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Using Expert Systems for Coaching and Mentoring ICT Project Managers

Authors:
Robert T. Hans
Ernest Mnkandla

Keywords: expert system; intelligence system; project managers; coaching; mentoring; skills.

Abstract:
Several risks, dynamics and challenges, including lack of skilled and experienced personnel, mobility associated with project management experts and tough economic conditions are just some of many issues that information and communications technology (ICT) organizations in the 21st century have to deal with. Furthermore, these organizations are under constant pressure to improve project success rate which are unacceptably very low. Project managers who are ineffective in project leadership due to poor project skills pose a serious risk to project success. Some research studies indicate that the demand for ICT project managers with proper knowledge and expertise is ever increasing and the supply is nowhere near close in meeting the demand. As part of providing a solution to the abovementioned challenges and help equip ICT project managers with correct skills through mentoring and coaching, this research study is proposing the use of expert systems (ES). This proposal is a response to calls that have been made by other studies in project management that new approaches of developing project managers must be pursued. The use of expert systems to equip ICT project managers with the right skills and expertise will help advance and improve their software project management expertise. Just like ‘intelligent organizations’ that use expert systems to improve their decision-making processes in order to advance business efficiency and competitiveness so should expert systems be used to coach and mentor less experienced project managers. This research paper argues that the use of ES for coaching and mentoring yield many benefits for organizations.

Pages: 447 to 452

Copyright: Copyright (c) IARIA, 2014

Publication date: October 12, 2014

Published in: conference

ISSN: 2308-4235

ISBN: 978-1-61208-367-4

Location: Nice, France

Dates: from October 12, 2014 to October 16, 2014