OPM3 > OPM3 Certification

An assessment using PMI’s Organizational Project Management Maturity Model is intended to help organizations develop capabilities in project, program or portfolio management. Find out more about OPM3 assessments--and how you get certified--in this article.

What is maturity? Can an organization be considered mature if it does the wrong things well? What if it does the right things in the wrong way? The OPM3 business standard helps organizations become more mature. But misperceptions still exist about what “maturity” means. This issue is not explained in the standard itself and has never been written about by anyone, so what better place to do so than here and now?

Many people still do not understand the Standard and the differences between its implementation tools. What are the differences between the OPM3 Standard, OPM3 Online and OPM3 ProductSuite? The answers await inside...

In today’s economy, businesses must continuously improve processes and the PMO needs to continue to add value by maturing with the business. How do you know that your PMO and project management processes are effective? Who sets the standards and how do you compare your PMO to those standards? As our look at the Central Arizona Project case study continues, we see how OPM3 stepped in to help.

gantthead ushers in a new era with its OPM3 department, and this welcome from subject matter expert John Schlichter provides an overview of PMI's organizational project management standard--and gives us a look at things to come.

From the Saudi Arabian MOI NIC
The history and culture of the Kingdom of Saudia Arabia posed unique challenges to the Ministry of Interior’s PMO. Like Harris Corporation, they understood the four reasons why many organizations fail to transform their Project Management cultures, and avoided these pitfalls working with OPM Experts LLC. But as a counterpoint to Harris, the NIC’s case shows how the culture can be the driver of process deployment.

A forthcoming book from publisher McGraw-Hill will explore the facets of OPM3, and you can help contribute to its development in the context of peer-production or user-developed content. What questions do you want the book to answer? What topics should be explored? Would you like to be featured in the book, and if so, what is your own success story using OPM3? Click here to find out how you can help.

Recently we surveyed members of two OPM3 groups and asked them what they thought the generic reasons for using OPM3 may be, and how OPM3 should be used. We also asked them how various stakeholders within an organization may view these questions. Their answers provide interesting food for thought.

From Harris Corporation
Harris Corporation offers compelling insights into the impacts that process can have on culture and vice versa. This organization understood the four reasons why many organizations fail to transform their Project Management cultures, and avoided these pitfalls with their PMO working with OPM Experts LLC.

We would like to hear from you! What do you think the objectives for using OPM3 are? Click here to find out how you can help.

We have seen a growth in the emphasis on acquiring, managing, sharing and exploiting information--and supporting individual and collective decision-making. In particular, more mature organizations have the ability to recognize situational change and to adopt the correct management approach required to meet that change: agility. Two standards provide ways of assessing and developing these capabilities--and both are explored here.

Leading companies are renewing their organizations to position themselves for the upturn in the market--and those that use OPM3 have an advantage.

How mature is your organization, and how mature does it need to be? There are many ways to define maturity. Here is an overview of the major maturity models and how they might relate to the projects, programs and portfolios that you're working with.

From OPM Experts, LLC
Ask yourself what culture means, and you may find it difficult to state a clear and succinct definition, but it is likely that you can recall an organization in which you have worked that had a healthy culture, and just as likely that you may recall an organization that you would characterize as having an unhealthy culture. Why is that? Although culture is a many-faceted thing that may seem difficult to boil down into a sound bite, it is something that impacts everyone. The culture determines how people define themselves and their relationships with others, and greatly influences a person’s sense of self.

As agile methods continue to gain in popularity and Project Management Institute events offer more and more agile content, the demand for agile-related offerings has increased substantially. Is this new certification offering a good idea, and what does it mean for you?

At Central Arizona Project, the IT department had 89 projects with significant resource management challenges. Although it began with all of these projects behind schedule, over budget and with low quality, it corrected these problems with OPM3. This story is about CAP’s Information Technology department and its journey of project management improvement through PMI's OPM3 assessment model.

Beyond obtaining more certifications, project managers should take the processes, tools and techniques learned in a certification project and focus on putting them into practice. Training and education is great, but it’s not until you apply the knowledge that you’ll benefit from the hours studying to pass an exam. Here are are just a few ideas on how you can apply your certifications.

The average project manager has a challenge, and a large one at that. Most of us don’t have a career development plan. In fact, most of us didn’t necessarily pick this as a career--it picked us. But now that we’re here, the challenge is to figure out exactly where we go with it. To understand how our careers progress, it helps to have a model with which we can associate. Find out what important trio awaits inside...

