So, not sure how many of you have seen that PMI now has a Program Management Certification but I'm curious as to what others think about this new certification. I haven't seen many job descriptions on the job boards that have this as a requirements. What do y'all think? Saving Changes...
Wayne MackRetired| RetiredSouth Riding, Va, United States
I'm taking a wait and see attitude towards this one. I am more interested in program management than project management, but I do not want to repeat the time and cost effort that went into my PMP until I see some corporate interest in the new certification.
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Bipin Lekshmanan PMPProject Manager| Wipro TechnologiesEdison, Nj, United States
I believe PgMP certification will happen in a big way soon as it's differentiating more senior managers from the rest and I read that there will be an interview before the title is awarded. Sounds like a more rigorous certification process. I volunteer with PMI and so will try to learn more about this when I get a chance and keep you posted. Saving Changes...
Mark Price PerryBusiness Driven PMO Evangelist| BOT InternationalOrlando, Fl, United States
Dear Bethany,
Very interesting post! I just met with a small group of CIOs last week and the subject of PMI came up. Surprisingly, all but one of the CIOs expressed disappointment in PMI as an organization citing a number of reasons such as drifting away from its original mission and mandate as an organization to promote standards in project management, etc, to a fee-based association and certification business with participation in the "community" being driven more by those that benefit from this model and cottage industry that it creates rather than the companies and businesses in which the discipline is practiced. I argued, unsuccessfully, in defense of PMI. With respect to the Program Management Certification, it will be interesting to see its take up. It's one thing for an individual to get a certification in order to put on a resume or to qualify to compete for an open position or to perform a service, such as training and consulting. It's another thing for the community of providers such as vendors, training, and consulting firms to do the same. And, it is yet another thing for the leadership team, not individuals acting on their on behalf, of the corporations, businesses, and organizations to participate. All three are legitimate and serve as litmus tests.
Bipin Lekshmanan PMPProject Manager| Wipro TechnologiesEdison, Nj, United States
Mark
Very thoughtful comments indeed!
You have a point there about the cittage industries created by PMI. But, as an entity PMI has grown into an $85 million profit which stands testimony for its success (I accept that I can be biased here as I volunteer with PMI). Recently, PMI is moving into project management research which I think is a move in the right direction. I am not sure whether PgMP can catapult PMI into a university like entity if it clicks. But, there is no denying that no other organization has made an impact in furthering project management discipline than PMI (my opinion). As long as more and more people will embrace PMP (and I am sure that the growing PMPs in the world point to that) in future, the PMI organization will have a wider support base in future.
On the positive side, I am looking at the employment created by this organization and the emergence of a discipline as such in a big way.Still, I do accept that the fee based certification may sometimes cause dissonance within the audience. Saving Changes...
Bipin Lekshmanan PMPProject Manager| Wipro TechnologiesEdison, Nj, United States
I meant in the previous post that PMI is an $85 million organization which is a non profit.
It's interesting that the CIOs you spoke with expressed disappointment with PMI - I wouldn't think that most CIOs would give it much thought really. As are all of us, I'm biased by my past experience and my past experience shows me that most (not all) companies simply pay lip service to whatever is the current "hot thing" - without really thinking about WHAT they are trying to solve for. They simply go to a HOW - Our IT dept isn't working? Let's not ask why but let's start hiring PMPs... Without ever once looking at their current situation to determine WHY their IT dept isn't working... I am a PMP so obviously, I'm not against it. I simply think many companies look for a silver bullet and there is no such thing. Just because you hire PMPs doesn't mean you are going to improve your IT dept. Just my .02 ;) - of course nothing to do with PgMP.... Saving Changes...
Bipin Lekshmanan PMPProject Manager| Wipro TechnologiesEdison, Nj, United States
nice comment :-) Saving Changes...
Andy JordanPresident| Roffensian Consulting S.A.Cherry Grove, AB, Canada
I guess I share some of the concern that Mark's CIOs expressed (though I'm with Bethany that it's unusual for CIOs to care). The PMP has been tremendously successful at what it tries to achieve, but I am concerned that at it's simplest level it is awarded based on years in an industry and a multiple choice exam. I like the route that the PgMP takes in getting away from that, but not sure that a new qualification is really needed. In recent years PMI has launched OPM3 and now PgMP and I'm just not sure that I quite understand where all of this is supposed to be taking the industry that they are leaders of. I wouldn't go as far as to say that they are trying to 'compete' with other PM organisations, but I am losing track of the vision slightly. Andy Jordan, President, Roffensian Consulting Inc., www.roffensian.com Saving Changes...
Wayne MackRetired| RetiredSouth Riding, Va, United States
I think Mark's post covers the reasons for my lack of enthusiasm for the PgMP. Due to its requirements for previous work (I had over 5 years PM experience at the time), I found I gained no new knowledge from the PMP coursework. I felt that I had just put in the time and money to buy the certification. It may be a nice thing to have on a resume, if I change jobs, but it hasn't made a difference since I have stayed with the same company.
I feel the PgMP would have to show that it is teaching new knowledge rather than being a certificate for purchase by those who already know Program Management.
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Mark Price PerryBusiness Driven PMO Evangelist| BOT InternationalOrlando, Fl, United States
Hi Bethany, I agree with you and my experience has been very much like yours. Hence, my surprise - which I must say was more at the depth of opinions and observations dicussed by CIOs about PMI than the fact that it was negative.
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1 reply by Farhan Liaquat
Apr 20, 2017 4:59 PM
Farhan Liaquat
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Hi Mark, Has anything improved on Program Management landscape. I still find that program managers are being hired based on experience rather than certification.
