Project Management

Careers

Organised, methodical, good at keeping work on track, confident about meeting deadlines and happy to take on responsibility? If you recognise your own skill set here, project management (aka PM) could be the perfect match for you …

What’s involved?

Project management (PM) has evolved significantly over the years. While it did begin in civil engineering, it has expanded to virtually all industries due to the recognition of its importance. The role of a project manager has become crucial in avoiding costly disasters that can occur due to:

• Lack of clear objectives
• Misunderstanding of the business benefits of change
• Frequent changes in customer requirements
• Inadequate control of change
• Late incorporation of technological changes into projects at disproportionate costs

Today, a project manager is the key individual responsible for delivering the customer’s requirements and liaising with suppliers. They ensure that top management understands the implications of a project on the overall business operations.

Effective PM involves measuring the expected outcome of a project before it begins, ensuring that it aligns with the initially envisaged change.

For individuals transitioning from the military to a career in project management, it’s important to note that many of the skills developed in the military are directly transferable to project management. These include discipline, leadership, resilience, risk management, team coordination, and effective communication.

The field of project management is growing rapidly, with a need for 25 million new project professionals by 2030. This makes it an excellent career choice for those leaving the armed forces.

PM TO THE POWER OF THREE

To sum up PM, three factors make up every project:

1. time

2. cost

3. performance.

These are interdependent, so any changes made to one will impact on one or both of the others.

Skill up while serving

People transitioning from military service often bring a wealth of skills that are directly applicable to project management:

Strategic Leadership: Military service cultivates the ability to guide diverse teams towards achieving mission goals. This involves goal setting, resource planning and organisation, and steering team members towards these goals.

Technical Skills: Both military operations and project management require effective budget management and activity scheduling. These skills encompass the ability to plan, allocate, and manage resources efficiently.

Conflict Mediation and Performance Appraisal: Soft skills such as dispute resolution and performance evaluation are crucial in fostering a productive work environment.

Communication: Recognised as a critical skill by project management professionals worldwide, effective communication involves accurately transmitting and receiving various types of information in different formats, through different mediums, and in a variety of situations.

Problem solving and conflict management: Essential skills for successful project management. Projects are not inherently problematic, but they are responses to identified challenges or opportunities.

Strategic Thinking: This skill enables individuals to navigate an organisation’s political landscape while maintaining a focus on the bigger picture.

Adaptability: This skill helps organisations avoid rigid adherence to processes and procedures, allowing for the application of the aforementioned power skills and appropriate planning.

These skills, refined during their military service, can provide individuals with a competitive edge in civilian project management. They can assist in planning and analysing situations, building relationships, conducting risk assessments, and creating and adjusting plans to accommodate ever-changing scenarios.

Have you got what it takes?

Expertise and experience in Project Management (PM) are critical for a wide array of civilian jobs. It’s therefore beneficial to focus on enhancing your project-related skills, with an emphasis on leadership, team building, and risk management. PM is a field of increasing importance, with skilled project managers in high demand, both within the Services and externally. Furthermore, the PM industry is consistently branching out into new areas each year.

The key skills needed for effective project management include:

Defining the Deliverables: The first step in any project is to understand what needs to be accomplished.

Mapping the Delivery: This involves devising a strategy for achieving the project’s objectives.

Leveraging Available Resources: Efficient project management necessitates the effective use of resources, including time, finances, and personnel.

Managing the Project from Inception to Completion: This includes monitoring the project’s progress, ensuring tasks are completed in a timely manner, and modifying plans as required.

Get qualified!

Project Management (PM) is a diverse field that offers both specialised and broad-based qualifications, many of which include PM components. For example, numerous degree programmes incorporate PM modules and often evaluate students by requiring them to undertake a project as part of their coursework.

In the current digital era, there is an abundance of PM-related qualifications and short courses available through distance learning. This flexibility enables you to study from any location, which is particularly beneficial in today’s global circumstances.

Various methodologies are employed in project management. Among these, PRINCE2 is one of the most prevalent. However, acquiring a PRINCE2 certification can be a substantial investment, with costs typically ranging from $500 to $1,500 for the Foundation and Practitioner levels. You may need to bear some or all of these costs yourself.

For civilian project managers working in the Ministry of Defence (MoD), it is often compulsory to hold a practitioner certificate. However, it’s important to note that the selection criteria for project leads in the MoD do not require specific qualifications. Upon appointment, Senior Responsible Owners (SROs) are expected to complete the Major Projects Leadership Academy (MPLA) if they haven’t done so already. This underscores the importance of practical experience and leadership skills, in addition to formal qualifications.

USE E-LEARNING TO EARN YOUR PRINCE2 CERTIFICATIONS

PRINCE2 Foundation and Practitioner qualifications both lend themselves well to online study. You will find them offered as fully accredited e-learning packages by a host of providers, allowing you to learn at home and at a pace that suits you.

You can also Google for free PRINCE2-related downloads, quizzes and case studies, as well as useful podcasts, seminars and webinars. There’s plenty of information out there – free and paid-for – to allow you to keep your learning on track.

PRINCE2

Axelos is the awarding body for PRINCE2 certifications. To earn these, learners must complete a training course with an accredited organisation and pass an exam.

