The following are a few images, posters maybe is a better word, to clarify a few myths about the PMP Certification (the Project Management Professional certification) by PMI (the Project Management Institute).
Let me start with one that is positive:
PMP 1
Well, we think the message here is clear. The PMP is good, the PMP is valuable but we should not make it as holders of this certificates can deliver world peace, end hungers, while delivering failed projects.
PMP 2
Although to become a PMP, one has to sign and agree to a code of ethical conduct. Yet, many PMP and PMP training providers (some approved by PMI and some are not) do not have a problem telling you that the PMP is recognized by universities; or it is equivalent to a university degree; even worst the PMP is equivalent to a Master Degree in Project Management.
PMP 3
Here; even PMI violates its own code of ethical conduct; or its marketing people have no problem bending the truth and playing dumb. How can a multiple choice knowledge based exam test competence? I am not a competence expert but do these people know what is competence? Do they know how one can demonstrate competence? Do they even know how to spell competence?
PMP 4
Once again, even PMI directly or indirectly try to claim that the PMP is a project manager certification and it is an indicator of “expert” level competence. Well, the certificate is about project management and not project manager. It certify that one has the foundation KNOWLEDGE but it does not certify that the person is a project manager. Actually, we are sure that a large percent of PMP (if not most) have never managed a project in their lives. We can say more but …
PMP 5
Notice that the certificate name is Project Management Professional —- NOT —- Professional Project Manager. The requirements for the PMP does not require the applicant to be a project manager or have experience in managing projects; it only require that the person have led project tasks.
PMP 6
To build on the previous two posters
- PMP DOES NOT demonstrate competence
- PMP IS NOT a project manager certification
- PMP IS NOT an expert level certificate
What is even worst? To pass the PMP (the passing score is secret – why no one knows) one needs to score about 60% (+/-) on 175 multiple choice exam questions. In most universities and colleges (at least in USA), a 60% could be failing and 70% is the minimum acceptable level. In others 60 is a grade of D. 70% is a grade of C …. not even B or A. To do a master degree most respectable universities demand a B average (or 3.0) with the GRE or GMAT. Some may accept 2.5 GPA (out of 4) which is about C+ or B-. Yet, a D or C- is all one need to pass the PMP.
The bottom line; DO NOT trust someone just because they have the PMP. Evaluate their records, achievement, failures and successes … since almost anyone can be a PMP but not many can be effective project managers.
Wonderful article, Mounir…… Finally people are starting to wake up and recognize that the emperor is standing there naked…
The only refinement I would suggest you make to your well summarized position is the statement “The PMP is good, the PMP is valuable….” I would rephrase that to be “Based on published research benchmarking the various project management credentials, the PMP is good an valuable as an entry level credential only”.
http://pmworldjournal.net/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/pmwj30-Jan2015-Giammalvo-Certification-Benchmarking-2015-update-featured-paper.pdf
Since 2010, I have been benchmarking all the major global project management credentials against the US Professional Engineer (PE) license as well as Gladwell’s “10,000 hour” rule and evidence is building that to become a professional level project manager requires 15,000 hours, not 10,000 and the PMP falls just short of even 10,000 hours.
Bottom line- What concerns me is why those who hold the PMP are not speaking out against PMI’s apparently false and misleading claims that the PMP validates COMPETENCY? Isn’t making false and misleading statements a violation of your own Code of Ethics? How much longer can you or should you support or tolerate an organization who doesn’t even exemplify the same Code of Ethics that they expect their members to follow? More than a little bit of a hypocrisy, don’t you think?
BR,
Dr. PDG, Jakarta, Indonesia
This
comment was posted on LinkedIn Oman HR Network group by Pearl
Schuhmacher,
https://www.linkedin.com/groups/few-images-clear-myth-on-2951071.S.5984734562347999236view=&gid=2951071&item=5984734562347999236&type=member&commentID=discussion%3A5984734562347999236%3Agroup%3A2951071&trk=hb_ntf_COMMENTED_ON_GROUP_DISCUSSION_YOU_CREATED#commentID_discussion%3A5984734562347999236%3Agroup%3A2951071
Absolutely agree. However, this goes for any
qualification, one would say?
This
comment was posted on LinkedIn PMLink – Project
Management Link – Project, Program & Portfolio Managers, PMP, PMBOK, PMO
group by David
Ford, PMP,
https://www.linkedin.com/groupItemview=&gid=59531&item=5984220088566321154&type=member&commentID=discussion%3A5984220088566321154%3Agroup%3A59531&trk=hb_ntf_COMMENTED_ON_GROUP_DISCUSSION_YOU_CREATED#commentID_discussion%3A5984220088566321154%3Agroup%3A59531
No certification should, by itself, drive a
hiring decision or be the total measure of a person’s competence. I do,
however, believe that, given the stated requirements, a PMP certification
should reliably indicate a baseline measure of knowledge and experience. No
certification can relieve a hiring or contracts manager from doing their due
diligence.
