In the business world, the most exciting companies are often intensely competitive. It can take special skills or unique specializations, such as project management, to gain an advantage and stand out to potential employers when you enter the job market. With such skills, future business leaders can help drive growth at their companies regardless of their career path.
One way to develop such skills is through the University of Northern Colorado’s online Master of Business Administration (MBA) with a concentration in Project Management program. This specialized program for high-achieving business professionals offers a chance for students to develop crucial skills that can provide them a competitive edge, while also preparing graduates for Professional Project Management (PMP) Certification.
Enhancing Project Success Rates
Project management, according to Slack, “is the task of keeping any given project on target to meet its goals within optimal parameters. It involves all the organizational duties that keep the work pipeline clear of roadblocks, bottlenecks and other challenges so that the rest of the team can execute their own duties as effectively as possible.”
According to Slack, almost all high-performing companies — defined as companies where “at least 80% of projects are completed on time, on budget, and have met business intent” — tend to prioritize project management training and the development of skills for project managers.
Leveraging Project Management to Drive Innovation and Efficiency
According to Social Hospitality, a team of brand and digital strategy experts, achieving optimal business growth with project management requires a few steps. Project managers will need to clearly define their objectives before beginning any project, ensuring that every member of the team knows exactly what goal they are working toward. An effective and efficient project manager also needs to delegate wisely by identifying the right person for the right task.
Finally, project managers need to identify and manage potential risks. As per Social Hospitality: “While you may not come up with a contingency plan for every unprecedented event, you can control how you react. Nonetheless, the key here is to stay proactive.”
Increasing Demand for Certified Project Managers
As the business environment grows ever more complex, there is a strong and increasing need for leaders with PMP Certification. According to the Project Management Institute, PMP is a globally recognized and well-regarded certification that demonstrates a professional’s capacity to serve as a project leader in any industry, thus opening the door to a world of future opportunities. “The PMP certification proves you have the project leadership and expertise in any way of working: predictive, hybrid or agile. It demonstrates your ability to lead projects without being tied to any specific industry or geographic location,” the Project Management Institute states on its website.
According to the Earning Power: Project Management Salary Survey by the Project Management Institute, those with a PMP certification reported higher median salaries than those without the same certification. More precisely, the formers’ average salary was 33% higher across the 21 countries covered by the survey. The survey also noted that many respondents believe obtaining PMP certification has been valuable to their careers beyond just salary growth.
Establishing Credibility and Expertise With an Online MBA
PMP is what the Project Management Institute refers to as the “gold standard in project management certification,” and in an increasingly competitive hiring environment, obtaining PMP Certification can help distinguish you from other project professionals. As Susan Aznive states in a testimonial on the Project Management Institute’s website: “My PMP certification served as the catalyst for my career, showcasing my expertise, dedication, and relentless pursuit of growth.”
UNC’s online MBA with a Concentration in Project Management program prepares professionals for the evolving demands of modern business leadership. For example, UNC’s Project Management Fundamentals Course is specifically based on the Project Management Institute’s concepts of project initiation, planning, execution, monitoring and controlling, and closure, and it specifically prepares students to take the Project Management Professional examination.
Learn more about UNC’s online MBA with a concentration in Project Management program.
