History of IPMA

The International Project Management Association (IPMA) is a non-profit organisation,

whose function is to be the leading agent of project, programme and portfolio management

internationally or worldwide.

IPMA is a Federation of over 60 Member Associations. They develop project management

competencies in their geographic areas of influence, interacting with thousands of

practitioners and developing relationships with corporations, government agencies,

universities and colleges, as well as training organizations and consulting companies.

It started in 1965, named "Internet International Project Management Organisation"

(INTERNET), as an internet forum for the exchange of experience among project managers

of international projects. First hosted international conference was in 1967 in Vienna, since

that time it has developed steadily, as indeed has the self-control of project management

itself.

In 1996, the 13th World Congress (1996) was held in Paris. INTERNET have to change their

name due same to a new international telecommunication system. The Executive Board

renamed it from INTERNET to International Project Management Association, IPMA (the 3rd

and current name) and the logo remains the same.

Figure: IPMA logo

After 50 years, IPMA continues to recognised, respect and build on its diversity as the

foundation of its networks of colleagues, friends and associates with complimentary visions

and prospects. Today, IPMA remains the as a developing network set up by the ambitious

founders 50 years ago.

IPMA Membership

The members include professional project managers, managers and executives, key project

stakeholders, educators, trainers, consultants, and other product or service providers. The

benefit is to achive more successful projects, programmes, and business initiatives, based

on the competencies that IPMA uniquely highlights and supports.

Each region of the world has their own Member Associations which that speaks a language

that is similar among the region consist of various countries. Those regions are Africa,

America, Asia, Australia and Oceania, and Europe.

Types of Membership: -

1. Individual Memberships – for person who have an interest in improving project

management skills, starting out in the profession or already an experienced

professional.Types: -

a. Student – open to anyone who is registered student with a further education

college or university, studying on a full-time or part-time course with a major

element of project management.

b. Associate - is for anyone with an interest in project management or new to the

profession. It offers access to increased range of resources and demonstrates

commitment to developing professionalism

c. Full Member - demonstrates professional achievement and experience as

application is assessed by peers. To become a Full member, will need 5 years of

experience as a project management specialist, teacher or researcher

d. Fellow - those who have made a substantial contribution to project management

as a specialist, teacher or researcher. Members need to have at least 5 years or

have an equivalent level of experience in a senior position.

Membership Type

Registration FeeStandard Annual

SubscriptionRRP Annual Subscription

Student Free £23 N/A

Associates £113 £127 N/A

Full Member £113 £158 £212

Fellow £113 £173 £227

Table: Fees for individual membership

2. Corporate Membership - over 500 organisations with access to vast services that

able to develop competence, recognition, and professionalism and ensure project

management community access the latest philosophy and information about all

features of project and programme management. This can improve in project delivery

effectiveness and efficiency that may have a direct impact on organisation’s

profitability.

Membership band

Size of project management community

Registration fee

Annual subscription

Rejoining fee

Band A Up to 50 people £481 £556 £240

Band B 51-250 people £946 £1,263 £473

Band C251 - 1,000

people£1,071 £2,626 £535

Band D 1,000 + people £1,265 £4,444 £632

Higher

Education

Institutes

n/a n/a £404 n/a

Table: Fees for corporate membership

IPMA Certificates

The IPMA four level certification program is prominent and professionally demanding. The

levels are IPMA Level A (Certified Projects Director), IPMA Level B (Certified Senior Project

Manager) or IPMA Level C (Certified Project Manager). These certificates are important

because the demand from executives, strategic leaders, managers and stakeholders for

individuals with demonstrated Project, Programme and Portfolio Management ability spreads

internationally. Meanwhile, IPMA Level D (Certified Project Management Associate) was

designated to the exam-oriented, knowledge-based certifications of other major Project

Management association.

Figure: IPMA Levels of Cerification

The uniqueness of IPMA certification is: -

Assessment made by professional assessors

Consideration of behavioral and contextual competences, not just technical

Personal, professional career development

Four role – targeted levels of certification

No language barriers

Independent from specific training courses

Types of Certificate

A. Certify Individual - The certification process involves several steps for the

assessment of a candidate. The assessment steps for individuals are applied to each

of the IPMA competence levels A, B C, and D.

