What would happen if project management didn’t exist?
Believe it or not, project management is at the heart of many successful projects and businesses.
In fact, many businesses that originally began as ideas were brought to fruition with project management.
For example, let’s use Blue Bottle Coffee as an example. Blue Bottle Coffee is a small coffee shop that originated in San Francisco, California. In an effort to keep up with the competition, they needed a creative solution to help customers make coffee selections.
Blue Bottle's idea was to design and develop an online store, which sparked the opening of several additional locations across the country, as a result of a sprint and agile project management.
However, Blue Bottle Coffee isn’t the only organization that has benefitted from APM. In fact, according to the 2015 Pulse of the Profession® report published by the PMI, 75 percent more organizations that adopt agile methodologies complete more of their projects successfully than the competition.
If you are a seasoned project manager reading this, then you are already aware of how important project management is to not only managing client and organizational projects, but to business success as a whole.
In this article, we will explain how and why project management is important for business, and how earning your official PMP certification can position you for an even more rewarding career.
Why Project Management Qualifications Are Important for Business
Yes, project management can differ between organizations, industries, clients and stakeholders, and even types of projects.
However, regardless of whether you are building a skyscraper or a website—and which project management methodology (PMM) you follow—project management really comes down to one primary responsibility: managing people.
Yes, the demand for experienced project managers today is higher than ever. Therefore, project managers who seek out qualifications to advance their professional careers definitely gain a huge competitive edge. Professional qualifications, including the PMP certification and credential, are valuable in any organization and sector.
A professional PMP certification demonstrates that a professional project manager is well versed in global development, talent and resource management, budget management, risk management, and have the ability to manage people.
Furthermore, as project management continues to evolve, it is becoming even more valuable to businesses. Again, let’s refer back to our Blue Bottle Coffee example above. Businesses and entrepreneurs must embrace a level of mindfulness that allows them to be present, be aware, and be open to new ideas and innovations.
Of course, this level of “mindfulness” is only half the battle. The other half? You guessed it: project management.
With project management, any business, team, or entrepreneur can take those ideas and turn them into reality.
Although the agile philosophy may not necessarily benefit every organization or business, it is often the best for brainstorming new ideas, spearheading new initiatives, and turning them into action.
If you are a project manager who focuses on working with startup businesses, product development, or working with creative teams, then earning your official PMP certification can help you not only position you to better serve your clients in an independent consulting role, it will also help your organization reach new heights.
What is a Good Project Management Training Course?
There are many project management training courses available at local community colleges, continuing education programs, and even private companies that offer exam prep courses and resources. But, how do you know if the training course is worth it, and will sufficiently prepare you for the exam?
First, know this: Not every project management training course is designed to prepare you for the PMP exam. Some training courses will teach you some basic principles and best practices for managing teams and projects.
If that is all you want to get out of it, then great. However, if you are considering taking the exam to earn your official PMP certification, then it is highly recommended that you take a PMP exam preparation course, and plan to study and prepare up to six months in advance.
In the process of earning your official PMP certification, you will learn about the project management body of knowledge (PMBOK), the various principles and methodologies, techniques on how to manage projects efficiently from start to finish, and even apply those to real-life projects and situations.
Here are some other areas that a solid project management training course should cover:
A solid PMP exam training course will cover:
- Every aspect of project management from start to finish
- Resource management and allocation
- Monitoring and controlling (risks, budgets, and schedules)
- How to manage stakeholder communication, expectations, and requirements
- How to properly plan projects
- Management and leadership training
These skills are incredibly useful for project managers who manage projects from the ground up, and to also measure project progress as well as performance results. Although these skills can certainly be learned while on the job, it is easier to develop them during project management training.
Furthermore, experienced project management professionals who undergo professional training or even earn their official PMP certification gain more credibility, and are generally in a better position to take on new projects—even without any real industry experience—and earn a higher salary.
Finally, earning your PMP credential and taking the PMP exam requires a commitment, dedication, and a small investment. However, the rewards can be endless. And although the PMP certification is globally recognized and is relevant in any business or industry sector, it is important to research various project management training courses to determine the best fit for you.
How to Earn Your Official PMP Certification
As you likely are already aware, project management can be an incredibly rewarding and fulfilling career. If you think a project management career might be right for you, or if you are looking for opportunities to advance your project management career, your next step should be to prepare for the PMP certification exam.
Despite popular belief, you don’t need any project management experience to take the PMP exam. Of course, any form of project management experience is important for your career, and you may be more prepared because of your experience. However, you can still become a successful project manager even if you are starting from scratch.
How Project Vanguards Can Help
One of the best project management training courses and PMP exam prep courses available is with Project Vanguards.
Project Vanguards understands how earning the PMP credential can significantly impact a professional’s project management career. This is one reason why Project Vanguards offers a wide range of professional training and resources to help professionals prepare for and successfully earn the PMP certification. Project Vanguards also guarantees a 100 percent first-time pass rate.
So, if you are feeling anxious or nervous about taking the PMP exam, or you aren’t so great at taking tests, period, then Project Vanguards’ PMP exam prep courses just might be what you need to succeed in business.