Introduction to Project Management Certification

a division of

Introduction to

Project Management Certification

March 12, 2009

Presenter:

Rich Maltzman, PMP

mScholar, a division of Action for Results, Inc. ©2009 2

Agenda

• Why is project management such a key competency?

• What‟s in it for you and your business?

• What certification options do you have?

• Why is the PMP® credential so hot?

• Getting started with your PMP

• Once a PMP…always a PMP

• mScholar PMP Exam Prep Options


Why Is Project Management

a Key Competency?

• Global Trends

• PM Career Outlook


What’s Going On in the Field of Project Management?

• Globalization: Need common methods and tools to get project work done across business, geographic and cultural boundaries.

• Focus on execution, i.e.

Product development companies expect to increase the rate of product introductions by 21% over the next 5 years. (Source: Industrial Research Institute)

Most product development companies are challenged with major issues in execution (i.e., schedule performance, slippage, overall project success rate).

New Product Development (NPD) productivity is down: 14% drop in output per spending in less than a decade. (Source: PDMA Comparative Performance Assessment Study)

The top performers stand out as having better processes in place for New Product Development, Portfolio Management and Project Management.


The World is Flattening…

Connect & Collaborate

Command

&

Control PROJECTS!

Adapted from: “The World is Flat”, Thomas Friedman


One-Fifth of the World's GDP (that’s $12 Trillion)

is Spent on Projects

“At the highest level, project management is the bridge between strategy and success.

The truth of this is borne out by the numbers: the only way that $12 trillion could be spent on it this year is if it were able to bring value to every field of human endeavor.

Its adaptability means that its impacts are as varied as the organizations that implement it.”

-PMI.org website, December, 2008


The US economic stimulus package

• Formally called the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA 2009)

• $787B invested

• Implemented through projects

Source: http://www.recovery.gov

http://www.recovery.gov/?q=content/investments


How Do These Trends Translate to PM Career

Management?

• Focus on Project Management Capability at an organizational level results in increased attention to understanding and developing the right project management competencies at an individual level.

• Global project work environments look for people who already “speak a common language” in project management, resulting in hiring preferences based on knowledge requirements (e.g., PMP certification).

• Project Management is now recognized as a career field of its own: competency-based career paths are becoming a standard, e.g., see PMI‟s https://careerframework.pmi.org.

https://careerframework.pmi.org/


What’s In It For You*?

• General Benefits of Certification to the Individual and Company

• What is a Certification Credential and What is it NOT?

*that’s you singular

and you plural


Benefits of CertificationValue

PropositionCompany Individual

Credibility

• Enables company to offer PMs with recognizable credential to clients.

• Provides assurance and common language between you and client, increasing customer satisfaction.

• Increased confidence, clarified expectations, less effort wasted on establishing credibility with project team.

Predictability/Consistency

• Methodology is applicable across projects from various business units with predictable results.

• Improves on time and budget estimation.

• Aligns to strategic business goals.

• PMs feel comfortable moving between organizations.

• Increases PM‟s value to the organization.

• Provides training for becoming a company leader.

Morale/Trust

• PMs understand that their discipline is recognized and respected. Movement between organizations is facilitated. Morale is improved.

• The company has more of a “known quantity” in their PM workforce.

• PMs understand that their discipline is recognized and respected. Movement between organizations is facilitated. Morale is improved.

• PMs know that the credential is valued at the company.

Bottom Line

• Better ROI from projects based on more predictable, consistent delivery. Increased marketability of PM services.

• Better salary and career advancement opportunities.


What Certification Does NOT Give YOU . . .

• A guarantee that someone who is certified:

Applies their knowledge consistently and appropriately

Has the leadership skills to engage the hearts and minds of critical stakeholders

• A guaranteed increase in your company‟s project performance:

Knowledge, skills and common work methods are only one element of the overall capability needed to truly improve performance (productivity and results).

Certification Skill Building


What Are Your Options?

