For today's information technology professionals, maintaining marketability is truly "job number one." But, having made a commitment to keep their skills up to date, IT workers are still faced with the challenge of figuring out where to invest their professional development time and money. Derik Mantel, project management practice manager for consulting company Genesis10, (www.genesis10.com), offers some suggestions for role-based training.
Software Developers
"We're seeing Agile development taking hold in lots of companies," Mantel says. Proponents claim the Agile approach results in faster development and higher customer satisfaction. "The approach is better for meeting changing business needs," Mantel says. "You don't embark on a journey only to find that the destination has been moved."
The "Agile Alliance" boasts 2,970 members around the globe, according to its website. Members claim that Agile is not a methodology but a way of thinking about development. Find out more at www.agilealliance.com.
Business Analysts
"The business analyst role has really caught on. There's acknowledgement of the need for certification of the role within organizations," Mantel says. BAs help the business clients to define its needs, and then work with the IT department to determine those needs. The new International Institute of Business Analysis (IIBA) is modeled after the long-established Project Management Institute (PMI). The first Certified Business Analysis Professional (CBAP) exam was held in November 2006. For more information, visit www.iiba-msp.org.
Entry-level Project Managers
The Project Management Institute (PMI) now offers a "Certified Associate in Project Management" (CAPM) credential. Mantel says the skills development and the credential are perfect for an administrator who wants to move into a project management role. The PMI website says that knowledge of project management processes and terminology can be useful in a range of roles that interact with business clients, finance, marketing and others. The CAPM Handbook is available on the PMI website, www.pmi.org
Seasoned Project Managers
PMI has filled a need at the other end of the PM spectrum with a new Program Management Professional (PgMP) credential. Program managers are usually in charge of several related projects, with multiple project managers reporting to them. Information on the PgMP is also available at www.pmi.org.
Why go for one of these credentials? Some jobs require it, Mantel says. But does the credential make an IT professional more successful? "Success comes not from the credential, but from an on-going learning mentality," Mantel concludes.
Laura French is principal of Words Into Action, Inc., and is a freelance writer from Roseville.
