PMP, did they spell that right?

Jack,

I don't have a PMP. I've thought several times about getting one just to have it. But when I pick up a study guide at Borders and thumb through it, taking the self test, I don't get the answers right.
So my conclusion is I'll need to un-learn my 25 years of Program Management in order to pass the test. Maybe the study guide was poor (it did say PMI on the cover). But I think the truth is the test questions are to simple minded for my tastes. The answers are multiple choice when my answers are essays.
Just as well though since no one I work with in the world's second (or maybe third) largest aerospace firm has a PMP, nor cares to have one. We'd rather lauch on time/on budget.

I am inclined to agree with you as regards the shameless money grubbing that goes on in most all of these types of programs. One could say the same thing about costs and commercialism for all programs to some degree (oops, sorry)... including continous advertisements for colleges and universities.

I do want to prime you for your next PMI subject address, however, by discussing a few good things about the "certification programs". The certification shows that person started and completed something. This puts them a cut above a huge population of workers out there. In addition, it provides some badly needed standardization in the field of Project Management Methodologies. Anyone can call themselves a "Project Manager" and many do without understanding or having successfully implmented projects. Everyone thinks that they can be a project manager. Some are actually good, most just give us a bad name.

I rebelled against this commercialism by not paying to take a course or purchase of a "cheat sheet" and crowed about it in the "end-of-test" question that asked: "Where did you take your course?".

I think that the greatest contribution PMI has made is publishing the Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK). It is essential to have this sort of taxonomy so that people can know what the other person is talking about.

Certification is a different story though. I've run into many people with PMP after their names who really do not know what they are doing. It is clear that the certification process is not an effective screen. You are correct that it speaks about a person's motivation, but in a sense it indicates that they are motivated by the wrong things. Perhaps I'm being too much of a snob, but I think it is a negative indicator.