A number of new technologies, impeccable infrastructure facilities and attractive pay packages…none of them are ensuring the timely completion of projects in time in many instances. India, which is of late building its infrastructure and manufacturing facilities, is facing a severe shortage of managers who have great execution skills. In such a juncture, Project Management has emerged as a broad solution to this ubiquitous problem. It takes care of the project planning, design and implementation back to back and ensures the timely delivery of output. This article is an analysis of the discipline and the opportunities that it presents.
Nature of Project Management
Businesses, tasks and requirements of different people, though they look chaotic, all of them would have certain goals. For any goal to be reached, one must plan, allocate the resources, manage the teams and lead them to complete the task in time. Project management is the science that deals with this crucial aspect of production cycle, thus very crucial for any economy.
Of late, demand for project management professional is growing in India due to increasing number of projects in different sectors. However, on the other hand, several projects are being abandoned before their completion due to shortage of management and execution skills. Project Management is an effective answer to these problems.
Widespread Application
As most of us think, project management is not confined only to either construction or infrastructure sectors. It has applications across the sectors ranging from IT to architecture. For example, IT companies develop new software programmes according to the requirements of clients. Development of new software needs project managers who can allocate work, schedule the work process and supervise the teams to ensure the completion of tasks so that the product can be delivered to the client in time. Project managers interact with clients on regular basis and make sure that their requirements are met and the product is delivered as per the decided schedule and specifications. Similar project implementation cycles exist in telecom, automobile, finance and banking sectors.
4 lakh experts needed
Due to such strong relevance across the sector, project management offers bright job prospects and enjoying a great demand in job market. According to a report of Ernest and Young, there is a very good demand for project managers. A study released by it estimated that annual demand for project management professionals will reach 4-lakh mark by 2020.
Avenues of Opportunities
Project management is one of the ever-green areas that enjoy constant market demand. The very fact that companies hire project management professionals when they go for cost cutting in turbulent times speaks volumes about the mettle of this field.
Certified project management professionals are being hired by companies that are engaged in vital sector such as IT, construction, infrastructure automation, aerospace and defense, urban development, risk management, new product development and financial services.
At entry level, one can start their career with Project Assistant position and eventually they can be grow next levels of ladder to become Project Coordinator, Project Scheduler, Assistant Project Manager, Project Manager, Senior Project Manager eventually based on their talent and experience. One can start their career with not less than Rs. 20,000 monthly salary.
Qualities required
Leadership skills, effective communication, planning and team building skills are must to make a bright career in project management.
Project Management Institute-India
Project Management Institute-India (PMI-India) is the professional body that oversees the project management education in India. It is offering several certification programmes that have international recognition. Following are the programmes that are being offered by PMI -
Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM) – This is the beginning level course that offers primary knowledge of project management. Those who have a secondary school degree (high school diploma, associate’s degree, or the global equivalent) and minimum of 1,500 hours of project experience or 23 hours of project management education by the time you sitting for exam can apply for this programme.
Program Management Professional (PMP) – Those who have a secondary degree, with at least four years of project management experience and seven years of program management experience OR a four-year degree (bachelor’s degree or the global equivalent), with at least four years of project management experience and four years of program management experience are eligible to apply to this programme.
Project Management Professional (PgMP) – Those who have a secondary degree with at least five years of project management experience, with 7,500 hours leading and directing projects and 35 hours of project management education OR a four-year degree and at least three years of project management experience, with 4,500 hours leading and directing projects and 35 hours of project management education are eligible to apply to this programme.
PMI Risk Management Professional (PMI-RMP) – Those who have a secondary degree, with at least 4,500 hours of project risk management experience and 40 hours of project risk management education OR a four-year degree, with at least 3,000 hours of project risk management experience and 30 hours of project risk management education can apply for this programme.
PMI Scheduling Professional (PMI-SP) – Those who have a secondary degree with at least 5,000 hours of project scheduling experience and 40 hours of project scheduling education OR a four-year degree, with at least 3,500 hours of project scheduling experience and 30 hours of project scheduling education are eligible to apply to this programme.
PMI Professional in Business Analysis (PMI-PBA) – Those who are working as Business Analysts on projects and programs and project and program managers who perform business analysis as part of their role with minimum of three- years of work experience can apply for this programme.
PMI Agile Certified Practitioners (PMI-ACP) -This certification is meant for those who are working advanced position in project or programme management.
Portfolio Management Professional (PfMP) - This certification is meant for portfolio managers who wish to advance their skills. Those who have a secondary degree, with at least seven years of portfolio management experience within the past 15 consecutive years OR a four-year degree, with at least four years of portfolio management experience within the past 15 consecutive years. Applicants must also have minimum of 8 years of professional business experience.
How to Apply?
If you are keen on building a career in project management, the first thing you need to do is - to identify the course that suits their profile. Then you have to enroll with PMI-India, become a member, and apply for the programme of your choice. Upon successful completion of the programme and clearing the exams, you will be awarded with certification. As of now PMI is offering training through four of its branches.
For more details, visit – www.pmi.org.in
Collaborations with Institutions
PMI-India is providing training to students in-service employees by entering into collaborations with different institutions across the country. It is also striving to introduce project management courses in formal curriculum of higher education programmes. As part of this, it has developed project management courses that can be offered as electives in B.Tech. and MBA programmes.
Available as Courses
Generally project management can be studied only in the mode of certifications. However, now PMI-India is converting that knowledge even into academic courses. Now, the Institute is entering into academic collaborations with different institutes to offer Project Management courses in B.Tech. and Infrastructure Management specialisations in MBA programmes.
Institutes that are offering Project Management programmes-
- Indian Institute of Business Management & Studies, Mumbai - Professional in Project Management
- Bharati Vidyapeeth Deemed University, Pune - PG Diploma in Project and Business Management
- National Institute of Construction Management and Research, Mumbai- PG Programme in Project Engineering and Management
- National Institute of Construction Management and Research, Hyderabad-PG Programme in Project Engineering and Management
- Project Management Institute, Noida - Project Management, Planning and Monitoring.
- Symbiosis Center for Management and Human Resource Development, Pune- Infrastructure Management MBA Programme
For more details, please visit - www.pmi.org.in
| Need of the hour Project management is need of the hour for our economy, which is facing the shortage of managers those who could execute projects. Today, almost all industries are recruiting project management professionals. Either for manufacturing targets or commercials targets, there must be an executable plan that can be implemented by different teams simultaneously in a company. Project management is such science of planning and implementation. Through its novel initiatives, Project Management Institute-India is popularizing the project management education. It has requested the Government of India to make this subject compulsory elective in all the programmes. PMI-Hyderabad Chapter is offering project management elective in NIT Warangal from last year. I can say that this subject offers wonderful career prospects. Enthusiasts can become project management professionals gradually by completing PMI certifications even if they have basic level educational qualifications such as Intermediate. Intermediate is the eligibility criterion to join the basic course in project management. K. Srinivas, President, PMI-Pearl City, Hyderabad Chapter. |
| Academic knowledge can work wonders Academic knowledge of project management work wonders. Though some institutes are teaching project management subject, it is less likely that students get adequate insights as their main focus is on their core subjects and neglect project management. Indeed, there is a need for full-fledged programmes in project management. That’s why we have started MBA in Infrastructure Management programme in collaboration with PMI-India. Prof. Prakash Waknis, Head, Department of Infrastructure Management, Symbiosis Centre for Management and Human Resource Development. |
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