I had a potential employer ask me what the value is in being a PMP. I tried to explain, but felt that they failed to see its benefit amongst MBA's and PhD's. Can anyone provide me with a way to show this potential employer the benefit of having your PMP. Saving Changes...
There is clearly some disagreement on the value of the PMP. Perhaps it needs to become competency-based to give it more value.
I've had a good look at PMBOK and the PMP program. From my point of view, it's not worthwhile, as I'm in Australia and most employers wouldn't even know what PMP stands for (post-menopausal-?) I also don't think that you can't even start to compare a PMP with an MBA (for so many different reasons), but there is no doubt in my mind that PMBOK is an incredibly valuable source book, if for no other reason that for its conciseness.
What the Australian Institute of Project Management has done (I am not a member of AIPM by the way) is adopted a national competency-based assessment of Project Management, awarding successful candidates with the designation "RegPM" (Registered Project Manager (der)).
This contrasts with the PMP insofar as you are assessed over a number of weeks or months by an examiner who regularly interviews you and monitors your peformance as a project manager in real life. Hence, "competency-based".
In my opinion, while this is clearly a much more labour-intensive process (compared to a computer marking a multiple choice exam), the rigor of the assessment makes it a much better process to "separate the wheat from the chaff" and therefore impart more value to the letters after your name.
I heard that PMI is investigating competency-based assessment as well. Probably just a rumour, but if this is the case then I would recommend that everyone get their PMP as quickly as possible using the multi-choice exam because if they do go ahead with it then it will be suddenly much harder to get your PMP! Saving Changes...
Anonymous
As a CPA and PMP, I'd like to offer the following:
Not too long ago, CPA's were none existent. Back in the early days of the profession, accountants (both in-house and external) were used to manage the financial records of US businesses, but they didn't always apply consistent treatment of accounting events.
As time went on, the accounting profession recognized the inconsistencies of accounting techniques used throughout Corporate America and worked to form a series of generally accepted accounting practices. Changing economic times (most notably, the 1929 crash) and increased criticism of the accounting profession added further impetus in the development of these uniform standards. This group of professionals (who are now referred to as the AICPA) sought to further promote the use of GAAP as a de facto standard and developed a certification program to enhance credibility and professionalism
The early versions of the CPA examination were not as comprehensive or as difficult as the versions given out today. When I sat for the exam in 1985, there was still a way for a non-degreed individual to sit for exam (provided he/she could supply evidence of sufficient experience in accounting).
What's to point my message? It seems to me that the project management profession is relatively young. Sure, projects have always been a part of business, but the project manager on these efforts probably had little guidance on how to increase the likelihood of success on their engagements.
The PMI was born with the idea of solidifying a series of standards and processes that a professionals can reference during the execution of his/her duties. The PMI went further to promote the use and recognition of these standards by developing a certification program.
When I make a hiring decision, certification tells me that a person has a working understanding the Project Management Body of Knowledge and that we would have a common language to use in discussing his/her projects. Since this is the baseline methodology of how our company manages its projects, I see this certification as a valuable asset in candidates.
In my humble opinion, I foresee that PMI (along with the certification program) will get stronger and become more visible in the future. The examination itself will evolve and go though a series of changes to reflect the standards and requirements of the project management profession.
You only need to look to the nation's top universities to see that they are beginning to recognize the growing need of project management in today's business environment and have subsequently developed undergraduate program for this discipline.
To close, the project management profession is evolving at a rapid pace. It's becoming more and more recognized as a legitimate set of skills to be successful in business. So in selling of the value of having PMP certification, its important to recognize that not everyone understands the benefits of using disciplined project management process, but you can start by dialoging with your business partners on how you can execute against your client's expectations. Saving Changes...
The recognition of the PMP credential has grown by leaps and bounds in the past 2 years.
The PMP certification has achieved world-wide recognition in the past 2 or 3 years. More and more employers are seeking candidates with at least proven knowledge of PMI methodology and, usually, having (or in the process of obtaining) the PMP credential, itself. The clients of freelance consultants, particularly in the IT, Pharmaceutical, Government and Construction sectors are particularly looking for PMPs, often filtering out those who do not have the credential.
My own management consulting firm is making a major effort to get our associates (at the manager level and up) certified. We have a global practice, with thousands of consultants around the globe. The push for certification is throughout the firm, at all offices around the globe.
A large number of organizations use Microsoft Project (2003 or 2007) to schedule projects and manage resources. Microsoft's EPM (enterprise project management), which is the PM solution based on MS Project and MS Project Server, is aligned with PMBOK 2004. My own firm does client engagements involving bringing new client users of Project Server / EPM up to speed on PMI methodology, including EVM (earned value management), risk management and project planning. Project management is more than just creating Gantt charts and changing them every time the project schedule slips or the cost run over.
Project management has become a profession. It's no longer a case of someone who is good at his job suddenly promoted to a "project manager" title and becomes the "boss" of his former peers, with little or no knowledge about management, let alone project management. Project management has protocols, methodologies and professional practices based on experience, consensus and scholarly research (submitted to strict, empirical scrutiny). There's a big difference to being a general manager and being a project manager. Project management is a whole different specialty and PMP is the professional credential for the profession.
Saving Changes...
The recognition of the PMP credential has grown by leaps and bounds in the past 2 years.
The PMP certification has achieved world-wide recognition in the past 2 or 3 years. More and more employers are seeking candidates with at least proven knowledge of PMI methodology and, usually, having (or in the process of obtaining) the PMP credential, itself. The clients of freelance consultants, particularly in the IT, Pharmaceutical, Government and Construction sectors are particularly looking for PMPs, often filtering out those who do not have the credential.
My own management consulting firm is making a major effort to get our associates (at the manager level and up) certified. We have a global practice, with thousands of consultants around the globe. The push for certification is throughout the firm, at all offices around the globe.
A large number of organizations use Microsoft Project (2003 or 2007) to schedule projects and manage resources. Microsoft's EPM (enterprise project management) solution, which is the PM solution based on MS Project and MS Project Server, is aligned with PMBOK 2004. My own firm does client engagements involving bringing new client users of Project Server / EPM up to speed on PMI methodology, including EVM (earned value management), risk management and project planning. Project management is more than just creating Gantt charts and changing them every time the project schedule slips or the cost run over.
Project management has become a profession. It's no longer a case of someone who is good at his job suddenly promoted to a "project manager" title and becomes the "boss" of his former peers, with little or no knowledge about management, let alone project management. Project management has protocols, methodologies and professional practices based on experience, consensus and scholarly research (submitted to strict, empirical scrutiny). There's a big difference to being a general manager and being a project manager. Project management is a whole different specialty and PMP is the professional credential for the profession.
Saving Changes...
I'm involved in the construction of roads and bridges. I currently have industry specific certifications, soils, concrete, asphalt, Quality control manager etc. I've taken and passed a practice PMP exam. I'm interested in getting the PMI certification. My concern is I don't have a college degree. I don't wish to spend the time or money to get certified only to be told by prospective employers they require a college degree. Are there any employers in my industry that would even consider me as a potential Project Manager with the PMI certification but no college degree? Saving Changes...
