(ZweigWhite: Fayetteville, AR) -- With the economic challenges that architecture, engineering, planning, and environmental consulting firms have faced in recent years, effective project management skills remain a crucial element to business success.

Nevertheless, only 21 percent of project managers report that they receive job-specific training before being promoted to the position of project manager, according to ZweigWhite’s 2011 Project Management Survey. Moreover, less than one-third of firms reported that they always provide project management training to new project managers.

“When professional liability carriers track nontechnical risk drivers of failed projects, they have found a majority of the cases involved an inexperienced project manager,” notes Christine Brack, PMP, principal, ZweigWhite Consulting. “When they dig a little deeper, they usually discovered the project manager lacked the proper communication skills, negotiation and problem solving skills, and good judgment that come with experience and training.”

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