• Types of Certifications

• About PMI Certifications


Types of Project Management Certifications

• Professional Associations, e.g., Project Management Institute (PMI) or International Project Management Association (IPMA)

• Methodology-Based, e.g., PRINCE2

• Universities, e.g., Boston University‟s Project Management Master's Certificate


Examples of Association & Methodology-Based PM Certifications

Certification Title(s) Organization Summary

• IPMA Level A, Certified Projects Director

• IPMA Level B, Certified Senior Project Manager

• IPMA Level C, Certified Project Manager

• IPMA Level D, Certified Project Management Associate

International Project Management Association (IPMA)

www.ipma.ch

• IPMA certification begins at Level D with basic experience and moves upward, ending at Level A.

• IPMA owns and maintains its universal system for validating PM qualification and competence programs. However, each member association is responsible for developing and managing its own PM qualification and competence program.

• An example of a member association is the UK‟s Association of Project Management (APM), whose certification is based on IPMA standards.

• PRINCE2 Foundation

• PRINCE2 Practitioner

Prince2, Office of Government Commerce (OGC), United Kingdom

www.ogc.gov.uk/

www.prince2.org.uk

• PRINCE2 is a PM standard owned by the UK‟s OGC.

• Certification is administered through APMG, a certification organisation recognised internationally by government agencies.

• Candidates must pass both exams to become certified as a Prince2 Practitioner (higher level certification).

• Project+ Certification Computing Technology Industry Association

www.comptia.org

• CompTIA‟s Project+ is an intermediate vendor neutral certification targeted at IT professionals. Candidates must demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of core PM best practices and ability to apply the principles in real business environment settings.

• Candidates must pass an exam consisting of approximately 80 questions in four domains. There are no prerequisites and candidates are not required to submit an application or complete additional hours of continuing education.

http://www.ipma.ch/

http://www.ogc.gov.uk/

http://www.prince2.org.uk/

http://www.comptia.org/


University PM Certifications and Degrees

• PM Certificate Programs

From the U.S. employer perspective, may not carry as much career “weight” as PMP title (depending on educational source).

Great way to enhance/build PM skills and knowledge.

Courses can be used to gain contact hours for PMP application purposes (some programs even include PMP exam prep).

• Master of Science in Project Management

Excellent alternative to MBA for individuals who work on complex projects and in technical/scientific fields.

Not widely offered yet but gaining in popularity; also available online through some universities.

Look for PMBOK-aligned or PMI-accredited programs.


Let’s Take a Closer Look at . . .

The Project Management Institute (PMI) Certificates


About the Project Management Institute (PMI)

• PMI is a non-profit organization focused on the needs of project management professionals world-wide, represented through 250 chapters in over 90 countries.

• PMI‟s “A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge(PMBOK® Guide), is approved as an American National Standard (ANS) by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI).

• In addition to maintaining and publishing the PMBOK® Guide, PMI provides:

PM certification programs

Training and education resources, including the Registered Education Provider (REP) program

Continuous research on project management-related topics


Project Management Institute (PMI) Certifications

• Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM®)

Designed for project team members and entry-level project managers, as well as qualified undergraduate and graduate students.

• Project Management Professional (PMP®)

Most widely-recognized PM credential; requires project managers to demonstrate a solid foundation of knowledge from which they competently practice project management.

• Program Management Professional (PgMP™)

Developed to acknowledge the qualifications of those who lead the coordinated management of multiple projects and ensure the ultimate success of a program.

- Project Management Institute, www.pmi.org


Project Management Institute (PMI) Certifications

…brand new certifications…

• PMI Risk Management Professional (PMI-RMPSM)

PMI Risk Management Professional (PMI-RMPSM) credential acknowledges an individual‟s role to provide unique risk expertise on the project team, while recognizing the value this role provides to the field of project management.

• PMI Scheduling Professional (PMI-SPSM)

Demonstrates that you possess the skills and knowledge to contribute directly to their crucial projects, and that you have expertise in project scheduling.


