Instructor Q&A: Project Management Readies for Change

Countless CCPE Project Management graduates have successfully earned their PMP® certification. With the 6th edition of the Project Management Body of Knowledge materials on the horizon, instructor Francine Warner sheds some light on what the changes mean for new students and the industry as a whole.

Q: The PMBOK® Guide is in its sixth edition. How does this enhance the quality of our forthcoming Project Management program offerings?

A: It prepares the student to sit for the latest version of the [Project Management Institute] exam, which goes into effect on March 26, 2018. The 6th edition emphasizes emerging trends in project management practices around the world. This edition also underscores the importance of lessons learned, knowledge management and Agile practices. Unlike former editions, PMI highlights flexibility in tailoring processes according to the complexity level of the project as well as its visibility within the performing organization.

Q: You’ve mentioned the implementation of Agile environments. How does this translate for someone unfamiliar with project management?

A: Agile is a popular trend in application development delivery. Instead of developing an application from beginning to end in a series of progressive steps, Agile takes blocks of deliverables with the highest priorities and organizes them in the form of “backlog” items. Multiple deliverables are grouped into segments called “sprints,” and each sprint produces a complete deliverable towards the final product, service or result. While Agile is presented in the PMBOK® as an additional methodology alongside its cousins [Systems Development Life Cycle] and “waterfall” methodologies, this course is not a “scrum” course nor does it teach the full methodology of Agile.

Q: How will this new curriculum help make students more marketable post-graduation? 

A: Project management in and of itself is a skill no matter the industry in which the practitioner is employed. This skill, combined with lifelong learning and professional experience, can make students more employable and promotable in their current jobs. Project management is recognized around the world as a much sought-after discipline.

Q: What are the advantages of the PMP® and CAPM® certifications?

A: Both are highly respected credentials that do attract the attention of hiring managers. Similar to an employee earning a higher education degree, the PMP and CAPM demonstrates the individual’s alacrity of self-improvement and further value to his/her employer.

Q: What are your recommendations for determining which exams to sit for?

A: Those who are seeking a change to their career path into project management and/or those who have not yet earned at least a bachelor’s degree would do well to seek a CAPM certification. After the professional can demonstrate at least 4 years of project management experience, they would then qualify to upgrade their credential by sitting for the PMP exam.

Q: As a longtime industry professional, what do you enjoy the most about project management and teaching this course?

A: Project management is like an artist’s blank canvas. After understanding the scope of work to be done and the many facets of planning are put in place, a picture on the canvas begins to emerge. It is the responsibility of the project manager to gain buy-in from various stakeholders on the picture or vision of the project in order to increase the probability of project success.

As a facilitator, I enjoy imparting knowledge to the students; I also value undoing incorrect assumptions about the true definitions and correct use of such terms as critical path, project schedule, project plan, quality assurance versus quality control, etc. just to name a few. Having over 25 years of project management experience, I can easily translate the current topic into a true story of my own experience that often helps understanding and learning to occur.

PMI, PMP and PMBOK are registered marks of the Project Management Institute, Inc.