How Well Do Project Management Certifications Translate To Real-World Project Success?
Overview of project management certifications
Popular project management certifications like the Project Management Professional (PMP), Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM), and PRINCE2 Practitioner aim to validate one’s knowledge of best practices for managing various aspects of projects. They cover a wide range of topics including project initiation, planning, execution, monitoring, controlling, and closure. Exams test one’s understanding of project management frameworks like the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK) and PRINCE2 methodology.
The PMP certification is administered by the Project Management Institute (PMI) and requires either a bachelor’s degree along with 3 years of project management experience and 35 contact hours of project management education, or a high school diploma along with 5 years of experience and 35 education hours. The CAPM is also from PMI and has easier eligibility requirements, making it suitable for those new to the field. PRINCE2 certifications are administered by AXELOS and have their own eligibility criteria based on project experience and foundation certifications.
Translation to real-world project success
Independent research on the impact of project management certifications shows mixed results. Some studies show certified project managers deliver more projects on time and within budget. A 2015 PMI study found organizations with more PMP certified managers had better project performance. However, other researchers find minimal differences in performance between those with and without certifications.
Certifications can make candidates more attractive in the job market and lead to higher salaries. A 2017 study by the Anderson Economic Group found certified project managers had 25% higher salaries on average. However, work experience is still the most important factor for hiring managers and salary growth.
Applying the knowledge effectively relies on matching formal methodologies with each project’s unique requirements. For example, waterfall project management works for defined, sequential projects while agile is better suited for iterative projects with shifting requirements. Effective project managers also tailor aspects like reporting, stakeholder communication plans, and governance based on company and project needs.
While certification content is useful, solely studying for exams may lead to gaps between theory and practice. Some limitations include lack of soft skills development, company-specific processes training, hands-on experience applying methodologies, and keeping up with evolving technologies.
Other factors influencing project success
While certification demonstrates interest and foundational knowledge, real-world project management success depends on several other interrelated factors.
Soft skills like leadership, communication, negotiation, conflict resolution, and emotional intelligence are crucial. Managing diverse teams, multi-departmental stakeholders, and influencer networks relies heavily on soft skills. Research by Stanford, Harvard, and other top institutions finds emotional intelligence and relationship management are top success predictors.
Understanding company cultures, policies, procedures, and using provided templates, tools, and systems is vital for smooth project delivery. External best practice frameworks taught in certifications may conflict with internal processes. Tailoring externally learned methods to internal environments is key.
Every project type has its own constraints and challenges. Construction projects have very different needs than software or business transformation programs. Factors like technical complexity, uncertainty, changing requirements, strategic alignment, and user adoption dictate approaches.
Advice for aspiring project managers
For those looking to enter the project management field, useful steps include:
Getting an associate or bachelor’s degree in project management, business, or a specialized field like IT or engineering to build hard skills. Look for internship opportunities to gain hands-on experience.
Pursuing entry-level certifications like CAPM earlier in your career to validate fundamentals knowledge. As you gain work experience, pursue advanced certifications like PMP or PRINCE2 to boost credentials.
Seeking mentorship opportunities with senior project managers to learn from their experiences. Shadow them to better understand how they apply various methodologies and tools.
Developing soft skills like communication, leadership, presentation skills, and emotional intelligence. These attributes are hallmarks of excellent project managers even without credentials.
Finding opportunities to lead small teams and projects to put learnings into practice. Start with minor initiatives before taking on extensive programs.