Why is PMP® Certification So “Hot”?


Benefits of PMP® Certification

• A widely recognized credential – currently the most sought after certification in the world.

• Certification has raised awareness of the PMBOK® Guide and created a world-wide consistency for project terms, processes and standards.

• PMP Certification signifies demonstrated baseline knowledge and experience to practice project management aligned with global standards.


Be Part of a Large Growing Trend

• As of 30 September 2008:

PMI membership exceeded 280,200 - an overall increase of 13.8 percent for the year. Membership growth is exponential year-to-year.

Total number of Project Management Professional (PMP) credential holders: 299,751

Worldwide, there are more than 250 PMI Chapters with total Chapter membership over 190,600

Recognition of the PMP® Certification’s Value

• PMP was the #1 Certification of ZDNET‟s Tech Republic‟s Top 15 Highest Paying Certifications for the Technology Industry*

*Released June 2008

http://certification.about.com/

http://certification.about.com/


Getting Started with PMP® Certification


Are You Ready?

Satisfy Eligibility

Requirements

Make the Decision and

the Commitment

Complete

Application

Take Exam / Complete

Evaluation Process

Become Certified!

The eligibility requirements

themselves are very tough

and often slow or stop

people from applying.


PMP® Certification Eligibility Requirements

Category 1: With a Baccalaureate Degree

• PMP® candidates must:

Document at least three calendar years experience in project management (within the past eight years), including at least 4,500 hours experience within the five recognized project management process groups.

Document at least 35 contact hours of formal training in project management.

Pass the PMP® certification exam.

Category 2: Without a Baccalaureate Degree

• PMP® candidates must:

Document at least five calendar years experience in project management (within the past eight years), including at least 7,500 hours experience within the five recognized project management process groups.

Document at least 35 contact hours of formal training in project management.

Pass the PMP® certification exam.


The PMP® Application Process

• Can be completed on-line at www.pmi.org or via mail.

• Candidates must document their experience in leading/directing projects and performing tasks within five domains (Initiating, Planning, Executing, Monitoring and Controlling, Closing).

• You must provide information on each project, broken down by objectives, deliverables and outcomes.

• For more details, download and review the PMP Certification Handbook on www.pmi.org.

http://www.pmi.org/


About the PMP® Exam

• There are 200 questions on the test.

Of these, 25 will be “pre-release”, meaning they are not included in your score. They are there for PMI future tests.

• Your score will be calculated based on the remaining 175 questions.

The passing score for the PMP examination is determined by a criterion-referenced approach called the Modified Angoff Technique, a certification industry practice standard relying on a combination of actual data and the collective judgments of groups of individuals from around the globe who hold the PMP credential. (PMI PMP Handbook)

• On average, you have 1.2 minutes or 72 seconds to answer each question (but you can budget your time much more wisely than that, and we can help).


Preparing for the PMP® Exam

• Many candidates choose to take a PMP® Exam preparation course.

• People often study 50+ hours beyond their course, informally.

• Most candidates read the PMBOK® Guide through at least twice. Since it is not an „easy read‟, many vendors provide a supplemental book which facilitates the PMBOK® Guide material.

• Most people find practice exams an effective way to prepare.


Once a PMP…always a PMP


Staying PMP-Certified

• PMP Certification lasts for only 3 years.

• To renew, PMPs must:

Complete an Application for Certification Renewal showing that they have attained the required 60 Professional Development Units

Pay the renewal fee, and

Reaffirm the PMI Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct.


Staying Certified: Getting PDUs

Category 1: Formal Education

Category 2: Professional activities & self-directed learning such as speaking, writing, working on projects (up to 15 PDUs per cycle for project work)

Category 3: PMI Registered Education Provider (REP) training

Category 4: Other education providers (requires documentation); including Community of Practice Meetings!

Category 5: Service to a PM Organization (officer, committee) or project management services to a charity groups

• Most PDUs can be registered on-line.

• Attending PMI chapter meetings with speakers usually will earn one PDU per meeting (category 3), as will conference attendance.


