New PM skills in demand

[bluedeyedboy]

I'm a Technical PM (Infrastructure) with an engineering background. With the contract market getting more and more competitive, I'm thinking of furthering my skills beyond the Prince 2 qualification I have.

Can you guys suggest any good qualifications/skills that might be worth having on my CV? Currently I'm weighing the pros and cons between doing an Agile (DSDM) course and MSP.

[cojak]

I took the DSDM Agile Project Manager Practitioner course earlier this year (I'm a BA but they didn't have enough attendees to run the BA course).

I would definitely recommend it.

[Bluenose]

I'm a Technical PM (Infrastructure) with an engineering background. With the contract market getting more and more competitive, I'm thinking of furthering my skills beyond the Prince 2 qualification I have.

Can you guys suggest any good qualifications/skills that might be worth having on my CV? Currently I'm weighing the pros and cons between doing an Agile (DSDM) course and MSP.

Agile is more aligned to software development PM's.

I did MSP and I found it very worthwhile and satisfying course however, agents seem to be utterly clueless regarding what MSP is.

Agents are more likely to have heard of Agile and Prince but MSP is only understood by those 'in the know' and this limits its usefulness on C.V's but as a tool for personal knowledge it trumps the Agile imo.

In this market I would do both, I don't recall much overlap.

[cojak]

Agile is more aligned to software development PM's.

I did MSP and I found it very worthwhile and satisfying course however, agents seem to be utterly clueless regarding what MSP is.

Agents are more likely to have heard of Agile and Prince but MSP is only understood by those 'in the know' and this limits its usefulness on C.V's but as a tool for personal knowledge it trumps the Agile imo.

In this market I would do both, I don't recall much overlap.

I have to disagree with this, Agile is increasing being used for projects other than just software dev. In fact it's increasingly being used in Service Management using a Scrumban hybrid.

MSP is good, I'm not dissing it but Agile is spreading.

[swampysarmy]

I have to disagree with this, Agile is increasing being used for projects other than just software dev. In fact it's increasingly being used in Service Management using a Scrumban hybrid.

MSP is good, I'm not dissing it but Agile is spreading.

Agile is increasingly being advertised for, though many companies seem to look for this skill without really knowing what it is.

For a lot of companies, it's more of a buzz word. Having said that, it certainly seems to be more in demand than MSP.

[speling bee]

Depends on your market... but lots of clients(warning - my experience is limited to healthcare) don't understand benefit realisation but do think it important. Maybe a qualification in this.

I did the Foundation in DSDM Atern, but got so stonkingly drunk the evening between the first and second days that it was all I could do to not be sick and make it through the exam.

I'm not a developer but thought bits of it very useful. And bits of it hocus pocus to make those with the piece of paper have the mystique of secret knowledge. But isn't that always the way?

[Bluenose]

I have to disagree with this, Agile is increasing being used for projects other than just software dev. In fact it's increasingly being used in Service Management using a Scrumban hybrid.

MSP is good, I'm not dissing it but Agile is spreading.

In the context of the OP's specialism of Infrastructure, I have not yet come across Agile as a nice-to-have or must-have for an Infrastructure gig. It's use might be increasing in other areas but in Infrastructure? No, never seen it.

[Bluenose]

... got so stonkingly drunk the evening between the first and second days that it was all I could do to not be sick and make it through the exam.

LOL

[bluedeyedboy]

Agile is increasingly being advertised for, though many companies seem to look for this skill without really knowing what it is.

For a lot of companies, it's more of a buzz word. Having said that, it certainly seems to be more in demand than MSP.

Yep, Agile still seems too airy fairy to many companies (and it probably is) but they still request it to say they're on the edge.

[bluedeyedboy]

In the context of the OP's specialism of Infrastructure, I have not yet come across Agile as a nice-to-have or must-have for an Infrastructure gig. It's use might be increasing in other areas but in Infrastructure? No, never seen it.

Things are definitely changing at the Telco operator level, project governance operates in a Prince 2 like way and the delivery itself is done probably in an agile manner to meet the changing requirements. The PMO is unwilling to acknowledge the Agile aspect for some reason.....