One of my colleagues asked me whether he should opt for PMP Certification or an MBA in Project Management? Looking for suggestions from this community to guide him. Saving Changes...
Tim PodestaDirector of PM/PMO| Former BP- now IndependentPenn, Bucks, United Kingdom
In my view they are very different qualifications. The MBA is a broad study of business leadership - including projects, It would depend on what your colleagues longer term goals are and what would be helpful in their current role. Saving Changes...
Adnan ShareefEPMO Director| JEDCO (Jeddah Airports Company)Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
Adding to what Tim has said, PMP is more practical & MBA is more theoretical.
As Tim indicates, this is an "apples to oranges" comparison. Your colleague could choose both, either or neither and still have a fulfilling career in the project management profession.
Given the different costs & benefits of each option, I'd suggest having your colleague do some analysis on both in relation to his/her goals and then decide.
Kiron Saving Changes...
Abdulrahman AbuhayahP.M.O Director| Adaptive TechSoftRiyadh, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
I think it depends on what your colleague is targetting. However, PMP certification is essential. After that, it would be great if he has capabilities to go further deep in the knowledge by earning such a degree. Saving Changes...
Both of these are two different skill sets with no comparison. The MBA teaches you general business management theories and practices while Project Management is the application of processes, methods, knowledge, skills and experience to achieve the project objectives.
Now it depends which skills your colleague is looking to improve or apply in his present or future employment. Saving Changes...
If he's a project manager, go for the PMP. If he's a middle/senior manager of almost anything else, he could elect for the MBA. I have both, and sometimes even I forget what each was for ;-) Saving Changes...
Sergio Luis ConteHelping to create solutions for everyone| Worldwide based OrganizationsBuenos Aires, Argentina
First, I really do not know how universities can offer an MBA in project mangement. Is not serious (sorry, I do not want to offend to somebody). I am writting because I am lecturer and professor in several well known universities belonging to different countries and I am part of the group that defines the curricula of some of the careers and masters. The discipline itself, the scope, is not enough to create a master or a doctorate as I saw in some places. BUT forget my personal point of view (while I can sustain it). Certification is totally different than an University career. A MBA is a must. But a real MBA (Master on Business Administration). A certification is not a must. At the end, what I have to recognize, is a matter of market demands.
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2 replies by Sante Delle-Vergini, PhD and Tara Bachman
Jan 08, 2018 12:54 PM
Tara Bachman
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Sergio, it is not an MBA in project management, in a literal sense. It is an MBA with a concentration in project management. I have an MBA with a concentration in Healthcare Administration. I completed all of my MBA course requirements, and additionally, I took multiple courses that focused on Healthcare Administration specifically related to the business of healthcare, which is my concentration. The course requirements to qualify for an MBA remain the same and a person can choose which area they concentrate in. These courses are taken beyond the core MBA courses. It is an MBA, period. However, it is common to hear someone note they have an, "MBA in...." instead of an, "MBA with a concentration in...."
Jan 08, 2018 5:42 PM
Sante Delle-Vergini, PhD
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Sergio, I see your point that perhaps at first glance there is not enough material to justify a masters degree in project management, but here are some points to consider, and I speak from experience having been accepted into a masters degree in project management now (a third masters for me, but I am only considering doing it): the course subjects from what I can see are more advanced than those in an undergraduate bachelors degree, both in content, and certainly in assessment. Bachelors degrees require less critical thinking and analysis than at masters level. For instance, as you are well aware, the final assessments for masters are usually a 15,000 work thesis or dissertation, while for bachelors it may only be 3,000 words. Further, some of these final assessments for a masters in project management require on the job project work to fulfill the assessment as senior project managers in most cases, again something most bachelors students would not have as yet. However looking at both programs, I would say my MBA was harder than the masters in project management program I am looking at.
Two questions:
1) What is your friend trying to accomplish?
2) What does the job market want?
If your friend is looking for knowledge, an MBA is an expensive way to get it, and getting a certification won't guarantee it.
If your friend is going to get an MBA, anyway, specializing in Project Management isn't a bad thing.
If your friend wants an advantage in getting hired as a Project Manager, look at job posting to see which is in higher demand for the positions your friend would apply for. There is most likely greater demand for certification than for an MBA, but I would call that more of a guideline than a rule. Saving Changes...
Jim Sass, BusD.Principal Consultant| Principal Consultant, USfalcon, Inc.Charleston, Sc, United States
As others have said, the option you offered is apples to oranges. With that said, you can opt to go to college and earn a degree but you don't just opt to get a PMP--it requires thousands of hours of documented experience as well as a comprehensive exam. Saving Changes...
MBA would teach you more PM rather than PMP. PMP is just a certification. You will not learn PM through PMP certification process. However, PMP is most of the time the only accepted certification for job openings. Saving Changes...
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