There are many different certification programs available for Project Managers zu choose from. What value do they provide? Itroduction to the Project Management Berlin Meetup #7

1. Step aside
I’m certified!
Project Management and Beyond …
Meetup #7
Berlin, Oct 14th 2014

2. Agenda
19:15 - 19:30: Nice to meet you :-)
19:30 - 19:45: Presentation
19:45 - 20:00: Brainstorming and summary
20:00 - 21:00: You are the agenda!

3. There are many Certificates ...
PMI: CAPM, PMP, PgMP, PfMP, PMI-ACP
GPM/ IPMA: IPMA Level D-A, Certified PM Consultant
IAPM: Cert. (sen.) (agile) PM
Axelos: PRINCE2, MSP, MoP, P3O (Fnd./ Pract.)
Scrum Alliance: CSM, CSPO, CSD, CSP, CSC, CST
Scrum.org: Open, PSM I+II, PSPO I+II, PSD
also: ACI, Scrum Institute, DSDM Atern, borisgloger, AKP, SAFe,
XP, APMG, V-Modell XT, HERMES 5, Six Sigma, CMMI, IHK, …

4. Certificates are useful!
+ Speaking the same project language, using
the same terms reduces misunderstandings
+ Usually you also have to take a training
course to learn/ refresh your knowledge
+ Certificates motivate (kind of gamification)
+ Organisations give the chance to network
online or offline (conferences, local groups)
+ It’s easier (or necessary) to find a job

5. Certificates are dangerous!
- Certificates don’t tell much about knowledge/
experience and the ability to use it
- Focussing on getting certified may disturb
the focus on what the method is made for
(“doing [method] for [method]’s sake!”)
- Certificates build communities which fight
other certificate-communities (religious)

6. Some statistics ...
Sources:
https://www.gulp.de/kb/mk/ohne-erfahrung-laeuft-nichts-ohne-zertifizierung-dagegen-schon.html
https://www.gulp.de/knowledge-base/markt-und-trends/management-von-it-engineering-projekten-die-zukunft-ist-hybrid.html
https://blog.ibo.de/2014/05/27/zertifizierungen-im-projektmanagement-steigt-der-bedarf/

7. PMP vs IPMA vs PRINCE2
PMI: PMP IPMA: Level C AXELOS: PRINCE2
Type Prescriptive
knowledge, reference
guide (How?)
Prescriptive
knowledge, reference
guide (How?)
Descriptive
methodology, manual
(What, when, whom?)
Prerequisites 3 years’ experience, 35
contact hours of formal
education
3 years’ experience PRINCE2 Foundation,
possibly formal training
Certification cost ~ € 500 ~ € 1 700 ~ € 360
Total approx. cost ~ € 3 500 ~ € 5 500 ~ € 1 100
Re-certification cost every 3 years, ~ € 150 every 5 years, ~ € 300 every 3 years
Test Computer-based test,
multiple choice
2 written tests, 1
workshop, 1 interview
Objective testing,
scenario-based

8. Scrum Alliance vs. Scrum.org vs. PMI
Scrum Alliance Lvl 1 Scrum.org Lvl 1 PMI-ACP
Type Scrum knowledge Scrum knowledge Knowledge on Agile/
Lean basics
Prerequisites 2d training none 2.000h PM experience
and 1.500h Agile PM
21h Training
Certification cost ~ € 300 ~ € 100 ~ € 415
Total approx. cost ~ € 1.500 ~ € 100 ~ € 2.500
Re-certification cost every 2 years, ~ € 150 never depends
Test Computer-based test,
multiple choice
Computer-based test,
multiple choice
Computer-based test,
multiple choice

9. Competing or complementing?
PMBOK GUIDE: "This standard is a guide rather than a specific
methodology. One can use different methodologies and tools (e.g.
agile, waterfall, PRINCE2) to implement the project management
framework."
APMG: “The Process clarity and the strengths of PRINCE2 is balanced
by the depth of the PMBOK® GUIDE. (...) PRINCE2 becomes useful to
PMPs ... because, as a methodology, it can shape and direct that
knowledge.”