Project Management, PMP & Prince2 Prac
If you're looking to change career, you'll have a lot to think about.
No matter if you're new to the workplace, or you've notched up 20 years work experience under your belt, we've provided a helpful 'one-stop-shop' reference site under 15 categories for you to start your search. 
titioner Training...
Every area of industry and commerce can be improved with Project Management. A career in this profession will provide you with opportunities to really make a difference to an organisation's bottom line. If you have a methodical mind and can structure your thoughts well, this could be right for you. Other skill-sets that are useful to have are an ability to explain things well to others and good management skills.
...Effectively And Professionally!
Modern businesses are always looking to improve the quality, efficiency and delivery of their goods and services. Large scale projects can involve a complex mix of time lines, tasks, people and organisations. Whilst training you could become a member of the support team in a project, then a programme officer or team leader for one section of a project.
There are various levels of qualifications and training, some of which require no prior knowledge or experience in industry. All project management training will cover certain fundamentals, but the more advanced the course, the more you will get into the complexities of planning and controlling large scale operations.
De-mystifying The Jargon
Many common terms have evolved to become key phrases for project managers. Training will help you to get inside not only the terms, but also the thought processes that have developed into the recognised techniques and tools. Whichever training and certification you choose to take, you'll find similar principles are adhered to despite the different methods utilised.
The History Of Project Management
Project Management really isn't the young profession you might think it is - we can actually trace its roots back for millennia! It could be said to go as far back as Vitruvius (thought by some to be the world's first known engineer) in the first century BC. The early 1900's saw the development of PM tools and techniques, with Henry Gantt producing his Gantt chart and Henri Fayol proposing five primary management functions and fourteen principles of management.
F W Taylor's great scientific management contribution is still in evidence today, as modern project management tools have their origins in much of his work including WBS (work breakdown structure) and resource allocation.
Project Management In The 20th Century
By the mid twentieth century we had moved into the early days of the modern Project Management era, when it started to become recognised as a discipline in its own right. There was a major challenge facing the US Navy - how to incorporate and integrate a complex system to build the Polaris submarine. The solution came in the form of a new network chart known as PERT (Program Evaluation and Review Technique). Other mathematical project- scheduling models were also developed which quickly spread to private enterprises. Now known as AACE International, the American Association of Cost Engineers was formed by early practitioners in 1956.
The International Project Management Association
In the late 1960's the International Project Management Association (IPMA) was founded. Professionals from thirty different counties attended its first international congress in Vienna, and now fifty national PM associations are represented. Training from the IMPA comes as a four level program that is designed as an on-going competence development process.
Project Management Institute
Shortly afterwards in 1969 the American 'Project Management Institute' was launched. A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge has been published by the PMI. This covers project management procedures that are common to "most projects, most of the time." In addition to the general guide, specialised extensions have now been produced which cover the unique aspects of certain industries (e.g. Government, construction etc). Professional training programs can teach you what you need to know. They are available throughout the world, and prepare students for the PMI certifications, which in conjunction with on-going experience in the field will really advance your professional career.
PRINCE2 - PRojects IN Controlled Environments
PRINCE2 as the name suggests is the second major version of this PM method. It is a registered trademark of the Office of Government Commerce, an independent office of Her Majesty's Treasury. Project management is a complex discipline, and PRINCE2 attempts to provide guidance on how much of the process to apply. The framework is scalable and systematic, and if you train in this discipline you will learn how it can be used for all sizes of project. The adoption of PRINCE2 promotes continual learning and improvement for staff members and organisations. It leads to the efficient and economic use of management time.
There are a variety of other qualifications and training levels, such as the entry level APM UK Introductory Certificate in Project Management.
Essentially your training needs to cover skills and techniques that you can perfect as you build your real life experience in industry. Start looking for training now - and get your personal project on track!
