06
Aug

Why PgMP®, why not PfMP® certification?

Ambitious professionals always try to seek new knowledge, new tool, new experiences, to grow, and they constantly move ahead with adopting the change, and becoming the trendsetter. Nowadays, professional certification, is a great tool to showcase experience and knowledge, and a faster elevation, to uplift career.

Project management institute (PMI)[1], being the global leader in their space, provides certifications, which are, considered, as a great way, to showcase your knowledge, and experience---- also a faster vehicle for professional growth and advancement of career. However, among 8 certifications [2], provided by PMI, only one certification, which is Project Management Professional (PMP) is trendsetter [3], and rest are struggling to make their space.

Program Management Professional (PgMP®) and Portfolio Management Professional (PfMP) are certifications, which are tailor made for senior professionals; concomitantly, the logical next steps for certified project managers, but ----I would say--- we have failed to sell their true value in the market, and, respectively, to those, who are PMP® certified, and, are looking for upgrade.

Statistically, as per PMI Today [4], we have 777,000 PMPs, 440 PfMPs, and 1,935 PgMPs. However, when I sifted the data, it transpired that PMI, launched the PgMP certification in 2007, and at that time, there were 250,000+ PMP certified holders world wide, but somehow, majority of them, didn't opt for PgMP certification. it is also noteworthy that these people also didn't go for PfMP--- launched in late December 2013--when total number of PMP certified holders rose to 600,000.

Interestingly, a majority of PMP aspirants---right after certification---are interested in PgMP certification. PgMP is currently positioned/ understood as the next logical step for PMPs. But, numbers tells the different story. One may argue that, it is owing to the prerequisites of PgMP certification, but in my opinion, it is due to its implementation and acceptance in market.

As I see both the credentials PgMP and PfMP, they are not step-by-step choices, they are two separate choices, and as professionals we need to make it wisely. Although, PMI also doesn’t prescribe any sequence, and allows you to attempt at your ease, but technically we see them based on number of years of experience in each specific area, provided by PMI in prerequisites of these certifications [5][6].

Statistically, 196 out of 440 PfMP professionals also have PgMP certification, which also means that half of PfMP are not PgMP, and they directly opted for PfMP certification after PMP certification. Interestingly, there are also few professionals who don’t have PMP certification and they are PfMP certified.

Based on my experience, observation, research, and discussion with hundreds of PMPs, and senior professionals, one should consider following 3 FACTORS before deciding to go for PgMP or PfMP, or either certification, or none.

1- Developed Economy or Growing Economy

My first criteria may seem odd, but it is interesting, as it will provide you an insight about adoption of certification, in your country.

PMI analyzed 11 countries (i.e. USA, Canada, Brazil, UK, Germany, KSA, UAE, India, China, Japan and Australia), and found that, project management growth is high there, and they are also in need of project management-oriented skillset [7].

Statistically top 6 countries where most PgMP and PfMP are also in this list. Based on my search using PMI certification registry [8] there are 931 PgMP, and 190 PfMP are in USA, 178 PgMP, and 30 PfMP are in India, 149 PgMP, and 36 PfMP are in Canada, 117 PgMP, and 17 PfMP are in China, 64 PgMP and 19 PfMP are in KSA, and 46 PgMP, and 7 PfMP are in UAE.

It means that either these nations are acknowledging the advance certifications, or the training company owners or trainers are doing it for their promotions, as we have around 5800 PMI registered education providers [9].

Although altogether 1,935 PgMP credential holders represent 58 countries, and 440 PfMP represent 55 countries, but it is really a question of acceptance, and norm. However, during my discussions, I found that mostly PMP credentials in growing economies prefer to go for high-end degree programs rather than certifications. In fact I have also followed the same, and left my PfMP certification process and completed my Masters Degree from University of Oxford, because it is more sellable and industry acknowledges and prefers it, at least my part of the world.

So in a nutshell, in developing economy your decision of PgMP versus PfMP should also be vetted with high-end degree programs. My recommendation for PgMP aspirants is to look for University of Oxford degree [10], and for PfMP aspirants to look for Harvard University degree [11].

This is kind a same decision, which I highlighted in my article “Why PMP® Certification is MUST” [12] where I recommended to go for PMP certification, instead of degree program.

2- Operation-based industry or project - based industry

Although, both operation-based or project based industries have projects [13], but the main focus of operation-based industry is production, which relies more on operations, and they do projects to support operations. In fact PMI global job report [7] identifies 6 sectors (i.e. Construction & Manufacturing, Information services and publishing, Finance & Insurance, Management and Professional services, Utilities, and Oil and Gas) where project management demand is high, and are mix of both operation-based and project-based industries.

Based on my search utilizing LinkedIn profiles, and observations, those who are in CONSTRUCTION doing dams, tunnels, housing schemes, PROFESSIONAL SERVICES who does mainly mega projects and in OIL AND GAS especially upstream, will get high value by doing PgMP. These three industries can also be defined as project-based industries. Another industry or organization which is in need of good Program managers or certified PgMP® is GOVERNMENT, who does lots of mega projects.

PfMP certification is more suitable in operation-based industry, like FINANCE, and UTILITIES, where primary purpose is to manage the operational performance and projects or programs will help to grow or achieve the strategic objectives of organization. TELECOM industry will also get benefit more from PfMP credential holders, as they have to manage operations with new initiatives.

Although, I am not implying that PfMP or PgMP is only for operation or project based industries respectively. What my concern is after PMP® credential, PgMP® is not the obvious choice, and it also depends on your current or future role which I will explain in 3rd factor.

3- Current role versus future role

Third criteria, technically seems easy, as PMI also focuses on current role with number of years of experience [5][6], but I would say deciding on only current role will be like trying to ride a bike with one tire.

During my courses, I ask my program management participants to play a role of temporary CEO [14], and portfolio management participants to a role of permanent CEO. So technically, you can use this analogy, based on your future role of temporary CEO or permanent CEO, for PgMP and PfMP certification decision.

As I recommend those who are primarily working in project-based industries should go for PgMP certification, but those who are senior and leading departments in their organizations, or managing multiple initiatives, and are currently responsible of company’s growth and profitability instead of program or project results, can go for Portfolio certification, as it will help them to envision the future role of permanent CEO.

Finally those who are working in operation-based organizations, but are working under department heads, or are responsible for project or program results, and in future targeting to lead departments, can go for PgMP, which will help them to showcase their value as a temporary CEO, and move up as Portfolio or permanent CEO role, where they will be responsible for company’s growth.

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