The discipline of project management is constantly evolving and maturing. Recent changes to the PMI Talent Triangle categories reflects this fact.
PMI first introduced the Talent Triangle in 2015. The concept behind the talent triangle, was to help build recognition that, to be successful, in addition to technical project management skills (understanding scheduling, costing, risk, etc…), a project manager must also have leadership skills as well as Strategic and Business Management Skills.
After introducing the Talent Triangle, PMI also changed how PMP credential holders were required to maintain their designation. Of the 35 educational PDUs previously required every three year period, a minimum of 8 qualifying PDUs from each of the three Talent triangle areas were now required.
The requirement for Project Management Professionals (PMPs) to not only participate in continuous education, but to ensure that their continuous education included a combination of technical, leadership and strategic and business management skills, emphasized the importance of not only staying current, but also that excellence in project management required more than just mastering the technical side of project management.
So what has changed?
Ways of Working
The branch of the Talent Triangle for Technical Project Management has been replaced by Ways of Working.
Ways of Working (WoW) recognizes that there is no one way to correctly management a project. Projects are unique, and our approach to managing them must consider many variables including the size and complexity of the project, as well as the environment in which the project is taking place. Choosing the appropriate way of working for a given situation is akin to a skilled woodworker choosing the appropriate method and tool to make a precision cut – rather than always reaching for their circular saw.
For example, while predictive project management tools and techniques such as Critical Path Scheduling are appropriate for many projects, projects which are highly complex, or where the end result is yet to be determined (which is often the case for new product develop projects), adaptive techniques such as Kanban or SCRUM may be appropriate. In reality, many projects have components that lend themselves to predictive techniques as well as adaptive techniques, which is why project managers and teams who are skilled in a variety of project management tools and techniques are better capable of choosing the appropriate way of working and achieving the required success.
Examples of courses that focus on Ways of Working, include:
- PM Essentials: Part 1 – the Fundamentals
- Foundations of Adaptive Project Delivery – Agile Hands On
- Kanban – an Adaptive Delivery Framework Which Optimizes Value
- PM Essentials: Part 2 – Advanced Project Monitoring and Control
Power Skills
Likewise, the Leadership branch of the triangle has been replaced with Power Skills. In addition to incorporating the interpersonal skills that are required for collaborative leadership and effective communication, Power Skills also imply the application of an innovative mindset, empathy, and emotional intelligence – all of which are crucial within the project management domain especially as one moves from project, to program and portfolio management and the complexity and stakeholder involvement grows.
Examples of courses that focus on Power Skills, include:
- Project Management Essentials: Part 3 – Effective Communication and Stakeholder Management
- Communication Up Down and Across the Organization *
- Leading with Emotional Intelligence *
* These courses are offered by WCP’s strategic partner Canadian Management Centre (CMC)
Business Acumen
Finally, the branch representing Strategic and Business Management has been replaced with Business Acumen. Business acumen represents the set of skills that enables a much more holistic understanding of those things that are, or may, influence our our business. It enables better and more strategic decision. drives innovation, and creates greater value at the project, program and portfolio levels.
Examples of courses that focus on Business Acumen, include:
- Project Management Essentials: Part 3 – Effective Communication and Stakeholder Management
- Change Enablement – Realization of Project Value
- Developing a Strategic Mindset *
- Effective Decision Making *
* These courses are offered by WCP’s strategic partner Canadian Management Centre (CMC)
The new categories give formal recognition to the evolving nature and maturing of the project management professional and the skills sets required to increase our effectiveness as well as excel in our careers.
For those of you who are earning PDUs to maintain your PMP credential, if previously you would have claimed PDUs under the category of Technical Project Management, you will now claim those same PDUs under the category Ways of Working.
Have questions? feel free to contact us at info@wcpconsulting.com
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