Story and Photo by Shukry Rashid
The Project Management Institute has come a long way since its inception in the United States in 1969. In 1999, the Project Management Institute Singapore Chapter (SPMI) was established to cater to the growing number of project managers in Singapore. There are currently over 1,800 of them certified by SPMI.
While a few professions and skills in other industries have not stood the test of time due to the advent of innovation and technology, project management and project managers are here to stay. In fact, they are still in demand in Singapore in industries such as technology, finance and insurance, said SPMI President Umesh Ursekar, who is also U3 Infotech managing director.
NTUC-SPMI
SPMI has been a member of NTUC U Associate for the past three years. Umesh said that both have the same objective of addressing the needs and concerns of project management professionals.
He added: “SPMI’s collaboration with U Associate means that we are enhancing the value to our members, to make them ready for the future by making sure they are equipped with the right skills, network and mentors.
Changed Roles
Do project managers today do what they used to do in the 90s? Umesh said that back then, they only needed to manage the scope, time and cost of projects. Now, on top these three, the market demands that they align the projects to the businesses’ strategy to create value or the desired outcome.
For example, banks have project managers to support them in projects dealing with wealth management and information technology.
Umesh said: “Good project managers who have these skills and domain expertise are always in demand in Singapore and across the region.
“Project managers have the role of a change agent. Most of the time, they are taking in new initiatives. The organisation will come up with a new strategy, which derives from business initiatives. And business initiatives derive from different projects, whether in sales, marketing, technology, operations or human resources. Their primary responsibility is to handle big change.”
In other words, whatever goals the management come up with for the organisation, project managers are responsible for executing them to reality in the form of products or services.
Communication and Leadership Skills
With change comes uncertainties. Hence, Umesh said that project managers need to be leaders who can navigate through uncertainties, simplify issues and bring about clarity. Clarity and good communications have to be done throughout the organisation such as peer-to-peer and worker-to-management.
“Think of it as an investment. If I’m a project manager and I’m investing in a product, I’ll need to manage the organisation’s funds, risks, quality, market, competition and so on,” said Umesh.
In the midst of globalisation, while companies may also expand to other countries, cultures are still different. Umesh added that good project managers, who often manage teams and projects globally, need to be competent in different cultures and lead different types of people worldwide – which is a challenge for project managers in other countries.
Project managers in Singapore, however, are in a better place. Umesh explained: “They have cultural sensitivity. They understand and can align themselves quickly. This will certainly help them in managing a project successfully.”
Keep Up With Change
SPMI members equipped with the Project Management Profession certificate are required to earn 60 Professional Development Unit points (PDUs) to maintain their certification every three years.
To attain these points and keep themselves relevant, members need to attend events such as conferences, seminars and focus groups. A two-hour conference will give them two PDU points.
One of the most recent events was the SPMI Regional Symposium, which is an annual event and supported by NTUC U Associate.
SPMI and NTUC LearningHub (LHUB) also signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) on 16 March 2017 to enable SPMI members to attain PDU points by enrolling in certain SkillsFuture courses conducted by LHUB.
Project Management Institute Singapore Chapter (SPMI)
Established: 1999
Became an NTUC U Associate: 2014
Did You Know: SPMI is a chapter of the Project Management Institute, which was started in 1969 in the United States. SPMI is very active and conducts various activities for its members such as focus groups, networking and social activities, professional development and training, and conferences.
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Source: NTUC This Week
