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Project Yourself
Aaron Smith (July 20, 2004)

We always invite you to join the discussion here. A past opinion column — "The Value of the PMP" — generated a lot of feedback. Many agreed the certification's value has been diluted by an exam that increasingly rewards test-taking preparation over demonstrated competency. Many said the PMP continues to set a valuable standard for the industry, and shouldn't be expected to validate the application of skills.

Here are some of the comments we received from both sides of the debate.

"In my opinion, the PMP credential is not easy to get. And the information studied provides a "framework" for how to manage projects and what elements are required to run them. The curriculum clearly provides a separation between the processes and procedures needed to run a functional team vs. a project team. Folks in the market place seem to have a hard time differentiating from the two.

And like obtaining a CPA, it takes experiences to "master" the skills that are taught. Requiring continuous development of PMPs is needed so that they stay abreast with the evolution of the profession — just like doctors, lawyers and CPAs. The world doesn’t stop when you obtain your PMP. The skills of a project management professional will definitely be dated if they don’t keep up with the latest in tools and methodologies."

Marlene Murray, PMP, CSSGB

Business Architect

Dow Jones & Co.

***

"I have to agree with Mike Beard about the current value of having a PMP status ("The Value of the PMP"). When the Project Management Institute combined all of the sections into one test and a PMP candidate only had to achieve an overall score to pass, the value of the PMP certification went down. At one time, when we had to take the test by hand back in 1995, you had to have a passing score on all eight sections to be certified.

PMP stands for project management professional, not project manager professional. I am a scheduler, but I feel I know more about how to run a project compared to some of the real managers I have worked with."

Samuel C.

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