This
comment was posted on LinkedIn PMLink – Project
Management Link – Project, Program & Portfolio Managers, PMP, PMBOK, PMO
group by Dawie
Steenkamp, PhD, PMP,
https://www.linkedin.com/groupItemview=&gid=59531&item=5984220088566321154&type=member&commentID=discussion%3A5984220088566321154%3Agroup%3A59531&trk=hb_ntf_COMMENTED_ON_GROUP_DISCUSSION_YOU_CREATED#commentID_discussion%3A5984220088566321154%3Agroup%3A59531
I will add some thoughts as well. I have both,
the PMP certification (with more than 30 years IT experience) as well as
several Project Management degrees (Associates, Bachelors, Masters, and PhD).
The PMP preparation took me about a week and then the time for the test. The
other leg took me 14 years of intense studies. When I wrote my PMP test, I had
to eliminate many factors (knowledge and experience) and think like the PMI
want me to think. I cannot compare the two and definitely do not want to say
that the PMP certification is nothing, but I do believe (with experience) that
a PMP certification does not guaranty that the person is a true Project
Manager.
I believe that a combination of all (experience
and knowledge) will contribute to the quality of a Project Manager.
This
comment was posted on LinkedIn PMLink – Project
Management Link – Project, Program & Portfolio Managers, PMP, PMBOK, PMO
group by SUKAD
Group,
https://www.linkedin.com/groupItemview=&gid=59531&item=5984220088566321154&type=member&commentID=discussion%3A5984220088566321154%3Agroup%3A59531&trk=hb_ntf_COMMENTED_ON_GROUP_DISCUSSION_YOU_CREATED#commentID_discussion%3A5984220088566321154%3Agroup%3A59531
@david
How does the PMP indicate experience? How is
proven?
This
comment was posted on LinkedIn PMLink – Project
Management Link – Project, Program & Portfolio Managers, PMP, PMBOK, PMO
group by SUKAD
Group,
https://www.linkedin.com/groupItemview=&gid=59531&item=5984220088566321154&type=member&commentID=discussion%3A5984220088566321154%3Agroup%3A59531&trk=hb_ntf_COMMENTED_ON_GROUP_DISCUSSION_YOU_CREATED#commentID_discussion%3A5984220088566321154%3Agroup%3A59531
@Dawie
What you post is perfect – Experience with PMP is
good – PMP alone is not.
This
comment was posted on LinkedIn PMLink – Project
Management Link – Project, Program & Portfolio Managers, PMP, PMBOK, PMO
group by Taras
Pich, CD, PMP,
https://www.linkedin.com/groupItemview=&gid=59531&item=5984220088566321154&type=member&commentID=discussion%3A5984220088566321154%3Agroup%3A59531&trk=hb_ntf_COMMENTED_ON_GROUP_DISCUSSION_YOU_CREATED#commentID_discussion%3A5984220088566321154%3Agroup%3A59531
Only the very gullible would believe statements
like “…telling you that the PMP is recognized by universities;”
Given that the condition of getting a PMP is 3 years’ experience with a degree,
or 5 years without.
This
comment was posted on LinkedIn PMLink – Project
Management Link – Project, Program & Portfolio Managers, PMP, PMBOK, PMO
group by John
Reeder, PMP, CSEP,
https://www.linkedin.com/groupItemview=&gid=59531&item=5984220088566321154&type=member&commentID=discussion%3A5984220088566321154%3Agroup%3A59531&trk=hb_ntf_COMMENTED_ON_GROUP_DISCUSSION_YOU_CREATED#commentID_discussion%3A5984220088566321154%3Agroup%3A59531
I have never heard of anyone saying that a PMP
is equivalent to a university degree! The PMP is based on the PMBOK, which is
simply a framework – having a PMP implies that you should be conversant with
the terminology and lexicon of this framework. I know many highly qualified PMs
who do not possess a PMP, and I’m sure there are folks who possess a PMP that are
not good PMs.
The PMP has become a criteria by many companies
for consideration of a applicant for a PM position. I won’t defend this
practice, but it has occurred – I believe that HR professionals have made the
assumption that if one possesses a PMP, then one has some minimal level of
knowledge of project management.
This
comment was posted on LinkedIn PMLink – Project
Management Link – Project, Program & Portfolio Managers, PMP, PMBOK, PMO
group by David
Ford, PMP,
https://www.linkedin.com/groupItemview=&gid=59531&item=5984220088566321154&type=member&commentID=discussion%3A5984220088566321154%3Agroup%3A59531&trk=hb_ntf_COMMENTED_ON_GROUP_DISCUSSION_YOU_CREATED#commentID_discussion%3A5984220088566321154%3Agroup%3A59531
@Sukad
When I stated that the PMP indicates experience I
was referring to the application requirement of several hundred hours of
experience performing project management activities. My assertion relies on the
assumption that those activities have actually been performed and are
accurately reported.
