The Power of A Project Management Professional

As a certified Project Management Professional (PMP®), I proudly display the initials 'PMP' after my name.  And as one might guess, I am often asked, "What does the 'PMP' behind your name mean?"  The quick response is usually, "'PMP' means Project Management Professional.  It's a professional certification for project managers in all areas and is the most widely  recognized project management certification  in the world."  However, PMP certification means a great deal more than what's usually spoken.

A PM Framework
Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK®) is the guide to the Project Management Institute's (PMI) project management practices.  Contrary to what some may believe, the PMBOK is a framework for managing projects rather than a strict set of project management rules.  The guide is not a flowchart of all possible management solutions from concept to project closeout.  Instead the PMBOK framework contains a number of  tools and techniques that encompass PMI's 9 Knowledge Areas which include:

1. Scope Management
2. Communications Management
3. Integration Management
4. Risk Management
5. Human Resource Management
6. Time Management
7. Cost Management
8. Quality Management
9. Procurement Management

Studying for the PMP Exam and using my own project management experience has equipped me with a solid project management framework.  I studied the PMBOK Guide thoroughly for years to ensure I could apply what I learned in a number of different real-world scenarios that are typically presented on the PMP Exam.  Having a solid background of the PMBOK Guide has significantly improved my ability to proactively make progress towards project closeout.  Prior to being introduced to PMI's project management practices, I did not have a firm grasp on how to use of the 9 Knowledge Areas effectively.  Now I can say that I have a framework for managing projects well within the specifications of the project requirements.  Moreover, I know how to answer the question, "What is most important for the project?" at any given point in the project life cycle.

I will cover  description of the 9 Knowledge Areas in a future post.

Discipline
Discipline before and after passing the exam is necessary to become PMP certified.

PMP certification requires hours of study time comparable to what is required for undergraduate and graduate-level college exams.  A good method for passing the PMP Exam is to first create a study schedule that fits your life style regardless of how long the schedule spans.  And, once the schedule is documented, the PMP candidate must stick to what he/she has planned.  Balancing family life, personal life, and the career is certainly a challenge for most of us and I was no exception.  It took me a few years (and a few schedules) before I was able to study for about 6 weeks and then pass the exam.

To maintain PMP status, everyone who passes the exam must be re-certified every three years.  Re-certification can come through a number of different avenues including seminars, classes, white-papers, local chapter meetings, etc. (see www.pmi.org for  re-certification requirements).  A good project manager will be disciplined enough to manage his/her career, personal life and re-certification activities to ensure the PMP designation is maintained.

Ethics
The PMI Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct states that PMI-certified project managers, "are committed to doing what is right and honorable."  The Code of Ethics also clearly describes the expectations of all PMP's in terms of responsibility, respect, fairness, and honesty.  All PMP Exam candidates are required to sign a statement indicating they have read and understood the PMI Code of Ethics.  It is also possible that the candidate will be given a few questions regarding the Code of Ethics on his/her PMP Exam.

In summary, being a certified PMP can be extremely beneficial to the project manager.  The certification provides a framework for managing projects, requires discipline, and instills ethics - a commitment to what's right.  From my perspective, these three elements represent the power of the Project Management Professional.