IBM Project Management vs Google Project Management: Certificate Showdown!

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Are you questioning whether or not it is best to take the IBM venture administration certificates or the Google venture administration course?

They’re each wonderful, credible coaching suppliers, and each programs are geared toward beginner-level venture managers. So which one to take?

Having labored by means of the Coursera IBM Project Manager, IBM IT Project Manager and Google Project Management professional certificates, I really feel assured with the ability to share with you my ideas on how they form up.

Hopefully, the time I’ve taken to work by means of and evaluation the programs will prevent time making the suitable resolution on your profession. There isn’t a ‘finest answer’ so I’ll enable you work out which coaching is one of the best on your scenario.

A observe on the IBM venture administration coaching

IBM gives two flavors of their venture administration coaching: the IT venture supervisor certificates and the ‘customary’, non-tech model which is simply known as the IBM Venture Supervisor certificates.
Each flavors are very related, and so they share 6 programs between them.

Subsequently I’m going to bundle them each collectively and on this comparability, I’m going to discuss with IBM vs Google. Whichever IBM venture administration course you wish to do, the comparability nonetheless stands.

Now, with that out the way in which, let’s get into the comparability.

The Google Venture Administration coaching

The Google course is implausible. 1000’s of scholars have gone by means of the course and it’s quick changing into one of many main entry-level programs accessible.

It’s a real contender and also you received’t go improper by finding out the fabric within the course, no matter the place you’re in your profession.

Variety of programs within the certificates: 6

Beneficial time to finish: 6 months at 10 hours per week

Professionals

Globally-recognized coaching supplier.
Immersive case research and peer-reviewed assignments to place your studying into apply.
A number of profession help sources and ideas from Googlers on constructing a venture administration profession and what the job is like in real-life.
Many exemplars and accomplished templates to make use of as what a superb doc ought to appear to be.

Cons

Some content material is roofed briefly and if you need extra in-depth data you’ll must comply with up with impartial studying
Not as well-recognized within the business as PMI programs.

Google Project Management Certificate badge

The IBM Venture Supervisor coaching

This course launched after the Google coaching had already gained a foothold available in the market. The IBM course is from a massively credible coaching supplier.

The fabric feels extra in-depth in that there are lots of references to particular methods of working, and particular processes drawn from PMI supplies.

The PMI focus is useful if the language of venture administration utilized in your group stems from the PMBOK® Guide and PMI methods of working.

Variety of programs within the certificates: 7 (for the PM certificates) or 9 (for the IT certificates)

Beneficial time to finish: 10 hours of examine per week for 2-3 months

Professionals

Focuses on PMI strategies and is nice for many who wish to go on to the Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM)® exam.
There are labs that help you do lots of hands-on apply.
Additional honors content material for college kids who need much more sensible expertise.
In-depth high quality content material from a well-recognized model.

As well as, the IT variant of the course is ideal for an entry-level IT venture supervisor.

Cons

Not lots of agile venture administration content material.
Some duplicative content material throughout the programs – OK in case you take into account it a refresher on what you’ve already realized.
Not lots of exemplars or accomplished templates to study from.

Key options within the programs

So how do the programs examine towards explicit options? Having completed each, that is how I believe they form up.

Coaching high quality

The Google course is brilliantly put collectively. The fabric feels very prime quality. The movies are wonderful. The templates are straightforward to make use of and sensible sources you’ll wish to maintain on your future initiatives.

The IBM programs have wonderful high quality content material however the manufacturing values don’t really feel pretty much as good. You’ll spot a few typos and formatting errors. The person movies really feel like they’ve been picked from different programs and the expertise is just not as cohesive.

Nonetheless, I’d say the IBM coaching is extra in-depth and really shortly will get right into a broader vary of instruments and methods.

Winner: Google

Coaching price

Each programs can be found on Coursera. Google’s coaching is a part of the Coursera Plus mannequin. Each IBM programs are excluded from that so that you’ll must pay for them individually.

Each supply a free trial and the choice to audit the educational (i.e. full as a lot as you’ll be able to at no cost which excludes the power to take graded quizzes and submit peer-reviewed assignments).

Winner: This one is a tie. There isn’t a lot in it when it comes to price, however in case you plan on doing numerous programs on Coursera, a Plus subscription is price it.

Agile vs Waterfall

The Google course feels much more aligned to iterative and agile methods of working. Linear, predictive fashions are positively coated, however agile appears like it’s baked in.

The IBM coaching has agile content material (one for the PM certificates, two for the IT PM certificates) however the agile ideas usually are not mirrored within the different programs substantively.

Winner: Google

Credly badges

Venture administration certification for these programs is within the type of a Credly badge (they was once Acclaim). It is a digital credentialling system that’s free to make use of as a pupil/profitable course taker and provides you a hyperlink to your profile web page so individuals can see your verified achievements.

The Google course gives you one Credly badge. The IBM coaching gives you two, or three in case you take the IT model.

If having extra badges is necessary to you, the IBM IT Venture Supervisor coaching gives you probably the most in your Credly profile.

Personally, I believe Credly digital badges are price greater than the PDF downloadable certificates which can be just about solely good for sharing on LinkedIn.

Winner: IBM

What’s the identical in each programs

Each programs cowl the idea of a venture administration methodology and numerous methods to ship that. They discuss in regards to the venture lifecycle, venture groups, agile ideas and the essential expertise that may enable you in managing initiatives efficiently.

Each programs supply hands-on expertise in making use of venture administration by means of sensible workouts the place you’re employed from a case examine to finish a activity.

Each are on-line programs which can be self-paced and self-directed, and each present career-based assist so you may get forward within the job market. They each embrace movies of workers members and specialists speaking about real-world initiatives.

Each have a Capstone venture to work by means of because the conclusion to all of your exhausting work.

Neither gives you school credit or credit in the direction of a level.

Find out how to resolve

In the end, it’s your profession, and you must make the choice. To be trustworthy, I’ve completed each and you can too. There’s actually no hurt in having each in your CV or resume.

The Google venture administration coaching is finest for…

I’ve taken the certificates and I imagine the Google course is finest for you if:

You’re an entire newbie otherwise you desire a structured refresh of the fundamentals.
You don’t know if venture administration is the profession for you but.
You’re an entry-level venture supervisor who needs to work in a hybrid or agile setting.
You’re employed in an setting the place PMI is just not the prescribed method to doing all the pieces.

Beneficial

Google Project Management Certificate

5.0

A stable, skilled, well-recognized venture administration course from an important coaching supplier. Excellent for novices and folks enthusiastic about studying extra about venture administration as a profession.

Learn more

Read my review

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The IBM venture administration coaching is finest for…

Select the IBM venture administration coaching if:

How to Make a Great Sprint Plan

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You wish to (or do) work in a technical setting on IT initiatives (take the IBM IT course).
You wish to (or do) work in a predictive/waterfall setting.
You might have a tiny little bit of venture administration expertise – it’s not obligatory however that is an in-depth course and it’ll make it simpler for you.
You wish to go on to do the PMI CAPM or PMP exams.

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IBM IT Project Management Certificate

This newbie’s IT venture administration certificates from IBM provides you all the pieces you must get hands-on expertise and break into main technical initiatives.