History has shown that project managers can be trained in a combination of ways. Which method is usually preferred by most companies?

Question

Options

• ANone of the other alternatives apply
• BFormal education and special course (degreed programs)
• CExperiential learning, on-the-job
• DProfessional activities, seminars
• EIndividual readings

• B
  3% (1)
• C
  83% (30)
• D
  8% (3)
• E
  6% (2)

Explanation

Experiential learning and on-the-job training is the preferred method because it develops real-world judgment, adaptive problem-solving, and leadership skills that classroom settings cannot fully replicate - most organizations find that PMs grow fastest when managing actual projects under mentorship. Formal education (B) provides foundational theory but lacks the situational complexity of live projects, making it a supplement rather than a primary development path. Professional seminars (D) and individual readings (E) offer targeted knowledge but are too narrow and self-directed to systematically build the broad competency a PM needs. Option A is incorrect because one of the other choices clearly applies.

Memory tip: Think "Learning by Doing" - the PM role is inherently practical, so companies prefer training that mirrors the job itself. If you see "on-the-job" or "experiential" in a question about preferred PM development, that's almost always the answer.

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