Posted: June 27th, 2015

The Project Management Institute

Outline

1. Introduction
2. Project management professional

• Project Management Professional

1. Analysis of PMI and PMP
2. Conclusion

 

 

The Project Management Institute (PMI) and the Project Management Professional (PMP)

Introduction

Project management is a process that involves planning organizing and managing resource (functions of management) with an aim of achieving an organization’s goals. Organizations compete strategically in their markets tying project results to business goals. The demand for project professionals far exceeds supply, and this is a warning that there might be a global educational crisis which if not solved will put many countries at risk by the time it reaches 2016. Teaching project management is the only effective solution to this crisis (Pinto, 1998).

Project Management Institute

Project Management Institute (PMI) refers to an institution that serves organizations and practitioners. It has established standards and practices, and globally recognized certificates. This strategy helps determine the qualified experts in project management and also provides the best resources to apply in professional development. The Project Management Institute has many useful resources, and some of them include; certification, professional development, membership benefits, business solutions, marketplace among others (Marks, 2012).

PMI membership signifies that one is dedicated to project management career and professional development. Whether practitioners, students or retirees, the Project Management Institute has a membership plan that is right for everyone. The members readily access valuable knowledge, networks and resources that help them improve and advance. The other benefit is that a member receives discounts on exams and renewals as well as their professional offerings of development.

The program of certification that the PMI offers is readily available to all practitioners of all skills and education level. All that is required is one to show his her competency and commitment to the profession with the PMI and there you get certified.  Another good thing about PMI is that their certificates are technical and of financial edge, that is, the certification impacts salaries of project managers positively (Murch, 2004).

The resource for professional development helps individuals improve their skill sets thus increasing their value to their organization and enhance their future prospects of career. The Project Management Institute can make a person to become a professional of a world class. It has Knowledge Assessments that help professionals identify their learning level and the skills they need to move ahead. If it is information one needs, PMI has Career Central that gives insights on empowering careers.

In the resource of business solutions, the Project Management Institute helps organizations get the most out of their performance. When applied together with an organization’s culture, the project management adds value by improving management functions used through dependable performances, communication and cooperation and looking for new products, processes and markets. The Project Management Institute anchor organizations from taking advantage of Talent Management, Organizational Project Management and PMI Registered Consultant Program (Kerzner, 2009).

In Talent Management, the PMI provides online tools for planning career paths to make professionals grow and learn and at the same time, maintaining them in the organization. With this, the organization learns that is not just hiring people. In Organizational Project Management, the PMI offers Management Maturity Model certification and professional consultant services. This will help the organization know if it is making a difference after embracing project management. A professional then should tie his projects to his business management functions and make sure they support his organizational goals. The PMI Registered Consultant helps organizations trace competent Consulting firms to assist them in their projects, program and portfolio. Individual and businesses benefit a lot fro this help.

Knowledge center a resource in PMI contains the highlights, voices on project management, knowledge shelf and e-reads. The highlights update project management organizations on current projects and how organizations can work on them. In Voices on project management, an agile approach lets one spot quickly when a project is falling and gives the right measures to return it on track. The knowledge shelf shows how people learn using social media as a strategic tool for projects-lessons-learned (knowledge sharing platforms where interpersonal interactions and communication have been facilitated). In e-reads, PMI members can enjoy reading books and media on businesses and project management (Englund & Bucero, 2012).

PMBOK® Guide and Standards, a resource in Project Management Institute ensures that project management and frameworks of organizations are updated. As the management of projects advances, the PMI doubles as much to keep improving its profession and providing them with any information they might require. The PMI’s standards overview shows the rules, guidelines and characteristics of project management. Since they are globally accepted, they are applied regularly and this helps one or his organization achieve a lot professionally. The standards accurately reflect the evolving profession because they are updated and created by both volunteer teams and the general public (Project, 2013).

Project Management Professional

PMI’s Project Management Profession (PMP) is a certificate awarded to project managers and most important industry recognized credentials. It is demanding and recognized globally. Rigorous testing and qualifications makes PMP a widely respected certification. With the certificate, one is considered to be experienced and competent enough to lead and direct projects. This is shown through earning high salaries and increased marketability to employers (Heldman, 2009).

