Project Management Accreditation and --- Globalization vs. Localization Barry Hsiung, Ph.D., PMP President, PMI-Taiwan Chapter President, National Project Management Association
Outlines Is PMP a Global? Can PMP be Recognized Useful Outside North America? Suggestions to PMI about PMP Taiwan s Experience: Localization and Globalization
Is PMP a Global PMI has prepared PMBOK Guide to be the global standard of Project Management US-PM emphasized compare to APM s Prince 2 and IPMA s ICB More than 70,000 PMPs have been certified based on the PMBOK Guide in global Large portion from North America Relatively small population but gradual increasing from rest of the world
Are those PMPs Certified by the Same Baselines Yes, in the US, Canada, Australia, Hong Kong, Taiwan, etc. English-written test, standardized test centers, computer-based exam Other countries may have different approaches Bilingual test (English and translation of Local language), different test rate, paper and pencil exam
Can this Be Adapted Yes, in North America The contents of certification reflect most of the requirements from the US government/ business/industries Not exactly in some other countries Not tailored to different countries local needs Culture and language translation may cause different perceptions on PM knowledge
Can this Be Adapted (cont d) Scenario 1: A Fortune 500 company accesses a new market outside North America and its recruitment of local employees request certified PMPs. What if this company finds out the local PMPs have poor English proficiency, because they were certified by local language?
Can this Be Adapted (cont d) Scenario 2: A non-american, US-educated and certified PMP is assigned as a project manager to be responsible for a local government procurement contract in his/her own country. Can he/she accomplish this project mission based on what he/she has learned from the PMBOK Guide without understanding local culture and government s regulations?
Can PMP be Recognized as an Useful Standard Outside North America Mostly yes, partly not, because: Some countries use different regulations, procedures, guidelines for their procurement, risk, and scope management Different culture and society cause different value and philosophy Different economic development and business environment may cause different ways of thinking
Lessons of the PMP PMP is a generic global certification: It is based on the US value system and standard of procedure for Project Management Lack of the consideration on localizations Does translation of the PMBOK in 8 different languages stand for globalization? Different countries specific requirements for a local certified PM need to be considered tailored to current systems and business environment, adjusted to the regional culture
Lessons of the PMP (cont d) Performance of a PMP = (Professional Knowledge + Experience) X Language Capability
Suggestions to PMI about PMP Keep the certification exam with the same standard all over the world --- Globalization English only Computer-based test Common knowledge and perception Help or encourage local Chapters in different nations to develop their own standard of PM knowledge (base on PMBOK) as well as establish their professional certification systems --- Localization Local language Cultural activities
Taiwan s Experience: Localization and Globalization CPMP certification developed by NPMA has been recognized as one of the significant nationwide professional accreditation in Taiwan Qualification for certification Education: at least two-year College degree Minimum 3 years work experiences Professional Backgrounds Senior Project Managers Business Administration Consultants/instructors Scholars/University Professors Enterprise mid/high-level managers Senior Project Associates
Taiwan s Experience: CPMP vs. PMP Localization of CPMP s certification CPMP fundamentally follows the global knowledge standard Emphasizes the uniqueness of local regulation Considers the cultural difference and mapping into local systems CPMP exam is taken in NPMA s own computer-based test center and it is conducted in traditional Chinese language (no language barrier) Application/Practices vs. Standard CPMP requires the capabilities of developing the project management plan Current number of CPMP in Taiwan: 175 NPMA members: 600 individual, 40 corporate
Taiwan s Experience: CPMP vs. PMP (cont d) Globalization of PMP certification PMI-Taiwan has been endeavored to promote PMP certification in Taiwan since 2002 Emphasize this is a US/global standard (Need to understand US value and perceptions of the western culture) Examinees are recommended to have good English capability PMP exam is taken in Prometric test center, and it is conducted only in English Current number of PMP in Taiwan: 105 PMI-Taiwan s Members: 125
Taiwan s Experience: CPMP vs. PMP (cont d) PMI-Taiwan Chapter is recognized as a bridge toward international PM community, while NPMA is positioned as a significant regional/local PM incubator Both building professionalism in project management --- for both globalization and localization consideration CPMP and PMP are the equivalent status with different value to the applications No Conflicts between CPMP and PMP, but satisfying different needs
Conclusion PMI may play more actively roles in helping different regions/nations to develop their own local standards The establishment of Greater China s Project Management Body of Knowledge as well as the consolidated Chinese PM professional accreditation and certification systems are absolutely necessary in the future
Thank You!