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We live in a world of specialization, and project management as a skill set is no different. However, as with any type of specialization there are issues with over specialization, insular and parochial viewpoints, lack of perspective, and inability to see the big picture. In the end, what this and any other specialization really boils down to is that it must support the organization’s goals.

Project Management is a Core Competency If organizations goals are the top priority, then project management is a core competency. If you ask a CEO what the benefit of project management is, it is likely that it has to do with advancing the companies initiatives, all of which support its strategic goals. The core competencies in all aspects of project management are a real feather in the cap of an organization. They represent a very real strategic advantage – that the company can execute well on its initiatives. Therefore, project management is a core competency and fits into the big picture as a core competency.

Project Management is a Profession Stating that project management is a core competency certainly is accurate, but if you ask an individual that is a project manager if it is a profession, you will also likely receive an affirmative response. After all, having strong database skills can be a core competency within an organization, but being a database expert is a also profession. Strong engineering skills can be an organization’s primary core competency, but an individual with strong engineering qualifications likewise is a member of the engineering profession. The same can be said of financial, marketing, operations, research and development, and other core competencies within organizations.

Project Management is a Core Competency and a Profession From the organization’s standpoint, project management is a core competency. But from the point of view of individuals, I believe that project management truly is a profession. Core Competencies are only realized within organizations when they are made up of highly skilled individuals, within the profession that represents that core competency.

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John Reiling, PMP

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