The Project Management Professionals’ experience and examination requirements focus on the functions of management which include; planning, initiating, executing, controlling and closing. The requirements are; a four-year bachelor’s degree and four thousand five hundred (4500) hours of project management experience in the management functions (process groups), thirty five (35) contact hours where classroom instructions are issued about the project management aims/objectives. Supporting documentation for the above qualifications is required. One must also pass the Project Management Professional exam with two hundred (200) multiple choice questions which should be completed in 4 hours time (Crowe & Project Management, 2005).

Analysis of PMI and PMP

Search Criteria: Project Manager

#job title                                            PMP

Required/Preferred  Six Sigma?    Years of experience

1, Business project                         required                    green belt      7

2, PMO   Medicaid Preferred          _                                                         5

3, Sr. Project manager required     _                                                         8

4, CMI management inch.              _                                 _                     7

5, Ind. e-Commerce required        _                                                       5

Search Criteria: Director of PMO

#          Job Title (exact title) PMP

Required/Preferred  Six Sigma?    Years of experience

1, project director required _                                                                               3

2, Dr. of program management required _                                                       8

3, Director                                       required               Mentioned         7+

4, Dr. Project management office  preferred                  _                                10

5, Dr. big data professionals          required                   _                                7

According to the research done above, it is clear that; to become a project management professional, one has to qualify academically and must have applied his or her leadership skills for a given time (experience in the profession of Project Management). The director of a project management organization should too qualify academically and have experience in leading an organization for a certain time (Coleman & Glover, 2010).

A set of traits that people develop that are reflected in the core values and how we relate with others is what is regarded as leadership. It requires more effort to be a leader than it is to attain a simple certification. Leadership is required by management to enable the organization to evaluate, select, initiate and manage projects. From the research, we have found that leadership and management go hand in hand in all project developments. It is like they complement each other in meeting the project’s goals. Some of the leadership qualities a project manager should have are; he should be a person who inspires a shared vision. Leaders are important in project management because they influence the subordinates to achieve the vision if the organization. They also empower the subordinates because they provide the resources required in implementing strategies.

Conclusion

An effective project manager should be a good communicator. Project leadership needs clear communication about goals, performance, expectations and feedback. If communication is effective, a project leader can support the subordinates in achieving the organization’s objectives. This is achieved by developing explicit guidelines in achieving goals and advancing careers of team members. Integrity is another quality that the project leader should have. Good leadership requires the team members to be committed to the goals of the organization and members to demonstrate ethical behaviors. The other qualities are empathy, competence, and enthusiasm. In addition, leaders should have the capacity to delegate duties, achieve goals even when working under pressure. They should have skills in team building and solving problems within the organization. With all this leadership qualities, the project manager achieves professional excellence without difficulties.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

References

Coleman, M & Glover, D. (2010). Educational leadership and management: Developing insights and skills. Maidenhead: Open University Press.

Crowe, A., V & Project Management Institute. (2005). The PMP exam: How to pass on your first try. Kennesaw, Ga.: Velociteach.

Englund, R. L., & Bucero, A. (2012). The complete project manager’s toolkit. Tysons Corner, VA: Management Concepts Press.

Heldman, Kim. (2009). Pmp Project Management Professional Exam Study Guide: Epub Edition. John Wiley & Sons Inc.

Kerzner, H. (2009). Project Management: A Systems Approach to Planning, Scheduling, and Controlling: Epub Edition. John Wiley & Sons Inc.

Marks, T. (2012). 20:20 project management: How to deliver on time, on budget and on spec. London: Kogan Page.

Murch, R. (2004). Project management: Best practices for IT professionals. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall PTR.

Pinto, J. K. (1998). The Project Management Institute: Project management handbook. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass Publishers.

Project, M. I. (2013). Guide to the project management body of knowledge: Pmbok guide. S.l.: Project Management Inst.