What is PMP?
Project management and PMP explained
As the name implies, Project Management Professional (PMP) is about project management. Organizations produce goods or offer services to make profit. For this to happen, departments or functional units which have different responsibilities are created. Example of such are; IT, Marketing, Human Resources, and Finance, among others. These departments engage daily in activities geared towards meeting the goal of the organisation. These activities are commonly referred to as ‘Business As Usual’ (BAU).
At some point, the need for change arises. This may result from the need to; expand, comply with updated or new government policies, fulfil customer’s changing requirements, incorporate advances in technology, etc. Thus, to implement these changes, companies embark on projects. A project is any temporary endeavour that aims to deliver a specific outcome. When the project’s outputs are delivered, they are handed over to the BAU.
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The need for project management
With the continual successful delivery of projects, organisations will be able to stay afloat in this ever-competitive business world. However, for this to happen, these projects need to be effectively managed. Therefore, project management is the application of knowledge, skills, tools, and techniques to project activities to meet project requirements. Top global organisations such as Google, Apple, and Amazon, have been able to grow at an astronomical rate in such a short while thanks to being able to deliver innovative and valuable products to their customers through effective project management.
PMP as a project management gold standard
From the above, it is obvious that effective project management is critical to the success or survival of any organisation. Like other sensitive professions such as medicine, accounting, law, pharmacy, etc. there is a need for professional competence and due care. Thus, without the right guidelines, projects have a high tendency to overrun their costs, extend beyond schedule and even fail to deliver on business objectives. Thankfully, different organisations have been instrumental in ensuring that professionals understand what to do and how to do them. The Project Management Institute (PMI) is one of such organisations that have helped to standardise the project management profession.
PMP which is coordinated by PMI is based on the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK), a framework that was developed based on the concepts of consensus, openness and due processes provides established guidelines (also known as best practices) for achieving specific project management results. However, as much as it consists of recognised best practices, it is constantly updated to fully incorporate the ever-changing requirements in the world today. As a result, the most recent edition of the PMBoK Guide (i.e., the Sixth Edition) fully incorporates the importance of Agile in business environments that are Volatile, Uncertain, Complex and Ambiguous (VUCA).
PMI validates the project management knowledge of professionals at different levels with the PMP and CAPM exam. People who have project management experience can take the PMP, while beginners can opt for the CAPM.
It is apparent that to remain relevant in the business world today, there is an ever-rising demand for businesses to take advantage of new opportunities and manage threats by delivering projects successfully. This further reinstates the need to adopt proven project management standards in every organisation. Therefore, organisations need to employ people that are knowledgeable and skilled in the application of project management tools and techniques. You will agree with me that anybody can lay claim to the project management knowledge. However, the certification is the only real proof that as an individual, you practice these approved best practices. Also, considering the fact that this certification is high on demand by various industries and across the world, getting certified as a project management professional will greatly improve your marketability, and earning potential. Above all, as a certified professional, the opportunities available to you will be endless.
Having discussed the basics of project management, let’s now ask more specific questions as seen below:
PMP Frequently asked questions
How did PMP evolve?
The evolution of PMP cannot be discussed without making mention of the part that PMI played. That said, PMI, (the coordinating body for PMP) was founded in 1969 and the first PMP certification examination was written on the 6th of October 1984. That year, 43 individuals became the first Project Management Professionals (PMPs).
To know more about the history of PMP, visit our “history of PMP” page
Is PMP Accepted worldwide?
Yes, it is globally relevant. It would interest you to know that organisations in over 200 countries currently adopt the PMP framework. As a matter of fact, PMI, the coordinating body for PMP has over 300 chapters in the world. Moreover, millions of members make up these chapters.
If you are looking for a certification that can be adopted in countries apart from Nigeria, this qualification is an ideal choice for you.
How many people are certified in Nigeria and globally?
There are over 750,000 qualified professionals in the world and over 8,000 certified Project Management Professionals in Nigeria and the number is only growing.
How relevant is PMP to employers?
Since an organisation’s survival is dependent on the successful delivery of their projects, then it is obvious that they need people who have this knowledge. The PMP is proof that you have this knowledge and that you are an experienced project manager. As a result, during recruitment, certified professionals are the most sought after in any industry.
Is PMP specific to a particular industry?
No, the PMP certification is not specific to any industry. One striking feature of this certification is that it reflects best practices in project management. Also, the PMBOK can be tailored to suit whatever industry you are in. Examples of industries with certified project management professionals include manufacturing, IT, pharmaceuticals, oil & gas, automobile, etc.
Who is PMP for?
If you have an interest in managing projects, this course is for you. There are no prerequisites for taking the training. However, to know about the prerequisites for taking the PMP examination, the target audience and how the exam works, please see below.
Prerequisite
The following are the requirements to sit the PMP exam
- A secondary degree (high school diploma, associate’s degree or the global equivalent)
- 7,500 hours leading and directing projects
- 35 hours of project management education
OR
- Four-year degree
- 4,500 hours leading and directing projects
- 35 hours of project management education
Please, visit our “PMP qualification” page to know more.
What will I learn if I opt for PMP
The course covers the Project Management body of knowledge(PMBOK). You can find a breakdown of what you will learn in the PMP exam outline.
Please, visit our “PMP Resources” page for the PMP exam outline and to access more resources.
Want to know more about PMP?
At Harrybaker we’re determined to ensure learners pass the PMP exam at the first sitting. My only question is, will it be you?
