《3Points About Project Management Education》.pdf

Published in PM World Today – February 2010 (Vol XII, Issue II) PM WORLD TODAY – EDITORIAL – FEBRUARY 2010 Three Points – About Project Management Education, Training Career Development or Three Good Reasons for Continuous Learning in Project Management By: David L. 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,