Are PMs Philanthropic Enough?

Andy Jordan is President of Roffensian Consulting S.A., a Roatan, Honduras-based management consulting firm with a comprehensive project management practice. Andy always appreciates feedback and discussion on the issues raised in his articles and can be reached at [email protected]. Andy's new book Risk Management for Project Driven Organizations is now available.

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One of the things I have always been slightly uncomfortable with about the Project Management Institute’s approach to maintaining certification was the heavy focus on giving back that they stress. Don’t get me wrong--I think giving back is an important part of being an experienced project management professional. However, the idea that volunteering has to be rewarded in the shape of Professional Development Units (PDUs) left me feeling a little awkward--it’s almost like people only give back if there is something in it for them (which isn’t really “giving,” is it?). Now that the revised Continuing Certification Requirements (CCR) program is reducing the number of PDUs that can be earned in each cycle, my concern is intensified--will that mean less volunteering because the “payback” is reduced?

I think there are two issues here that need to be addressed. Firstly, there is this whole idea of giving back in return for PDUs; and secondly, there is the concept of true PM philanthropy. The first one is the easiest for me to address, so let’s start there.

Let’s call it what it is
If you ask a random sampling of people from any profession or walk of life, “What does the term ‘giving back’ mean to you?”, you will likely get a range of responses around providing some kind of donation (often time) …

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