PMI has announced the impending launch of a new certification--a program management credential. The question needs to be asked…do we need another certification? And is this the one we need?

To meet growing demand for application of Agile practices, Project Management Institute will introduce a pilot Agile certification for project management practitioners, with exams starting later this year.

The building of capable project management processes and the transformation of a company’s project management culture go hand in hand. Project management offices and the standard known as OPM3 should play a lead role in accomplishing both.

Just as we always look out for the good of our projects, we must also look out for the good of our career. We can never assure that they will continue to advance and grow, but there are some factors we can look to that might optimize our chances. Taken by themselves, none of these factors will assure a smooth and rewarding career progression. But leveraging several of these factors can help maximize success.

The project management blogosphere is weighing in on the upcoming Agile certification from PMI. Here’s a recent sampling along with an interview with PMI vice president of IT Frank Schettini, who discusses the development of the certification and what it can offer the profession.

As we enter 2011, it's time for a refresher--it's the perfect time to explore the cross section of views and perspectives about PMOs. It's the perfect time to see what others are thinking regarding the state of PMOs, and this article will focus on starting a PMO, avoiding PMO failure, trends and the future of the PMO.

Before PMO directors pursue ISO 9001 certification, it is important to understand what it constitutes and how it can benefit PMOs. For some, the certification can be a way to increase performance and staff confidence. For others, it can be cost-prohibitive and add little value.

The demand for qualified project managers, specialized knowledge and global standards shows no signs of abating, according to top education officials at the Project Management Institute, which is preparing to release findings from a major research study on the value of implementing project management.

The PMP is no longer the only certification available from PMI. What does this mean for the project manager, and what does this mean for the organizations that are looking to hire project managers? Are certifications of value as a differentiator, or have they become a commodity?

RMC has partnered with Agile thought-leader Mike Griffiths to create a PMI-ACP exam prep guide, which will be available early next year.

One approach to improve project management maturity is through a project management community of practice, an informal group of PM practitioners who share advice, tips, techniques, lessons learned and promote relevant topics in the project and program management domain.

One of the most established standards organizations (and their pronouncements) is often missing from the IT governance conversation: the International Organization for Standardization. Did you know that the ISO has been very active in the governance and compliance space? Here is an update on the standards that you might find useful.

The International Institute of Business Analysis is now accepting applications for a new professional certification based on level of experience.

You’re smart, so why not share it with the world? In an effort to learn more about the ABCs of a project management career and your professional development, we want you to share your certification and educational goals with the gantthead community! Please take a few minutes to answer our quick and easy Professional Development Planning Survey. Not only will it help your fellow project managers, but you could win a free year of gantthead premium membership!

Training provider LegalBizDev has introduced the first program to formally certify lawyers as Legal Project Managers.

Many project managers that are more advanced in their careers no longer see PMI as offering the kind of training, development and career advancement opportunities that they are looking for. So where do we go from here?

A recent global study on the state of business analysis shows organizations are missing key internal competencies that could enhance productivity and profitability. As a result, organizational objectives are often disconnected from those responsible for execution.

Project Management Institute reports that 71 percent of project managers saw an increase in compensation over the last 12 months.

In the years ahead, the job of project manager will only become more complex. That’s largely because the profession has finally gotten the recognition it deserves, taking its much-deserved place alongside other essential organizational functions. In this installment, we find out more about the value of PMI certification, industry-specific requirements and what industries will be aggressively hiring PMs next year.

It is not uncommon to find that in the workplace, education can make a greater impact than experience. And the trend is becoming more competitive as employers are looking increasingly for employees who attain an even higher level of education.

Know when to hold 'em, when to walk away…and when to double-down.

There are now more than 240 PM-related apps for the iPhone and iPad. One of the latest contains 675 flashcards to help individuals preparing for the PMP exam or seeking PDUs for re-certification.

The International Institute of Business Analysis announces a fast track to new certification.

Now more than ever when a company decides to embark on a project, business leaders are demanding a clear ROI, explicit expectations about the longevity of a project and, more importantly, results. The era of the project manager is back...so use this time to hone your skills, discover new roles and learn how to market yourself for a changing economy.

The head of the PMO has a significant responsibility to the project managers to act as career coaches and mentors. Are you taking that role seriously?

Three-way partnership with American University, Management Concepts and MCR provides training program for federal agencies and government contractors.