This
comment was posted on LinkedIn PMLink – Project
Management Link – Project, Program & Portfolio Managers, PMP, PMBOK, PMO
group by Bonni
Crisfulli, CAPM,
https://www.linkedin.com/groupItemview=&gid=59531&item=5984220088566321154&type=member&commentID=discussion%3A5984220088566321154%3Agroup%3A59531&trk=hb_ntf_COMMENTED_ON_GROUP_DISCUSSION_YOU_CREATED#commentID_discussion%3A5984220088566321154%3Agroup%3A59531
As I had observed in another posting of this
very same topic, I am saddened that ONLY the “PMP” was listed here
and the CAPM cert. wasn’t even mentioned in the slides.
I agree with many of the points above, however as
a CAPM hearing the endless discussions surrounding the highly coveted (and
marketed) “PMP” while CAPMs are continually seen as invisible in the
profession only helps reinforce the acronym hierarchy and discriminatory food
chain which exists in project management.
Certainly a PMP, CAPM or any other PMI acronym
doesn’t necessarily equate to a good Project Manager. A PMP also doesn’t mean
that we should have an exclusive hierarchy within the profession based on
acronym pedigree.
This
comment was posted on LinkedIn PMLink – Project
Management Link – Project, Program & Portfolio Managers, PMP, PMBOK, PMO
group by Taras
Pich, CD, PMP,
https://www.linkedin.com/groupItemview=&gid=59531&item=5984220088566321154&type=member&commentID=discussion%3A5984220088566321154%3Agroup%3A59531&trk=hb_ntf_COMMENTED_ON_GROUP_DISCUSSION_YOU_CREATED#commentID_discussion%3A5984220088566321154%3Agroup%3A59531
Bonni, I think that because of low
qualification for CAPM not too many people really consider it.
To apply for the CAPM, you need to have:
A secondary degree (high school diploma or the
global equivalent)
AND
At least 1,500 hours of project experience
OR
23 hours of project management education by the
time you sit for the exam.
So anyone out of high school, with a couple of
days of training could become CAPM certified.
This
comment was posted on LinkedIn PMLink – Project
Management Link – Project, Program & Portfolio Managers, PMP, PMBOK, PMO
group by Bonni
Crisfulli, CAPM,
https://www.linkedin.com/groupItemview=&gid=59531&item=5984220088566321154&type=member&commentID=discussion%3A5984220088566321154%3Agroup%3A59531&trk=hb_ntf_COMMENTED_ON_GROUP_DISCUSSION_YOU_CREATED#commentID_discussion%3A5984220088566321154%3Agroup%3A59531
Taras, again we have the ever going debate of
what PMI defines as “qualified” as opposed to those who are actually
qualified and took the CAPM. I can assure you, not all CAPMs came right out of
high school and college.
This
comment was posted on LinkedIn PMLink – Project
Management Link – Project, Program & Portfolio Managers, PMP, PMBOK, PMO
group by SUKAD
Group,
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Hi David
I understand what you meant. You are right the
application required 4500 hours of project management experience but who is
verifying this? The application process verification in PMI play innocent under
the heading of ethics and the audit process is meaningless and insufficient.
If PMI truly manage this – they would publish
percent of applicants failing an audit and would actually do more verification
– but that cost money and reduce revenues.
Mounir
This
comment was posted on LinkedIn PMO group by Andrew
Ball, https://www.linkedin.com/groups/few-images-clear-myth-on-106439.S.5984340730733166597?view=&gid=106439&item=5984340730733166597&type=member&commentID=discussion%3A5984340730733166597%3Agroup%3A106439&trk=hb_ntf_COMMENTED_ON_GROUP_DISCUSSION_YOU_CREATED#commentID_discussion%3A5984340730733166597%3Agroup%3A106439
At last, someone who is willing to stick their
head above the parapet, now guard yourself against the stones and arrows.
What this qualification does demonstrate however
is a commitment from the individual and a clear sign of dedication to the
vocation. It takes a lot, it takes effort and opens doors, and it proves very
little around ability or capability so needs to be combined with evidenced
experience. It opens my door for candidates but does nothing more so as
SUKAD!!! Says it’s a good certification but do not make it into something it is
not.
This
comment was posted on LinkedIn PMO group by SUKAD
Group, https://www.linkedin.com/groups/few-images-clear-myth-on-106439.S.5984340730733166597?view=&gid=106439&item=5984340730733166597&type=member&commentID=discussion%3A5984340730733166597%3Agroup%3A106439&trk=hb_ntf_COMMENTED_ON_GROUP_DISCUSSION_YOU_CREATED#commentID_discussion%3A5984340730733166597%3Agroup%3A106439
Thank you Andrew
What we have said here – we have been saying for
many years even on PMI groups. We have been blocked, threatened
“softly”.
We do PMP training but what we said here we say to
our clients. Sometime we loose clients but we would rather loose a client then
not sharing the facts.
Mounir