Certifying Organization
This raises a question: Who sets the certification standards
by which individuals qualify to receive a specific knowledge
or competence-based professional designation?
In the context of certifying that one meets established standards,
an organization—acting independent of outside influence—authenticates
that someone meets the established standards of the program.
This is done through rigorous testing, examining, and reviewing
of a candidate’s knowledge, attitude, experiences, and
skills.
The match between what the consumer needs and what an organization
offers in certification provides one means of measuring value.
A close match between a customer’s requirements for project
management knowledge or competence and the qualifications of
the professional designation provides significant value that
can contribute to organizational effectiveness.
On the other hand, artificial standards or requirements unrelated
to individual performance in a certification program detract
from the value of certification. In either case, the profession
needs to validate the criteria used in the certification process:
I.e. must have content validity.
Value of Knowledge-Based versus
Performance-Based Certification
The basic difference between these two certification approaches
is that knowledge is measured against a knowledge-based standard
and and Performance-based certification is an evaluation
of how effectively the competence is actually applied in the
workplace.
Knowledge is defined in a body of knowledge and the standard
is applied using a test. Performance is a broader standard
that encompasses knowledge of the subject, skills (the ability
to
apply knowledge), and attitude.
Performance-based Competence testing may include a sample
of a candidate’s experience. Compared to knowledge-based
certification, competence-based certification gives everyone
a greater degree of assurance that a certified individual will
be able to perform to the given standard.
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Knowledge examination measures a candidate’s understanding of
the vocabulary, the body of knowledge, and some practices. The ability
to perform to an acceptable level of proficiency is assumed by many
customers.
Candidates taking knowledge based certification exams depend
primarily on knowledge recall. On the other hand, reliability and
validity
is easier to maintain in written exams
Performance-based certification,
however, infers a candidate’s
ability to perform project management tasks at a given level.
Thus the relative value of Performance-based certification
is significantly greater than knowledge-based certification.
Summary
Project management certification has significant value for individuals,
organizations, customer, professional societies, the project management
community, and the public. Each gains when project management programs
are established and administered to assist in the professional growth
of project management.
The cost to individuals and organizations is more
than returned through quality workmanship, more informed decsions,
and capability to deliver better, faster,
less expensive products and services.
Knowledge-based professional certifications provide
value to the community; Performance-based professional
certifications give
greater confidence that the person can perform the roles
assigned.
Both certifications have their place, but the Performance-based
certification provides more intense assessment of the individual's
ability to perform at a given level, in addition to
meeting the standards for knowledge,
skills, and attitude.
Certification in project management gives you the hunting license.
When you look for work within your profession, what type of “hunting
license” do you have? Is it a “hunting license for small
game or is it big game?
The right certification lets prospective employers,
customers, and peers know whether you are
hunting mice, rabbit, deer, moose, bear, or elephant. |
