Chapter 11: Career Development

Overview

Career development represents the activities associated with achieving professional advancement aligned with progressive expansion and application of individual skill, knowledge, and experience in project management. The career development effort usually involves additional consideration of universally accepted professional performance standards as well as organizational requirements for business skill and acumen, technical and analytical competencies, and supervision and leadership capabilities. For many individuals, rewards and benefits associated with personal achievement, professional recognition, and increased income opportunities are a significant part of the career development equation.

The PMO should facilitate activities to establish a career path for individuals within the project management environment. This inherently implies gaining acknowledgement and recognition of project management as a professional discipline within the relevant organization. In some cases, this PMO effort is welcomed as a means to add structure to the roles and responsibilities of project managers and project team members. In other cases, it presents a challenging initiative for the PMO to manage — to gain the attention of key project participants, the involvement and support of the HR department, and the consideration of senior management toward implementing a project management career path.

This "career development" function enables the PMO to:

• Achieve professional recognition for project managers and project team members

• Facilitate project managers' career planning and professional development efforts

• Provide career motivation and direction for project management participants

• Prepare advancing professionals for expanded business roles and responsibilities

• Contribute to the organization's retention of highly qualified professionals

• Enhance the organization's competitive stance in the marketplace

The PMO cannot implement a project management career development program alone. Rather, it serves primarily as an advocate and performs in a prominent role to contribute and facilitate knowledge and understanding about professional project management. This PMO effort distinctly requires collaboration with the HR department, which brings capability and insight of personnel management practices in the relevant organization to guide career-path construction, implementation, and management. Ideally, it is a joint development effort, but one that is ultimately a responsibility of the HR department. However, it is likely that the PMO will have visible responsibility for ongoing management of career development activities within the project management environment.