The PMI Delaware Valley
Chapter (PMI-DVC) serves approximately 2,700 PMI members in the Greater
Philadelphia Area, South Jersey, Delaware and Eastern Shore Maryland. The
PMI-DVC is the 7th largest chapter in the United States and is considered to be
one of the largest and most active chapters worldwide.
Established in 1969 and headquartered outside
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania USA, the Project Management Institute (PMI) is the
world’s leading not-for-profit project management professional association, with
over 125,000 members worldwide.
History
The Project Management Institute was founded in 1969 by five volunteers. The
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania USA issued Articles of Incorporation for PMI which
signified the official inception of the organization. During that same year, the
first PMI Seminars & Conference was held in Atlanta, Georgia USA and had an
attendance of 83 people.
In the 1970s the first issue of Project Management Quarterly (PMQ) was
published and later renamed Project Management Journal® (PMJ).
The first Annual Seminars & Conference was held outside of the USA, the first PMI
Chapter was chartered and the PMI Professional Awards Program was established.
By the end of the decade PMI membership totaled over 2,000 individuals
worldwide.
During the 1980s, PMI’s membership, programs and services continued to grow. A
Code of Ethics was adopted for the profession and the first Project Management
Professional (PMP®) Certification examination was administered. The
first PMI project management standard was published as the PMQ Special Report
on Ethics Standards and Accreditation. PMI’s publishing products and
services also grew rapidly during this decade. The first PMI book was
co-published and PM Network®, PMI’s monthly magazine was born.
Due to this growth, the PMI Publishing Division was established in North
Carolina USA.
By 1990, PMI’s membership totaled over 8,500 and by 1993 the annual membership
growth rate rose to over 20 percent per year. During the 1990s, Specific
Interest Groups and Colleges were formed and Seminars USA, a series of
educational programs on project management was initiated (later renamed
SeminarsWorldsm). PMI also established a presence on the World Wide Web and
published the project management standard, A Guide to the Project Management
Body of Knowledge (PMBOK® Guide). PMI Today®, PMI’s
monthly newsletter was printed for the first time and the Professional
Development Program (PDP) was established for PMP certificate holders to
maintain their credential.
By the beginning of the 21st century, PMI had over 50,000 members, over 10,000
certified Project Management Professionals and over 270,000 copies of the
PMBOK® Guide in circulation.
Today
Currently, PMI supports over 125,000 members in 140 countries worldwide. PMI
members are individuals practicing and studying project management in many
different industry areas, including aerospace, automotive, business management,
construction, engineering, financial services, information technology,
pharmaceuticals and telecommunications.
Over time, PMI has become, and continues to be, the leading professional
association in project management. Members and project management stakeholders
can take advantage of the extensive products and services offered through PMI.
These products and services are described below and are explained in detail
throughout the PMI Web site.
Professional Standards
PMI provides global leadership in the development of standards for the practice
of the project management profession throughout the world. PMI’s premiere
standards document, A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK®
Guide), is a globally recognized standard for managing projects in today’s
marketplace. The PMBOK® Guide is approved as an American
National Standard (ANS) by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI). PMI
is committed to the continuous improvement and expansion of the PMBOK®
Guide, as well as the development of additional standards.
Certification
Since 1984 PMI has been dedicated to developing and maintaining a rigorous,
examination-based, professional certification program to advance the project
management profession and to recognize the achievements of individuals in
project management. PMI’s Project Management Professional (PMP®)
certification is the world’s most recognized professional credential for
individuals associated with project management. In 1999, PMI became the first
organization in the world to have its Certification Program attain International
Organization for Standardization (ISO) 9001 recognition.
Research
PMI is focused on the expansion of the body of knowledge of the project
management profession. Project management research is encouraged through a
biennial project management research conference, external research grants,
research books, a research database and identification of research topics.
Additionally, current needs, information, knowledge and wisdom about the
profession are collected and disseminated, the future of the profession is
assessed and the evolution of the profession is encouraged.
