There are many different certification programs available for Project Managers zu choose from. How can one distiguish good from bad certificates?

1. Step aside I‘m certified!
Projects, Management and Beyond! Berlin!
meetup #7
14.10.2014

2. Step aside I‘m certified!
Agenda
How to recognize good and bad certificates?
The common certificates in project management
Discussion
meetup #7 Step aside I‘m certified! - Tassilo Kubitz – akquinet AG 14.10.2014 2

3. Step aside I‘m certified!
Good
document that someone is up to date – proof of knowledge
some certificates are self-evident
represent a performance objective
prove practical experience
show that one can apply long term expertise
standardization of methods and terminology
increase the market value
Bad
specializations are a trap, because the industry is changing so rapidly
the costs are higher than the benefit
certificates often have no content – „Sitzschein“
Recertifications cost money – „subscription trap“
meetup #7 Step aside I‘m certified! - Tassilo Kubitz – akquinet AG 14.10.2014 3

4. Step aside I‘m certified!
The common certificates in project management
Everyone is called „Project Manager“
Short comparison of PMI, PRINCE2 and IPMA
– Projektmanagement-Zertifizierungen (PMI, IPMA, PRINCE2) im Vergleich - Teil1: Inhaltliche Ausrichtung und
Nutzen - Barbara Brecht-Hadraschek - 2014
A comparison of 43 project management certificates
– Project Management Credentials Compared 2014 Update - Dr. Paul Giammalvo - 2014
meetup #7 Step aside I‘m certified! - Tassilo Kubitz – akquinet AG 14.10.2014 4

5. Step aside I‘m certified!
PMI PRINCE2 IPMA
Name Project Management Institute Projects in controlled Environments International Project
Management Association
Approach Collection of process-oriented
project management methods
detailed, integrated process model
that defines from beginning to end,
what to do
People and their skills as
Project Manager / Soft skills
are a relevant competence
Target Communication and cooperation in
the project with a consistent basis -
extensive knowledge of methods
Defines the framework of the
project (roles, organization,
processes, ..)
Competence-based project
management (technical,
behavioral, contextual)
# of levels 3 3 4
# of certificates 540.000 1.200.000 200.000
Regions USA, Asia GB, NL, PL, AUS, … Europe
Pro US standard widespread Space for cultural and
regional particularities and
methodologies
Con not a guarantee of competence
required of a project manager
no extensive knowledge of
methods
no concrete methodology or
processes
Barbara Brecht-Hadraschek - 2014
meetup #7 Step aside I‘m certified! - Tassilo Kubitz – akquinet AG 14.10.2014 5

6. Step aside I‘m certified!
A comparison of 43 project management certificates
Project Management Credentials Compared 2014 update (Dr. Paul D. Giammalvo)
– Benchmark: Effort to achieve a PM certificates versus
US Professional Engineer (PE)
Malcom Gladwell‘s „10.000 hour“ rule
– Effort: required experience + study + exam
– Credentials:
AACE – Association for the Advancement of Cost Engineering - 1956
AIPM – Australian Institute of Project Management
ASEM – American Society for Engineering Management
FAI – US Federal Acquisition Institute
GPM – Green Project Management - 2010
IIBA – International Institute of Business Analysts
INCOSE – International Council os Systems Engineers - 1990
IPMA – International Project Management Assiciation - 1967
ITSM/ITIL – IT Service Management
PE - US Professional Engineer – 1930
PMI – Project Management Institute - 1969
PRINCE2 – Projects in Controlled Environments - 1989
meetup #7 Step aside I‘m certified! - Tassilo Kubitz – akquinet AG 14.10.2014 6

7. Step aside I‘m certified!
25.000h
20.000h
15.000h
10.000h
5.000h
0h
GPM
PE
PRINCE2
PMI
IPMA
Dr. Paul D. Giammalvo - 2014
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8. Step aside I‘m certified!
Summary
Project management is a term with many interpretations
Real experience is necessary
Not only knowledge of methods and processes are relevant,
but also behavioural and contextual competence is important to apply…
meetup #7 Step aside I‘m certified! - Tassilo Kubitz – akquinet AG 14.10.2014 8

9. Step aside I‘m certified!
Discussion
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