Lee R. Lambert is a highly influential figure in the field of Project Management, having established the standard for educators and practitioners alike. As a founding member of the original PMI PMP Certification Program, he has played a significant role in shaping the industry. His recent visit to the University of Luxembourg provided a valuable opportunity for students and the PMI Luxembourg community to learn from his vast knowledge and experience.
What was the original purpose of The Project Management Institute (PMI) and how has it evolved over time?
PMI was organized in 1969 to bring attention to the fact that project management was fast becoming a true profession. Houston, Texas became the first chartered chapter of PMI and since that time the organization has grown to over 300 chapters throughout the world with almost 700,000 members. It has become the recognized leader of non-profit organizations dedicated to providing services and professional development opportunities for its members.
Can you discuss PMI’s efforts to push for the development of global standards and credentials in the project management profession?
PMI placed a high priority on developing standards that would provide consistency in the way professional project managers carried out their duties
A Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBoK) was developed and eventually became the first Global Standard. In 1984 PMI made the first step in providing a recognized credential to identify a Professional PM. It was called the Project Management Professional (PMP) with over 1.5 million certified professionals worldwide today.
“It has been predicted that over the next 5 years there will be a need for millions of new project managers to support the world’s growing economy.”
Lee R. Lambert
How has PMI created collaborative communities and fostered networking opportunities for project managers around the world?
PMI is proud to say they invested heavily in establishing and nurturing the concept of the Project Management Community. Through their Regional framework, the various are encouraged to collaborate with their Regional partners. PMI Global sponsors a myriad of opportunities to meet and network with peers from around the globe. These networking opportunities provide a chance to share ideas and gain knowledge from other project managers.
In your opinion, how has the project management profession evolved as the industry, society, and economy have changed over the years, and what do you see as the future of the profession?
The profession of project management, thanks to the dedication and commitment of PMI, has gradually morphed from a small group of chapters in North America to a powerful presence in the work world. Project Managers have significantly expanded in numbers and have positively impacted the successful completion of projects in construction, information systems, development of new medical devices and even the creation of new drugs. The growth and impact of project management is essentially unlimited. It has been predicted that over the next 5 years, there will be a need for millions of new project managers to support the world’s growing economy. As new methods and approaches are developed and the introduction of Artificial Intelligence (AI), project management will take its place among the most successful management concepts of modern times.
