David NinoPM II| Baker HughesTomball, Tx, United States
I received an email from PMI with the following:
"Starting on 3 January 2023, dues for US members will be updated by $10 to $139 per year. Please refer to the following details to learn why PMI is updating our member pricing and how this change will help us deliver enhanced member programs globally.
Impact of the changes:
This price change is the first increase in over ten years and is part of a larger fair pricing initiative established by PMI to address economic equality for our diverse global community.
• This initiative aims to holistically address fair and equitable pricing for membership and PMI products globally.
• In addition to membership rate change, we will implement location-based pricing for some of our key products worldwide"
I'm confused by the wording and the lack of transparency here. I don't understand what the fair pricing initiative is and what the meaning of "economic equality" is in this context. In addition, the vague "fair and equitable pricing" elicits more questions than answers. It's fair enough to say we are increasing pricing because we haven't increased pricing in 10 years, but to justify it with undefined, vague wording and refencing an unknown policy leads to more questions. Saving Changes...
Senior Projects Manager | Field & Marten AssociatesNew Westminster, British Columbia, Canada
David
That’s the first I hear of this email but maybe because I reside in Canada and this email is targeted towards US residents.
I guess what they meant by their explanation “fair and equitable”is that they want to customise the pricing of the membership and products for each country differently depending on the economic situation and affordability of that specific region or country because some nations can’t afford to pay $139 per years or pay that much for taking a PMP exam.
I am not sure if this is fair or not, because some people in the US or other countries where pricing is high they still won’t be able to afford it but that’s a discussion for another day.
RK Saving Changes...
Stéphane ParentSelf Employed / Semi-retired| Leader MakerPrince Edward Island, Canada
Like Rami, I understand PMI's pricing reflects regional economic realities. I would guess, in this context, "economic equality" is better understood as "economic fairness". Saving Changes...
I have not heard about it. I am in Canada thought. Saving Changes...
Jo LucarelliPROJECT MANAGER| Wharton Smith ConstructionCape Coral, Fl, United States
I have to agree with David Nino. To state that there has not been a price increase in 10 years was ample enough. The other information almost seems political leaning and definitely leads to more questions than answers.
...
1 reply by Rami Kaibni
Dec 28, 2022 12:31 PM
Rami Kaibni
...
I hear you Jo. I think PMI should clarify this further.
Saving Changes...
Thomas WalentaGlobal Project Economy ExpertHackenheim, Germany
David
Thanks for sharing. I can understand your confusion, this is an example of change management gone wrong.
Within PMI there have been initiatives for market based pricing since more than 10 years. A simple analogy is the McDonalds index, I heard about 2004/5 discussed at PMI meetings. There also have been pilots of reduced fees and adaptions of IT systems to allow for fees in different currencies. And it may concern also product pricing.
When members ask for it, from Africa, Latin America etc then they often quote fairness as an argument and the evolving DEI might also play arole.
If you have an internal project and need to inform customers you better understand where they stand information wise.
...
1 reply by David Nino
Dec 28, 2022 4:06 PM
David Nino
...
Thank you for the clarification, Thomas.
I joined PMI and got my PMP certification in 2016, so I don't have the background information on the initiative stretching back before that and I haven't really heard much about it since joining.
I agree that it is communication issue and that the message could have been better delivered. I've learned lessons from projects where communications were not clear and things went sideways so I am an advocate of overcommunicating and being transparent.
Senior Projects Manager | Field & Marten AssociatesNew Westminster, British Columbia, Canada
Dec 28, 2022 12:02 PM
Replying to Jo Lucarelli
...
I have to agree with David Nino. To state that there has not been a price increase in 10 years was ample enough. The other information almost seems political leaning and definitely leads to more questions than answers.
I hear you Jo. I think PMI should clarify this further. Saving Changes...
I agree that just saying prices haven't been raised in 10 years would have been less problematic. It certainly raises questions as to how they decide what is fair and equitable.
Is it based off the cost of business in different regions, the amount of service (e.g. local chapters and events), perception of what the market will bear based on GDP?
That kind of bad messaging can be expensive. If one person out of 13 opts not to renew their membership based on a distaste for an ambiguous concept of regional equity, then the net revenue gain is zero. Saving Changes...
David NinoPM II| Baker HughesTomball, Tx, United States
Dec 28, 2022 12:04 PM
Replying to Thomas Walenta
...
David
Thanks for sharing. I can understand your confusion, this is an example of change management gone wrong.
Within PMI there have been initiatives for market based pricing since more than 10 years. A simple analogy is the McDonalds index, I heard about 2004/5 discussed at PMI meetings. There also have been pilots of reduced fees and adaptions of IT systems to allow for fees in different currencies. And it may concern also product pricing.
When members ask for it, from Africa, Latin America etc then they often quote fairness as an argument and the evolving DEI might also play arole.
If you have an internal project and need to inform customers you better understand where they stand information wise.
Thank you for the clarification, Thomas.
I joined PMI and got my PMP certification in 2016, so I don't have the background information on the initiative stretching back before that and I haven't really heard much about it since joining.
I agree that it is communication issue and that the message could have been better delivered. I've learned lessons from projects where communications were not clear and things went sideways so I am an advocate of overcommunicating and being transparent. Saving Changes...
Francisco AvalosChief Executive Officer| Teissier Consulting Services, LLCTustin, Ca, United States
As a chapter leader 10 years ago, the Chapter was a cash cow averaging about $100k per year, saving at least $200k in reserves. I always preached that we're a non-profit and that excess money should be put back into the community or membership to reduce costs. I would love to see the financials to justify the increase and, as most of you stated, to understand what "fair and equitable" means or what is comparable.
...
2 replies by Luis Branco and Rami Kaibni
Dec 28, 2022 5:03 PM
Rami Kaibni
...
Agreed, Francisco. I believe PMI publishes their financial report by the end of their fiscal year and it is available to pubic so it will be interesting to see what's in it.
Dec 30, 2022 6:03 AM
Luis Branco
...
Dear francisco
I am convinced that PMI has never made as much money as it does today
Have they also substantially increased salaries and fringe benefits for Executive Leadership Team members?
Senior Projects Manager | Field & Marten AssociatesNew Westminster, British Columbia, Canada
Dec 28, 2022 4:44 PM
Replying to Francisco Avalos
...
As a chapter leader 10 years ago, the Chapter was a cash cow averaging about $100k per year, saving at least $200k in reserves. I always preached that we're a non-profit and that excess money should be put back into the community or membership to reduce costs. I would love to see the financials to justify the increase and, as most of you stated, to understand what "fair and equitable" means or what is comparable.
Agreed, Francisco. I believe PMI publishes their financial report by the end of their fiscal year and it is available to pubic so it will be interesting to see what's in it. Saving Changes...
Community Champion