Get More Information from PMI

• The website: www.pmi.org

• Important Downloads:

PMP Certification Handbook

CAPM Certification Handbook

PgMP Certification Handbook

Continuing Certification Handbook

Which Certification is Right for Me?

http://www.pmi.org/


PMBOK® Guide, Fourth Edition


PMBOK® Guide, 4th Edition (Released December’08)

• Book cost

PMI Members, $49.50, non-members $65.95

• What you get

459-page book plus a 2‟ x 3‟ poster, “Project Management Process Groups – Interactions and Processes”

• PMI members can download a free PDF of the book

For their own use only, print protected and password protected


PMP® Exam Changes

• The arrival of new PMBOK Guide will change the examfor both the PMP and CAPM credentials.

• Changes to the exam should be relatively minor, but they will definitely exist.

• Exam changes begin only after June 30, 2009.


PMBOK Guide Transition:

High Level Overview of Changes

• Not a significant change to content

• Focus on making standard internally consistent

Makes the document cohesive and have the “feel” of one author instead of a group or committee of people

• Improved graphics, addition of Data Flow Diagrams to show the movement of information in each process


PMBOK Guide Transition: High Level Overview of Changes, cont.

• Alignment with:

Standard for Program Management, 2nd Edition

Standard for Portfolio Management, 2nd Edition

and thus the OPM3 Maturity Model

• All process names now in verb-noun format

• Introduces concept of “project documents,” distinguishing them from the Project Management Plan

The Project Management Plan is no longer an input to any planning processes


Some Examples of Changes

• Triple constraint no longer mentioned

• Increased focus on project stakeholders

• Develop Preliminary Scope Statement process has been eliminated

• New process: Collect Requirements

• Arrow Diagramming Method eliminated

• Better alignment on 3-point estimation between time and cost management chapters


Study Tips for Those Taking the PMP Exam in 2009

• Take the Exam Before June 30.

Avail yourself of the material developed for the current exam.

Avoid risk of any other changes (although unlikely) in application process or passing score.

• If You are Going to Take the Exam Later:

Start with page 349 of the PMBOK Guide, Fourth Edition (it is an appendix that shows the changes from Edition 3 to 4).


Study Tips for Those Taking the PMP Exam in 2009, cont.

• Give yourself the best chance by working with study materials above and beyond the PMBOK Guide.

Why?

All test questions do not come from the PMBOK Guide.

Organizations which specialize in exam preparation can give you a decided advantage for a first-time pass.


mScholar® PMP® Exam Prep Options

• Self-Paced Learning: Great for individuals who prefer independent

learning at their own pace – study anytime, anywhere, any place!

• Virtual Study Groups: Weekly 2-hour webinar sessions with a

PMP-certified instructor ensure maximum learning with little time away from project deadlines. Next VSG starts March 23.

• Onsite Classroom: Options include our 5-day PMP Exam

Preparation Study Retreat and unique 3+1 PMP Exam Preparation Workout. Next 3+1 in Mundelein, IL on April 1-3 & April 23.

All mScholar PMP Exam Prep courses:

• Fulfill entire 35-contact hour application requirement (upon successful completion).

• Include a comprehensive student kit as well as online student center support.

• Feature the mScholar Guarantee.


For More Information…

• Visit www.mscholar.com

• To book a dedicated PMP Exam Prep course for your organization, or discuss a customized solution, contact the mScholar Program Office:

Erkki Goodwin978.824.0400, ext. [email protected]

The PMI Registered Education Provider logo is a registered service and collective mark of the Project Management Institute, Inc.

PMI is a registered trademark and service mark of the Project Management Institute, Inc.

PMP is a registered certification mark of the Project Management Institute, Inc.

PMBOK is a registered trademark of the Project Management Institute, Inc

http://www.mscholar.com/

Introduction to Project Management Certification

Business

division of action

field of project management

project management capability

project team

predictable results

companys project performance

portfolio management

pmp certification