Optimus (en-GB) | Celebrating Success - James Irvine, PMO Lead

Our PMO Lead: James Irvine recently attained Chartered Project Professional (ChPP) status through the Association for Project Management. Here he shares some thoughts on what this involves and why this is important to him.

What’s involved.

There are several routes a candidate can take to become chartered through the APM. A route for those who have undertaken recognised assessments for their technical knowledge (Project Management theory) and professional practice, and a more experiential route for those who meet eligibility criteria centred on project delivery track record.

The experiential route is broadly similar in structure to what would be expected from an Engineering Institution. It includes maintaining records of CPD, submission of a project portfolio for review, and finally, a 2hr interview which will validate the content of your written submission and test the breadth of your PM knowledge. This includes understanding how you would apply that project knowledge in a different context or sector.

Why this is important to me?

This is the yardstick against which technical knowledge, professional practice, and ethical behaviour in the Project Management discipline are measured.

Becoming chartered has always featured in my career ambitions and I was strongly encouraged to sign up as a student member of my respective Engineering Institution, even while still an undergraduate. My career trajectory has since taken me down a Project Management pathway, leading to the decision to align myself with the APM. I have previously undertaken the APM’s PFQ and PMQ respectively and was always impressed by the structured framework and common terminology advocated by the APM.

Adding value.

As the Lead for the Project Management Office (or PMO) here at Optimus Plus, it has been my ambition to continually improve and professionalise our project execution and delivery.

Aligning our procedures ever closer to established and defined project management methodologies provides value, in that we can speak the same project management language as our clients and partners, which in turn improves delivery and reporting.

Also, as we expand our team of project professionals, our processes and terminology will be instantly familiar, reducing our onboarding time and allowing our people to become more effective more quickly.

Having ChPP status lends credibility to our PMO and has provided me with experience and lessons that are shareable within our group and the wider organisation. I’m now more energised to encourage others down this professional pathway, and to engage with APM training and qualifications more generally. In time, I believe this will lead to Project Management becoming even more of a core tenet of our offering here at Optimus Plus.