Publications
PMI produces three periodical publications for the benefit of individuals in
project management. PM Network® is a monthly professional
magazine, Project Management Journal® is a quarterly
professional journal and PMI Today® is the monthly newsletter
of PMI. PMI is the world’s leading publisher of project management books,
training tools, and learning products. Over 1,000 titles are currently available
from PMI’s online bookstore.
Education & Training
PMI offers many opportunities for people in project management to enhance their
knowledge and skills. The
SeminarsWorld® Program offers best of class seminars on a
wide range of project management topics throughout the year in various locations
worldwide. The new
eLearning Program features valuable educational seminars from the comfort of
your own PC. PMI maintains the
Registered
Education Provider (R.E.P.) searchable online database of qualified
providers of project management professional development activities and learning
products. PMI has taken the lead in establishing accreditation standards for
post-secondary degrees and master certificates in programs primarily focused on
project management. PMI also maintains a list of
academic institutions offering degrees in project management.
Knowledge & Wisdom Center
The PMI James R. Snyder Center for Project Management Knowledge & Wisdom
provides relevant, reliable, and timely information on the practice and
profession of project management. The reference/research and current awareness
services utilize resources such as literature search services and Internet
search engines to provide answers to project-related questions. The document
delivery/reprint service provides copies of articles from PMI periodical
literature upon request.
PMI Global Congresses
PMI offers leading-edge professional development on a worldwide scale with its
Global Congresses.
These events combine formal learning with networking opportunities and vendor
exhibits, offering attendees a well-rounded educational experience no matter
which congress they attend. By 2005, the Global Congresses will serve four major
regions of the world: Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA), North America,
Latin America and Asia/Pacific. One congress will be held in each region
annually. While program content will be similar, member-driven presentations
will bring a regional flavor to each congress to address the needs of attendees
in that area of the world.
PMI offers online career services for project management employers and
practitioners. The
Career Headquarters services include project management job postings,
the CareerLink Directory of PMI member résumés/curriculum vitae, as well as
career and professional development resources. PMI Career Connections, held in
conjunction with PMI’s Annual Seminars & Conference, provides a forum for
employers and job seekers to meet and discuss career advancement opportunities.
PMI Professional Awards Program
Each year, PMI sponsors awards that acknowledge individuals who bring honor and
recognition to the project management profession and to PMI. With these awards,
individuals are recognized for sustained and significant contributions to the
profession in research and literature; outstanding volunteer contributions; and
the demonstration of outstanding service to the project management profession
and to PMI. Additionally, PMI’s most prestigious award, the PMI Project of the
Year, is awarded to an outstanding project and the project team involved, for
superior performance and execution of exemplary project management.
Component Organizations
Individuals associated with project management can network with other
professionals, share ideas and experiences, access industry information, attend
seminars and workshops and gain leadership experience through PMI’s component
organizations. PMI members can choose to hold a membership in any of the three
types of component organizations: (1) Chapters, (2) Specific Interest Groups
(SIGs) and (3) Colleges.
Chapters are geographic-based components and number over 200 worldwide.
SIGs provide members with access to project management practitioners within
similar industries or interest areas.
Colleges help to further develop and refine a formal body of knowledge
related to project management.
Corporate Relationships
PMI offers a variety of opportunities for organizations (public and private
enterprises, government agencies, academic institutions and other associations)
to develop relationships and collaborate with PMI as well as support and advance
the project management profession. The
Corporate Council is one opportunity for senior executives to dialogue,
share ideas and network with one another. Participation in the Corporate Council
demonstrates an organization’s commitment to project management and to the
future advancement of the profession. Other corporate opportunities include
research project participation, creating an educational or research endowment,
assisting in the review and development of certification products, just to name
a few.
PMI Educational
Foundation
The Project Management Institute Educational Foundation, whose slogan is
“Empowering the Future of Project Management”, is an autonomous organization
created by PMI. The Foundation provides education, research and related
activities that promote project management for the benefit of society as a
whole. The Foundation operates through donations from organizations and
individuals and supports research studies, provides academic scholarships and
distributes awards.
