Project management and certificates
Project management is a key skill in today's globalized and digitalized world. Projects are time-limited undertakings with clear objectives that involve various participants, teams and resources.
Successful project management requires in-depth knowledge, skills and experience. Certification in project management is formal proof of competence that increases career opportunities, builds confidence and improves the quality of projects.
The most common project management certifications
There are various providers, institutions and associations that offer project management certifications. The best known, recognized both internationally and in Switzerland, are
- IPMA: The International Project Management Association offers four certification levels based on the 28 competence elements in the areas of context, people and practices.
- PRINCE2: "Projects IN Controlled Environments" is a process-oriented project management method developed by the British government. PRINCE2 defines seven principles, seven themes and seven processes that should be applied to every project.
- PMP: "Project Management Professional" is a certification of the Project Management Institute, a global organization for project management. The PMP certification is based on the "Project Management Body of Knowledge", a standard work that describes ten areas of knowledge and five process groups in project management.
- HERMES: HERMES is a method used by the Swiss Federal Administration to manage projects in the areas of IT, the development of services and products and the adaptation of business organization in public administration.
- Scrum Master and Product Owner certifications: Various organizations offer certifications in the roles of Scrum Master and Product Owner for the application of the agile Scrum method.
- SAFe: SAFe is a framework for the application of scaled agility.
Most certifications test the theoretical knowledge of the specific method in the form of multiple-choice and/or open questions. Some certifications also require experience in managing projects. Only IPMA bases Levels A to C on actual reference projects and the associated experience in applying the project management skills of the person concerned.
Careful selection is crucial
Choosing the right certification depends on various factors, such as personal career goals, industry context, budget and time.
Project management certifications increase competence, but offer no guarantee of success. Practical experience and continuous development are crucial.
Author
Mike Hubmann is a partner at the consulting and training institute BWI. As a trainer and consultant, his focus is on project and portfolio management, change management, organizational development, high performance teams and agile leadership.
Among other things, BWI offers support for IPMA certifications at all levels. The BWI seminar "Agile project management in classic and hybrid organizational environments" provides a good basis for a Scrum Master or Product Owner certification.
BWI also offers a Certificate of Advanced Studies (CAS) "Project Management - Change and Transformation" in cooperation with the University of Applied Sciences Graubünden.
