Pursuing Program Management Certification

  Career Development   Governance   ProjectsAtWork  

Many project managers are expanding the scope of their skills into program management, which offers career advancement and new opportunities in a competitive job market. Here, a certified PMP explains how he has benefited from a U.K.-based program management credential, and why he chose it instead of the PgMP certification offered by PMI.

The word “kaizen” is a Japanese term which is applied to the process of continuous improvement.  While normally applied to fields like manufacturing or engineering, it can also be applied to the individual’s quest to further their professional skills and perform better in their job. It is nice to have a few extra letters after your name, but the real goal is to expand your knowledge and capabilities. 

By way of example, I am a registered MSP (Managing Successful Programs) Practitioner, a certification based on a set of a principles and practices for managing programs developed by the Office of Government Commerce in the U.K. There are many definitions for a program; the MSP web site defines program management as “the coordinated organization, direction and implementation of a portfolio of projects and activities that together achieve outcomes and realize benefits that are of strategic importance." In short, program management goes beyond the scope of project management. 

With skills in …

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