The task of professionalising
project management
at both an individual and
organisational level
Anthony Miller and Roger Birch
ANU PMCoP Forum – 20 September 2012
Professionalising Project Management
• Traditionally, many PMs were
‘accidental’
• Training courses alone not enough –
assuming any training was given!
• Requirements for higher success
rates in projects
• What defines ‘success’?
Professionalising Project Management (Contd)
• Senior management starting to
recognise importance
• In Canberra, P3M3 a big issue
• Increasing desire for PM
‘professionals’ – in UK, looking at
chartering
So, who is AIPM – and what are we
doing?
AIPM is the largest project management
community in Australasia incorporating:
• Individual Members
• Corporate Members
• Industry Groups
• Communities of Practice
AIPM’s Vision
To be the preferred Institute to deliver services to its
professional members and partners, and to be
regarded as a world authoritative reference on PM
practices and competency.
AIPM Facts
• Not-for-profit organisation incorporated in 1978 (formed in 1976
as the Project Managers’ Forum)
• Representing and promoting the profession of project
management in Australia for over 30 years
• ~10,000 members
• ~170 corporate members
• Chapters in all States and Territories
• National Support Office based in Sydney
•
IPMA member since September 2009
• Moving towards establishment of IMPA
in Australia
Certification
• Negotiating that AIPM certified PMs will only have to
undertake a gap activity to be internationally
recognised
by IPMA
Project Management Trends
June/July 2011 issue of Project Manager Magazine predicted:
1. Greater demands on Leadership skills
2. Increased competition for “good PMs”
3. Competency models as core foundation to achieving project
success and benefits realisation
4. Increased use of Experiential learning techniques
5. Increased approaches to learning through social media
6. Growth in outsourcing – will strengthen risk and contract
management, e.g. the NBN
7. Increased use of change management experts
What’s the difference between ...
Knowledge
Things that you know, have learnt; in PM
knowledge about scope, budgets, schedules,
etc.
Competency
A certain level of knowledge AND
demonstrated application of that knowledge in
the workplace
What’s the difference between ...
Certification
Used by professional institutes to recognise
individuals who have attained a professional
Standard
Qualification
A formal level of educational attainment, as
determined by a University, TAFE, Registered
Training Organisation etc.
One more plug…
AIPM
The largest PM community in the Asia Pacific
region, the certification is truly competency
based through demonstrated workplace
evidence, internationally recognised through
IPMA membership
Membership
Two new Standards at Senior PM
and Portfolio Manager levels are
being introduced
Membership Benefits
•
RegPM Certification Program
•
Information Resource Centre
•
Magazine: Project Manager
•
Annual Conference (2012 Melbourne, 2013 Perth)
•
Special Interest Groups (SIGs)
•
Project Management Achievement Awards (PMAA)
Membership Benefits (Contd)
• Salary surveys, employment trends and job vacancy
announcements
•
Continuous Professional Development (CPD)
•
Seminars, Trade Fairs, Events , Networking opportunities
•
Web based discussion forums
•
Information exchange / sharing of best practice
AIPM’s Certification Process
Become a member of AIPM
Apply for Certification
Choose and contact an Assessor
Collate evidence & CV
Conduct Assessment
Resolve deficiencies
Assessor sends assessment report to AIPM
AIPM verifies assessment
AIPM issues Certificate
Evidence examples
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Business Case
Project Plan
Schedule
Risk Plan
Communications Plan
Quality Plan
Resource Plan /
Budgets
• References
• Assessor observations
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Issues Log
Status Reports / Minutes
End of Project Report
RFT/EOI/Quote etc.
Change Request/Log
Audit Report
Deliverable Acceptance
Sheet
• Supplier selection advice
• emails
Certification Program - RegPM
It is currently awarded at one of three levels :
Certified Practicing Project Practitioner (CPPP)
Supports, assists or contributes to a project
Certified Practicing Project Manager (CPPM)
Plans and manages a project
Certified Practicing Project Director (CPPD)
Director/Program Manager directs ...…
Focussed on integration of multiple projects
Benefits of RegPM certification
• It is competency based and shows what a candidate can do,
rather than knows at the time of an exam
•
Personal, face to face, at least in the beginning
•
Produces an individual professional development plan
•
Provides a career path
Certification needs to be kept current
• Certification is valid for three years
• Certified PMs need to collect
Continuous Professional Development
(CPD) points
But, what about the organisation?
• BUT… what happens when competent PMs
go to organisations that don’t recognise
their importance?
• Answer?
• Certify organisations to ensure their
maturity in PM usage
• This leads us to the topic of Project
Managed Organisations, or PMOs
PMO Introduction
• Project Managed Organisation (PMO)
accreditation
• Why become a PMO?
• Recognition criteria
• Next steps
Project Managed Organisation
•
Project Managed Organisation (PMO) accreditation is
an assessment-based accreditation program to
recognise organisations which have embarked on a
process to continually improve their project
management capabilities on an organisation-wide basis
•
A PMO is required to fulfil the recognition criteria, and
has a process in place for continued improvement
•
Accredited organisations are entitled to use the AIPM
logo, and the endorsement of being an AIPM "Project
Managed Organisation".
Why become a PMO?
•
As a benchmark, the endorsement of the AIPM gives surety
to internal and external stakeholders that [the organisation]
has in place appropriate structures, methodologies and
training etc for achieving successful projects, consistently
management capabilities on an organisation-wide basis
•
Recognition in [the organisation] that the PMO has achieved
recognition from the peak body for project management
•
Accreditation greatly assists in communicating to other
departments and stakeholders what [the organisation] is
doing, and its value to the organisation generally
•
Continuous improvement in PMO fosters the message to [the
organisation] stakeholders that project management is a
specific skill requiring trained and competent personnel
Recognition Criteria
•
•
•
•
•
•
Organisational Leadership and Innovation
Organisational Strategic Planning Link
Organisational Business Results Focus
Organisational Customer and Market Focus
Organisational Support Processes
Data, Information and Knowledge
Availability
• Human Resource Management Alignment
• Consistency of Application of PM Functions
Next Steps
• Certification fee to AIPM at time of
application
• Engage an accredited assessor
• Undertake assessment workshop(s):
•
•
•
•
assess the current role and application of project
management functions against set criteria
review each of the criteria as it applies to current and
planned processes
identify areas for improvement i.e. those areas where the
organisation has not been able to meet the criteria
agree an action plan for continuous improvement
Next Steps (Contd)
•
•
•
•
Assessor will send a report to the AIPM with their
recommendation
PMO accreditation award will be made at AIPM
Chapter event/seminar, or at a Chapter Project
Management Awards ceremony
Accreditation is valid for two years.
At the conclusion of the initial 2-year period, the
AIPM will conduct an audit to ensure the
organisation has implemented agreed plans for
improvement
AIPM in the ACT
In the ACT, our service offer is ambitious , but we believe it’s
necessary for the benefit of our members, industry, government
and the profession as a whole.
Our annual business plan involves:
1. Working with Government and Industry re strategic direction.
2. For members, we offer:
• Monthly forums
• ~15-20 SIGs
• Monthly newsletter
• YEPP
• CNP linking AIPM to the NFP sector
Contact AIPM
Roger Birch
ACT Chapter Coordinator
6282 1258
act_chapter@aipm.com.au
www.aipm.com.au