Project Management Institute

The Project Management Institute (PMI) is a global member association and advocacy organization for the project management profession. PMI is the leading membership association for the project management profession. [http://www.pmforum.org/diroforg/na.htm#pmi]

Certification

PMI offers five professional certifications:

Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM^®) [http://jobsearchtech.about.com/od/educationfortechcareers/p/CAPM.htm]

PMI Risk Management Professional (PMI-RMP) [http://www.projectsatwork.com/content/articles/243548.cfm] ^SM
PMI Scheduling Professional credential (PMI-SP)^SM [http://www.scheduleassociates.com/scheduling-professional.asp]

Program Management Professional (PgMP^®) [https://butrain.com/mdp/pgmp.asp]

Project Management Professional (PMP^®) [http://career-advice.monster.com/technology-skills/technology/Project-Management-Institute-Certif/home.aspx]

Its first certification offered was the PMP certification, which was launched in 1984. [http://www.certmag.com/read.php?in=1851] Nearly 260,000 people now hold the PMP certification [http://www.gantthead.com/blog/Project-Management-2.0/?userTagIDSort=20] . In 2007, it earned the ANSI/ISO/IEC 17024 accreditation from the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) [http://www.ansi.org/conformity_assessment/personnel_certification/accredited_programs17024.aspx?menuid=4#PMI] . Credential holders do not have to be members of PMI.

To maintain most PMI credentials, holders must earn Professional Development Units (PDUs) which can be earned a variety of ways such as taking classes, attending PMI global congresses, contributing to professional research or writing and publishing papers on the subject. [http://www.pmhut.com/10-quick-and-easy-ways-to-earn-pdus-for-re-certification]

Standards

PMI has been recognized by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) as a accredited standards developer [http://publicaa.ansi.org/sites/apdl/Documents/Standards%20Activities/American%20National%20Standards/ANSI%20Accredited%20Standards%20Developers/OCT08ASD.pdf] .

PMI standards are targeted at projects, programs, people, organizations and the profession. Currently, they have published more than 10 standards:

A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge ("PMBOK"^® "Guide")
"Construction Extension to the" "PMBOK"^® "Guide", Third Edition
"Government Extension to the" "PMBOK^® Guide", Third Edition
"The Standard for Program Management"
"The Standard for Portfolio Management"
"Practice Standard for Earned Value Management"
"Organizational Project Management Maturity Model" ("OPM3"^®)
"Practice Standard for Project Configuration Management"
"Practice Standard for Work Breakdown Structures"--Second Edition
"Project Manager Competency Development Framework"--Second Edition

According to PMI, standards are developed with the help of volunteers in a three step process including an exposure draft process that allows the public to view the standard draft and include change suggestions. [http://www.pmi.org/Resources/Pages/Standards-Development.aspx]

PMI Global Congresses

Four [http://congresses.pmi.org/ PMI global congressess] are held each year in the different regions of the world—North America, Latin America, Asia Pacific and Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA). These professional networking and educaiton events are open to everyone and include presentation topics in different Areas of Focus such as "Trends in Project Management," "Communication" and "Consulting Skills."

[http://www.pmi.org/CareerDevelopment/Pages/Our-Credentials.aspx PMI certification holders] can earn Professional Development Units (PDUs)for attending congress sessions and other pre- and post-congress events like the PMI Research Program Working Session and the PMI Standards Program Working Session.

At the PMI Global Congress 2008--North America in Denver, Colorado, General Colin Powell will give the keynote address. [http://www.pmforum.org/blogs/news/2008/06/general-colin-powell-to-keynote-pmi.html]

Overview & Membership

PMI was founded by a group of five volunteers in 1969. Currently, the organization has more than 260,000 members in more than 171 countries. To serve its members and the profession, PMI has created industry standards, such as "A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge" ("PMBOK® Guide"), which has been recognized by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) [ [http://webstore.ansi.org/RecordDetail.aspx?sku=ANSI%2FPMI+99%2F001%2F2004 ANSI/PMI 99/001/2004 A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK® Guide) - Third Edition ] ] . PMI also issues several professional certifications, produces industry and research publications, offers involvement in local chapters and holds four conferences, called “global congresses” around the world each year.

PMI also has offices in Washington, D.C., and Beijing, China [http://www.pmi.org/AboutUs/Pages/Representative-Offices.aspx] , as well as Regional Service Centres in Singapore, Brussels, Belgium and New Delhi, India. [http://www.pmi.org/AboutUs/Pages/Regional-Service-Centre-Contacts.aspx] Recently, an office was also opened in Mumbai, India. [http://www.pmforum.org/blogs/news/2008/04/pmi-opens-office-in-mumbai-india.html]

Researching the Value of Project Management

In July 2008, PMI released preliminary results from its " [http://www.pmi.org/Value/default.htm Researching the Value of Project Management] " study. Conducted with Athabasca University, the study was led by principal investigators Janice Thomas, Ph.D., [http://www.mba.athabascau.ca/titan/aucimwebsite.nsf/AllDoc/731902b120d74fc0872574830066dce3!OpenDocument&Click=] and Mark Mullaly, PMP. The multi-million dollar study, which involves more than 60 case studies from organizations around the world and more than 440 interviews with project managers, suppliers and contractors, set out to prove that project management does equal organizational success. In "Solid Proof", a supplement on the study, Mark Mullaly said of the studies results:

"We have clear, compelling evidence of value, and at the same time we have demonstration that value is being leveraged in different ways in different organizations both in terms of the tangible things they think they're looking for [and the intangible] , but the intangible seems to deliver the greatest value to the greatest number of organizations." [http://proggex.com/downloads/PMNSupp200808.pdf]

PMI Scheduling Professional Credential

In 2008 PMI launched a new credential called teh PMI Scheduling Professional credential (PMI-SP)SM for project team members who specialize in scheduling. [http://www.scheduleassociates.com/scheduling-professional.asp]

To receive the credential, you must meet certain eligibility requirements set by PMI. For those with bachelor degree holders, that includes three to five years of project scheduling experience, a minimuc of 3,500 hours of non-overlapping scheduling experience and 30 contact hours of formal education. For those with a high school diploma or associates segree, that includes three to five years of project scheduling experience, a minimum of 5,000 hours of non-overlapping scheduling experience and 40 contact hours of formal education. [http://www.mosaicprojects.com.au/Training-Planning.html]

ee also

*Master of Project Management
*Project Management Professional
*Program Management Professional
*Certified Associate in Project Management
*A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge
*PMI Risk Management Professional
*PMI Scheduling Professional credential
*Organizational Project Management Maturity Model (OPM3)

References

External links

* [http://www.pmi.org/ PMI official website]