The Value of Project Management Conferences:  
Why They are Important for Individuals, Organizations,
Industry, Government & the Profession!

By David Pells

What is the real value of project management conferences?  Why should someone attend a conference?  Why should employers send their project managers or project teams to PM conferences?  Why should companies that sell project management-related products and services participate in vendor fairs or trade shows, or support PM conferences?  Do these conferences create any real economic benefits, or value for governmental organizations?  I believe that conferences are far more important than most people realize.  This article is an attempt to highlight some of the benefits and value of PM conferences, and to focus attention on some of the better reasons why PM societies should produce high quality events and why individuals and organizations should participate.

As a professor once explained to me, there is a natural series of career-related activities for individuals in professional fields.  First, there is a period of learning and growing, following by work to apply what has been learned.  This should lead to some real accomplishments.  After 10-15 years, in order to keep growing professionally, one should begin to research problems and issues, and publish the results of that research in professional journals or at conferences.  Further development might result in one or more books, but this is normally 15-20 years into one’s “career”.  Eventually, professionals should reach a point where they return something to the profession, either in new ideas, volunteer activities or other contributions. 

There are many reasons today why organizations should attend, participate in, sponsor or support conferences.  But conferences should primarily offer individuals opportunities to both advance their careers and to advance the PM profession.

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