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Vol. XII Issue II - February 2010
Project Management eJournal
EDITORIAL
Three Points – about Project Management Education, Training & Career Development
or
Three Good Reasons for Continuous Learning in Project Management
By David Pells
Managing Editor
Introduction
I have recently been involved in providing some project management courses to a major US government agency, consisting of a short course on basic project management and a short course to prepare participants for project management certification. While preparing to welcome participants and introduce the topics of the classes, it occurred to me that those attending might need some perspective on not only what they would be learning, but what they would not learn. I also realized that another important message was the importance of continuous learning in the project management field, since it is unlikely that any one person has all the answers related to managing every program and project these days.
In that class in Washington, DC, I mentioned three important aspects of the learning process related to project management. I have expanded on those three points; here they are along with some of my thoughts on the issues.
Point 1 – Project Management is more than meets the eye.
Over the last 50 years, modern project management has grown, expanded and matured. As the types, sizes and range of projects and programs have increased, across all industries and organizational types, so have project management models, methods and techniques grown and expanded.
Project Management is no longer focused solely on planning and managing scope, quality, time and cost. It involves all aspects of organizing, leading and managing teams of often diverse professionals and technical personnel in order to create or achieve difficult and complex activities. The debate over whether project management is art or science is over – or it should be. Project management clearly involves both the disciplined application of proven techniques and tools, as well as the creative and responsive application of team leadership and resource management skills. Project management requires knowledge, education, experience and maturity – in both technical and human terms.
About the Author
David L. Pells
David L. Pells is the Managing Editor of PM World Today and of www.pmforum.org, one of the world’s leading online sources of project management news and information. David is an internationally recognized leader in the field of professional project management, with over thirty years’ experience in project management. His professional experience includes a wide variety of programs and projects, including engineering, construction, transit, defense and high technology, and project sizes ranging from several thousand to ten billion dollars. He continues to advise several major organizations and programs. He served on the board of directors of the Project Management Institute (PMI®) twice, and was awarded PMI’s Person of the Year award in 1998 and Fellow Award in 1999. He is also an honorary Fellow of Project Management Associates (PMA), the national PM society of India, and of the Russian Project Management Association SOVNET. David has published widely, speaks at PM conferences and events worldwide, and can be contacted at: editor@pmforum.org
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