PRINCE2 employs a process-based methodology. Each component is clearly defined with its key inputs, outputs, objectives, and activities. The project is broken down into manageable stages, allowing for effective resource control and regular progress monitoring. The approach is product-oriented; plans are centred on achieving results, not just meeting timelines.

The driving force behind the project is the business case, which outlines the organisation’s justification, commitment, and rationale for the deliverable (or outcome). This case undergoes regular reviews to ensure alignment with potentially changing business objectives. PRINCE2 ensures projects have a structured and controlled beginning, middle, and end, with processes covering all necessary activities.

The project manager is responsible for organising and controlling the project team, which carries out the actual work. The customer funds the project, the user utilises its outcome, and suppliers (or specialists) bring the necessary expertise.

All stakeholders are represented on the project board to ensure the project delivers the right outcome, within budget, on time, and to the required quality. Project assurance offers an independent perspective on project progress.

PRINCE2 offers several certification levels, each tailored to different project management skill levels and roles:

PRINCE2 Foundation Certification: This entry-level certification introduces candidates to the basic concepts of PRINCE2 methodology. It’s ideal for those starting their project management journey or seeking a fundamental understanding of PRINCE2 principles. PRINCE2 Practitioner Certification: This certification validates a more in-depth understanding of PRINCE2 and equips you with the skills to apply its concepts in real-world situations. It’s suitable for project managers, team leaders, and individuals managing projects using PRINCE2 methodology. PRINCE2 Agile Foundation & Practitioner Certification: This certification merges the adaptability of agile practices with the rigour of PRINCE2 ethodology. It enables project managers to adjust to changing environments while maintaining project delivery control. It’s designed for professionals in agile project management environments or those wanting to incorporate agile principles into their projects. To qualify for the practitioner-level certification, you must pass the PRINCE2 Foundation or hold one of the recognised project management qualifications. Some of the recognised qualifications for practitioner-level entry include CAPM, IPMA Level A, IPMA Level B, etc.

PRINCE2 Registered Practitioners are required to renew their certification every three years. PRINCE2 renewal can be achieved either by taking the re-registration exam or through Axelos Membership.

GET CERTIFIED. VIRTUALLY. ANYWHERE … WITH APMG INTERNATIONAL

APMG International offers a wide range of project management (and other related) certifications, many of which can be studied online, as well as regular relevant webinars and other useful online resources.

Visit its homepage to find out more.

The Association for Project Management (APM) is a recognised chartered body in the field of project management. It provides a plethora of resources, including the APM

Body of Knowledge, a fundamental guide to project management concepts, functions, and activities.

For individuals aiming to boost their project management skills, APM offers a range of training courses and educational programmes7. These programmes adhere to the standards established by the International Project Management Association (IPMA), ensuring international recognition.

In the UK, there’s an abundance of project management study opportunities. Short courses are regularly conducted nationwide and are also accessible for online study. Numerous British universities and institutes present a wide array of project management courses and programmes. These courses are designed to meet diverse needs, with some focusing on specific aspects of project management, while others offer a broad overview for general project managers.

Don’t forget to check the relevant websites for the most recent and comprehensive information (see ‘Useful info’).

PROJECT MANAGEMENT APPRENTICESHIPS
The APM offers a range of apprenticeships at different levels. There are two apprenticeship standards for England and one apprenticeship standard for Scotland that include the APM Project Management Qualification (PMQ): the level 4 Associate Project Manager Apprenticeship and the level 6 Project Manager Integrated Degree Apprenticeship in England, and the Level 8 Project Management Technical Apprenticeship in Scotland. Those completing the level 6 programme also receive a BA/BSc Project Management degree. Click on the links provided to find out more. If you are based in Northern Ireland, click here for more information on apprenticeships that relate to project management. And keep an eye on this page for the latest APM apprenticeship info.

Use your ELC

Under the ELC scheme, a wide range of learning can be taken, provided it is offered by an approved provider listed on the ELCAS website and is at level 3 or above. For full details of how to make the most of your ELC, refer to the in-depth features elsewhere on the Quest website

Finding employment

As of 2024, the defence industrial sector remains a prominent employment field, especially for those transitioning from military service1234. This sector presents a wide array of projects, enabling Service leavers to readily apply their skills. They may find themselves interacting with familiar equipment, albeit from a fresh viewpoint.

It’s important to highlight that project management (PM) skills are in high demand across various industries. The need for roles centred around project management is on the rise, with an estimated 25 million new project-oriented roles expected to be filled globally by 2027. This trend emphasises the significance and adaptability of PM skills in today’s job market. Regardless of the industry - be it defence or otherwise, these skills can pave the way to a multitude of career opportunities.

CPD IS KEY

Continuing professional development is required to keep abreast of changes in the PM world.

The more junior ranks will tend to be employed on the basis of their technical skills and expertise, while if you have been in a managerial role in the Services, your management – and specifically PM – skills will be attractive to prospective employers. If you are thinking of working freelance, there are agencies, magazines and other intermediaries that can help you; if you want to find an employer, the job-finding process is much the same as for other kinds of employment.

To view our full list of Project Management training courses - Click here