Figure: Four Level Certification system and process.

IPMA Level A is that the candidate has broad capability in management of the

project processes in a corporation or government agency. The situations are:

- Management of complex project portfolios of a corporation or department which

includes projects of various complication.

- Management of difficult programmes which includes many types of projects and

initiatives to achieve the objectives of the programmes.

IPMA Level B may have experience of 3 years in a responsible leadership position in

the management of complex projects and 2 additional years in project management.

5 years of experience must have been achieved during the last 8 years. It is

internationally recognised as advanced-level qualification in the area of project

management. The certification is valid for 5 years.

IPMA Level C which 3 of the past 6 years in a responsible leadership position in the

management of projects. It is universally recognized as intermediate-level

qualification in the area of project management. The certificate is valid for 5 years.

IPMA Level D is an exam-based assessment of a various range of project

management knowledge. It is internationally recognized as entry-level qualification in

the area of project management. The certificate is valid for 5 years.

B. Certify ConsultantsProject, Programme and Portfolio Management Consultants (PM Consultants) are

fulfilling an important role in project management practice. It has extended the Four

Level Certification system with a Two-Level Certification for PM Consultants. The

functional areas and the responsibilities as PM Consultants are identified into each of

the 2 IPMA Levels of competence: -

- IPMA PMC: IPMA Certified Project Management Consultant

- IPMA PPMC: IPMA Certified Programme and Portfolio Management Consultant

Renewal of certification is required after 5 years and is based on proof of the

continuing participation in PM and PM consulting as well as the competence

development. Their role is: -

- Implementation and Development of PM in an Organization;

- Organization Strategic Development (related to Project, Programmes and

Portfolios);

- Cultural Change related to PM implementation and Development

- Project including its environment

Figure: List of PM Consultant Competences IPMA Competence Baseline for

Consultants

C. Certify OrganisationIPMA Delta assesses the current status of an organisation’s capability in managing

projects and the delta is to self-determined competence class (IPMA Delta

competence classes 1-5). This delta points are the way for the organisation to move

to the next dimension of organisational competence in managing projects. It is the

best way to identify promising development of an organisation’s project management

competence. The classes initial, defined, standardised, managed, optimizing.

Figure: Five competence classes

Benefits: -

- obtain international certification of their project management competence

- identify areas of improvement and actions needed to improve project

management

- continuous improvement process with measureable objectives

- achieve better results through more efficient and effective management,

- raise visibility of project management in their organisation,

- determine their status quo in project management and benchmark it against other

organisations

- improve their market position.

IPMA Standards

Standards are necessary in vast developing world. It should enable association within and

among organisations in order to improve effectiveness and efficiency in project related

activities. Globalization forces a lot of organisations to develop projects internationally. Thus,

standard is for guidance.

The core standards of IPMA is the IPMA Competence Baseline (ICB). Most participants,

managers and team members of projects, programmes and portfolios are using the ICB for

their professional activities. It is also act as guidance for consultants, trainers, lecturers and

researchers for collecting, retrieving, mining and extending project management knowledge.

The ICB is the common basis document which all IPMA Member Associations and

Certification Bodies accept to ensure that consistent and harmonised standards are applied.

Majority of its content focuses on the description of the competence elements

The approach separates the elements, which is the technical competence for project

management, the professional behavior of project management personnel and the relations

with the context of the projects, programmes and portfolios.

Figure: Eye of competence of ICB

There is other standard such as IPMA Competence Baseline for Consultants (ICBC), adding

the competence element of PM Consultants which used for qualifying and certifying.

Comparison Summary

History – Established 1965, named "Internet International Project Management Organisation"

(INTERNET), changed name in 1996, during the the 13th World Congress (1996) to

International Project Management Association (IPMA)

Membership – Individual & Corporate

Certificate – Individual, Consultant & Organisation

Guideline/Standard - IPMA Competence Baseline (ICB) using the Eye of Competence