UMT Report: New Law Suggests Project Management More Important than Ever in Government

Program Management Improvement and Accountability Act

2016 UMT Graduates

UMT Graduates

PMIAA dramatically boosts project/program management in government

My UMT Master’s revitalized my career, motivating me to take advantage of educational, professional, and certification opportunities available online today”
— Jacqueline H. UMT Outstanding Graduate
ROSSLYN, VA, US, March 20, 2017 /EINPresswire.com/ -- The University of Management and Technology (UMT), Arlington, VA, USA.

One of the last pieces of legislation Barrack Obama signed before leaving office was the Program Management Improvement and Accountability Act (PMIAA). It became law on December 16, 2016. This new law acknowledges that the Federal workforce must make the acquisition of project/program management skills a top priority. Having a workforce that is proficient in the practice of project/program management is important at a time when the size of the Federal workforce is projected to shrink dramatically. Already, Federal employees recognize that they are expected to do more with less. To the extent that the effective employment of project/program management practice improves on-the-job performance, PMIAA can create an environment that improves the efficiency of the workforce in a time of shrinking budgets.

Following are the key features of the PMIAA:
• It formally creates a project/program management career track in the Federal government, which requires Federal employees to increase their formal study of program/project management
• It promotes the employment of standards-based project/program management throughout the Federal government
• It recognizes the importance of executive sponsorship by designating a senior executive in each agency to be responsible for project/program management policy and strategy
• It promotes the sharing of knowledge and experience within the Federal government through an interagency council on project/program management

There is plenty of room for improvement in executing strategic initiatives in the Federal government. A recent report by the Project Management Institute (PMI) finds that only 64 percent of these initiatives meet their goals and business intent. It also finds that government entities waste $101 million for each $1 billion spent on projects and programs.

Strengthening the project/program management capabilities of the Federal workforce will require Federal workers to learn good project/program management practice through education and training. The University of Management and Technology has been a key player in project/program management education since it was founded in 1998. It was one of the first universities to offer an academic degree in project management. It has educated thousands of Federal workers. Its faculty have collectively published a dozen books on project/program management, several of which became business best-sellers. Its leadership have been active volunteers at the Project Management Institute, serving senior roles in the governance of the Institute.

UMT began offering a project management degree program in 1998. Hundreds of students have studied and earned project management degrees from UMT. The knowledge and skills they acquired enhanced their careers. An outstanding graduate, Jaqueline H. is a good example – When she enrolled in UMT, she was a military spouse with a full-time career, a toddler, and another child on the way. Sudden moves from California and Alaska convinced her to reinvent herself. Excited to discover UMT’s flexibly structured Master's degree program in project management, Jacqueline signed on and completed her degree at UMT. Within months of graduating with a 3.9 GPA, she passed the PMP project management certification exam. Her advanced degree and professional credential enabled her to tackle complex projects with confidence at a large hospital. "My UMT Master’s revitalized my career, motivating me to take advantage of educational, professional, and certification opportunities available online today," Jacqueline says.

Currently, UMT offers the following degrees in project and program management:
• MBA, with a project/program management track
• MS in Management, with project/program and acquisition management tracks
• MS in Information Technology, with a project/program management track
• Doctor of Business Administration (DBA), where students can orient their work toward project/program management
UMT also offers a Master’s degree in Public Administration (MPA), for students who want to focus heavily in public sector management.

All UMT courses are offered online 24 x 7. They deliver convenience and flexibility. They are self-paced, allowing students to work through a semester at whatever speed they favor. Students who are eager to complete their degrees quickly can work diligently to meet course requirements in a matter of a few weeks, while those juggling responsibilities at home and on the job can take a more relaxed approach, taking a full semester to complete their courses. Each student is assigned a student portal that provides them with one-stop shopping in handling their programs. Through their portals, they can register for courses, review their transcripts, pay their bills, access their courses, submit assignments, take exams, interact with fellow students through forum discussions, access the e-library, and more. To make sure students have the guidance they need to make good choices in designing their programs, they work closely with counselors who help them put together Individual Learning Plans geared to addressing their skills, desires, and career goals.

For more information about UMT’s degree programs, go to www.umtweb.edu.

About UMT: The University of Management and Technology is an accredited university located in Arlington VA. Since 1998, UMT has built a strong global higher learning community through its online and distance education. Geographical boundaries do not limit UMT and its students who reside in 50 states, the District of Columbia, 4 US territories in the United States, and in 78 countries worldwide. As of February 2017, UMT has provided various levels of education programs to 22,153 students. Of these, 11,272 have earned their degrees from UMT.

Christy
University of Management and Technology
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2016 UMT Commecement