PMI is one of the world’s largest not-for-profit membership associations for the project management profession. Its professional resources and research empower more than 700,000 members, credential holders and volunteers in nearly every country in the world to enhance their careers, improve their organizations’ success and further mature the profession.Raj Kalady, Managing director, PMI India, says, “As India globalizes and is on the growth trajectory with rapid developments taking place in both the private and public sector, we see a need for formal project management principles.PMI highlights that standardized professional project management practices are more successful at achieving business results.PMI generates awareness of and demand for the exacting requirements of project management principles.

Mr. Raj Kalady Managing Director, PMI India

Membership at PMI

In a competitive global economy, project managers need professional expertise.  In view of this, PMI India offers tools and support to explore opportunities. In fact, India has the third largest PMI membership – after the United States and Canada- with eight chapters and around 21,500 PMI members and over 29,000 certified professionals as of February 2013. PMI membership emphasizes on professional development within the project management. It highlights this dedication to employers, colleagues and stakeholders, giving you an edge in the job market. It also provides an access to valuable knowledge, networks and resources that helps to improve and advance.

A PMI member can gain exclusive access to PMI publications and global standards, networking options and online communities of practice, leadership and volunteer opportunities. Besides, construction PMI offers project management skills other sectors as well. Expertise in project management is highly valued by different industries. In addition to traditional industries there are several emerging sectors that are increasingly realizing the importance of project management to increase productivity like Information technology, Construction, Pharmaceuticals, Aerospace, Automotive, Business management, Engineering, Financial services, and Telecommunications. Apart from these industries, experienced and qualified project managers are highly valued by Transport and Infrastructure, Healthcare, Energy and Oil industry too.

Earn a PMI certification

PMI offers several certification programs. PMI certifications are distinguished by their global development and application, which make them transferable across industries and geographic borders. The role and tasks of project managers around the globe are researched and documented to define each PMI certification. The strength of PMI’s certifications is that they are portable and not tied to any single method, standard or organization.  Professional certification ensures that project managers are ready to meet the demands of projects across the globe.

PMI offers a comprehensive certification program for project practitioners of all education and skill levels. The programs are rigorously developed, globally accredited and easily transferable across borders and industries. It helps a project manager to demonstrate expertise and commitment to the profession with a PMI certification.

“As the demand for skilled project managers is at a critically urgent level, practitioners who hold the PMI certification are well positioned to provide the professional skills necessary to lead project teams and achieve successful project results,” adds Kalady.  A PMI certification viz. PMP® recognizes the competence of an individual to perform in the role of a project manager, specifically experience in leading and directing projects. Year after year, the PMP credential has garnered global recognition and commanded a higher salary for certified individuals over non-certified individuals.

Focus on construction industry

The Construction Industry Community of Practice provides access to practitioners who have a shared interest in promoting project management in the construction industry. The community develops and disseminates consistent standards of project management terminology and practices, promotes the economic value of project management, and provides opportunities to shape its future.

Community members can examine topics such as:

• The role of project management in construction industry work.
• Established processes, tools and methodologies used in construction.
• The relationship between project management in construction and in other industries, interests or knowledge areas.
• International perspectives on construction project management.
• Applying the PMBOK® Guide and PMI standards pragmatically in construction environments and organizations. 

Project management salary survey

For an employee, knowing his/her earning potential is an invaluable asset to leverage opportunities at the current job, invest in skills to raise marketability and plan the next phase of career. It's also critical for organizations, which are competing for top talent as the demand for project managers grows. To address this, PMI offers project management salary survey. The salary survey helps PMI members discover their earning potential. 

Created and conducted by PMI's market research team, the PMI® Project Management Salary Survey — Seventh Edition provides the most comprehensive look at compensation in the global project management field, measuring salaries across eight major position description levels. The seventh edition report is based on self-reported salary information from over 30,000 project management professionals, bringing accuracy to the salary figures. The stratified random sampling methodology used for this study results in the ability to report meaningful compensation data for 29 countries (more than a 50% increase in the number of countries since the sixth edition).

The full report of the salary survey features:

• The responses of more than 30,000 practitioners in 29 countries.
• Cross-tabulations of salary data by eight positions and 15 demographic variables.
• Reported salary increases over the past year.
• Expected salary increases for the next year.
• Information on benefit packages, work environments and available global project management career paths.

Talent Management

Organizational support of project management doesn’t begin and end with hiring the personnel. Supporting the project management talent by giving them the tools for professional growth and learning is equally significant. In addition, retaining that talent by giving them defined career paths and options. Learning about the talent management options is achieved through PathPro®, an online tool for planning career paths.

Standards Overview

PMI global standards provide guidelines, rules and characteristics for project, program and portfolio management. These standards are widely accepted and, when consistently applied, they can help global peers and your organization achieve professional excellence. As project management evolves, so do PMI's standards, hence PMI continues to expand and update our library of standards to keep improving the profession and providing with the information needed.

With India’s burgeoning economy, there exists a strong need for project management in every single sector. From Aerospace, Financial, IT, social sector, manufacturing, defense, telecom, government and practically all industries, the role of project management is becoming immensely vital.

“Our experience shows us that in India focus is on experience rather than training. The project management discipline is knowledge as well as experience based. The other issue we believe is that project management in India is viewed as a tactical function – not as a discipline. Therefore, this requires a shift in mindset and an understanding of the benefits of project management – especially on time and cost,” he adds.

The challenge really is to demonstrate that project management is not a skill but a knowledge based profession. The benefits of formal project management are indisputable. Professional certification like PMI empowers managers to deliver on time and within budget. Globalization demands that the modern project managers possess skills so as to understand and simultaneously manage people, cultures and regulations as also to manage risks and add value.