]

It comes as no surprise that Project Management has long been one of our most popular courses at the Professional Development Center. Across industries, project management continues to be a skill in-demand and invaluable. This summer, the PDC is expanding Project Management to Tukwila. This course gives us a chance not only to bring an exciting opportunity to lifelong learners in King County, but also additionally to introduce students to a new instructor, Angel Latterell. Currently working as a Senior Project Manager for Seattle Children’s, Latterell is a practitioner with what seems like more than one career’s worth of lessons to share. We talked with her recently to see what students can expect from her and the program.

Read more Meet the Instructors: Angel Latterell, Project Management