A Look into Being Professional Project Manager

Quite basically, project management is all about organizing and managing the resources available for a piece of work, goal, or objective with the aim of completing or achieving it successfully. Today, the project management landscape has evolved to become a crucial aspect of all businesses with a keen emphasis on the professionalism aspect. A competent project management professional is, in this era, sought after more than ever.

In a study conducted by PWC, 97% of organizations link project management directly to the success, or failure thereof, of their business performance and organizational strategies. Sadly, even with 80% of well-performing projects being under the leadership of certified project managers according to Wrike, only 42% of respondents interviewed in Wellington’s survey stated that the project management role was assigned to a professional in their organizations.

Who Is a Project Management Professional?

The typical business environment is characterized by dynamism, a constant need for improvement, implementation of new strategies, a close monitor of these processes, and the maintenance of these developments. A project management professional is a wheel behind these activities. As the Project Management Institute defines them, these are the individuals charged with the noble responsibility of applying knowledge, skills, tools, and techniques to the activities of a project to meet the project’s requirements.

It is important to note that although they may have almost the same roles, a project manager is different from a project management professional in status. The latter, has pursued the required training and certification in addition to their practice and set themselves apart as professionals in the field. A project manager, on the other hand, has a qualification in a different field and the skill set that allows them to steer a team to the successful completion of a project. The certification sets the whole difference.

Roles of a Project Manager

According to PMI (2013). Talent Gap: Project Management through 2020 report, it is estimated that the project management industry will be worth US$6.61 trillion and 15.7 million new project management roles will have been created by 2020. While this is a reflection of the growth of project-intensive sectors like manufacturing, oil and gas, construction, information services sectors and the like, it is also an appreciation of the role of the project management professional.

A project management professional is responsible for the management of a project or projects during the entire life of the project(s). Together with his team, a project manager is charged with the following duties:

• Initiating, planning, and defining the scope of a project
• Creating and managing project budgets and work plans
• Planning, managing and controlling the resources of the project including time and cost
• Designing and executing the deliverables of a project based on the laid out plan
• Leading and coordinating the project team
• Communicating the project details (including progress, goals, plans, and other matters) to the team and other stakeholders
• Documentation
• Risk analysis and management
• Quality control
• Monitoring and evaluation of the project(s)

The PMP Certification

The Project Management Professional Certification, a certification accredited by the Project Management Institute, is the second of three certifications under project management.

The first at the basic level is the Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM) and the third and final certification, the Program Management Professional (PgMP).

To be eligible for the PMP certification, you need to have

• A bachelor’s degree or an equivalent

• 3 years of project management experience with 4,500 hours of  leadership experience

• 35 hours of project management studies

Or

• High school diploma or an equivalent

• 5 years of project management experience with 7,500 hours of leadership experience

• 35 hours of project management studies

Becoming a Professional Project Manager

The journey to becoming an accomplished project manager starts with a passion. If you notice that you are usually more motivated than other members of your team and are always on the lead to get the job done, you may just have a touch of project management in you.

Project managers possess the following skills

• Leadership

• Good communication skills

• Accountability

• Organization and multitasking

Here Is How to Go About It

After attaining your university degree or high school, take the following steps.

1. Pursue a project management course with not less than 35 hours of formal education.

2. Apply to work as part of a project management team. Depending on your qualifications, work towards achieving the 3 or 5 years working experience.

3. While on this, take on a leadership role and have one or two projects to your name, which you have led and directed successfully.

4. After you have achieved the required education and experience, pursue membership of PMI and PMI Chapter in your local area.

5. Apply for the PMP certification exam to earn the PMP (Project Management Professional) title.

6. Finally, you need to maintain the PMP title by earning 60 Professional Development Units (PDUs) every three years.

5 Reasons Why Project Management Training is Crucial

1. The PMP training highlights areas you need to work on improving. The examination tests an applicant on 5 main project performance areas, and each has points accorded to it. These are:

• Initiation – 13%
• Planning – 24%
• Implementation – 31%
• Monitoring and control – 25%
• Closure – 7%

2. PMP certification adds value to your career and places you on a global platform.

3. It equips you with the skills required to match the required project management standards.

4. It gives you a competitive edge when negotiating your salary.

5. It opens you to a world of networking opportunities in different sectors.

Conclusion

Is project management a profession?

Well, it goes way beyond being a profession. It is an art, a scientific methodology, a skill set, a role, a valuable addition to an organization, and much more. It is the force that pushes businesses to outperform their expectations and have a competitive edge while still achieving their goals. It is an economic force that the 21st-century society can’t just do without.

The decisions and plans implemented in the project management office are, in fact, the key driving factors to the success of a business. This is why a project management professional must be capable of discharging his duties to a standard that matches or exceeds the expected standards. He/she should be ready to implement effective project management processes and procedures that will yield results. According to a study by PMI, the project performance was almost clocking 70%, which is a remarkable improvement from the previous years. So, opt for a project management course training and open the doors for a successful career.