Project management will give you an edge over competition

Project management has quickly become a hot commodity in the jobs market. Organisations, government, institutions and companies are advertising for project managers.

The perks are attractive and young graduates are going back to school to learn a thing or two in project management.

There is a growing need for qualified project managers in Kenya and the East African region at the moment. This is due to the fact that an increasing number of businesses embark on large projects and require qualified and experienced personnel to manage them.

For instance, the East African region has seen an increase in infrastructural development both for government and the private sector.

The devolved system of government  in Kenya for example, has also increased the need to develop county infrastructure. leading to an increased demand for project managers.

Further with oil, mining and gas and marine industries growing; multi-national companies have pitched tent in Kenya and the East African region.

This has seen the demand for local skills in project management rise as these companies set up their infrastructure.

 “In our experience as a training provider, multi-national companies coming to the country, have approached us looking for local talent with international project management certifications,” says Wachira Reriani, the head of training at Africa Value Solutions LTD (AVS) - professional training services provider in Nairobi.

In the course of this, project management — an area that was previously ignored, has grown in its importance. He notes that while most of these openings are initially temporary in nature, there are instances where permanent contracts are required.

Mr Wachira says that there are many facets to project management.

 “A career in project management is well suited for those who are looking for a challenging and diverse work environment, where no two days are ever alike,” says Mr Wachira.

Local organisations including companies that are seeking to expand and carry out huge projects within the region are sponsoring their middle-level management staff for project management courses.

STEADY RISE

However, there has been a steady rise in the number of self-sponsored students who are pursuing project management courses so as to compete effectively in the job market.

Mr Wachira is to the opinion that project management is no longer just a module you study on a business course but a full qualification which employers recognise.  

This is because when leveraged upon, project management contributes to the overall success of a business. “It ensures that projects are successfully completed within the constraints of time, cost and quality,” Mr Wachira emphasises.

Organisations that manage their business projects effectively gain strategic advantage over their competitors.

Many local and regional companies are starting to recognise the need for qualified project managers and are demanding that they get certification. Highly sought certifications in project management include: PRINCE2, MSP and Scrum Study and PMP.

The Project Management Institute (PMI) ranks project management among the three ‘most promising careers’ of 2020. These include: software development and IT, user experience designers, and product and project managers.

It is estimated that there will be over 1.57 million project management jobs created annually around the world come 2020 with most of these expected in developing countries such as Kenya.

Project managers work across disciplines, taking the output of team members in various business departments and work to integrate these ideas into the bigger picture.

The Project Management Institute notes six areas of greatest promise for project practitioners: Energy, healthcare, IT, construction, finance, and aerospace and defence.

As such, there are plenty of reasons to pursue this avenue. For starters, it is about expanding job markets, rising salaries, and growing industries. But one of the most notable characteristics of opportunities for project managers is their truly global nature. Project management was the number one vacancy for healthcare IT in the US in 2013.

Due to the high demand for skills and knowledge in project management, the training comes at a cost. The cost of project management certifications has been on an upward trajectory in the past three years. Experts worry that the local jobs market may not be able to sustain the increasing demand for project managers in the long-term.

“To overcome this challenge, companies may have to opt to invest more in project management training’s for their staff, or a “bursary” is started for potential project management professionals countrywide,” Mr Wachira points out.

According to a recent article by PMI Kenya Chapter, most projects are managed by accidental managers or technical personnel as opposed to qualified project managers.

“Unless this changes, Kenya will have to resort in importing qualified project managers,” the article stated in part.

RECENT TRENDS IN PROJECT MANAGEMENT

Adaptability will continue to gain popularity in IT projects. “Whereas, project management certifications have become more popular over the years (and this is reflected by the growing interest in our project management courses), risk management is already an incredibly popular topic for project managers,” Mr Wachira observes.

Change management is being implemented to improve outcomes into the businesses. Even more is the fact that in corporate organisations, project management is being used in the implementation of strategic initiatives.

To meet the market demand for project managers and to equip the existing market, Africa Value Solutions LTD (AVS) is making project management certifications more accessible through various modes of study.

“We offer the ability to study through self-paced e-learning, instructor-led workshops, real-time virtual learning and self-study,” says Mr Wachira.

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BECOME A PROJECT MANAGER

Project management entails using proven tools and techniques to manage the scope, time, quality, risk, benefits and cost of a project.

Though often integrated into various degree programmes as a small segment of the course work, project management is an entirely independent profession and can be studied as a stand-alone unit.

Experts recommend working as a project administrator first. This provides an opportunity to gain valuable insights into the processes while developing one’s skills without the pressure of being accountable for results.

Mr Wachira singles out some of the key skills-set that employers say is a ‘must-have’ for any project manager.

•  Excellent interpersonal and communication skills.

•  Leadership skills.

•  Team management skills.

•  Negotiation skills.

•  Personal organisation skills.

•  Risk management skills and mitigation strategies.

•  Technical skills.

•  Adept problem solving.

• Understanding project management certifications

Project management certifications include: PRINCE2, MSP and Scrum Study and PMP.

PMP

The Project Management Professional (PMP) is the most important industry-recognised certification for project managers. As a PMP, one can work in virtually any industry, with any methodology and in any location.

PRINCE2

PRINCE2 (an acronym for PRojects IN Controlled Environments) offers non-proprietorial best practice guidance on project management. It emphasises on dividing the project into manageable and controllable stages.

MSP

Managing Successful Programmes (MSP) supports the successful delivery of transformational change through the application of programme management. It is very

SCRUMSTUDY

ScrumStudy certification is a bit new in the market. It uses an adaptive methodology to management and is recognised globally.