Hi Marjoree,
I hear you. This is a common concern, especially in fast-paced environments like product development, where agile practices often prevail.
Here’s my take, as someone who has been in project and program management for over 20 years and earned the PMP certification long ago: the PMP isn’t disconnected – it’s foundational.
But like any foundation, it’s not the whole house.
What the PMP does offer:
A shared vocabulary and structure across industries (hugely helpful when working cross-functionally)
A rock-solid understanding of project fundamentals – scope, risk, stakeholders, value – that are relevant everywhere, agile or not, and credibility.
Like it or not, the PMP remains one of the most recognized credentials globally.
What it doesn’t do:
It doesn’t teach you how to code, build wireframes, or lead a product discovery sprint
It won’t replace real-world product intuition or market-facing skills
But here’s the magic: if you combine PMP thinking with lean/agile/product mindsets, you get the best of both worlds – structure and speed, governance and innovation.
For me, it’s been invaluable – not because I follow the pmbok like scripture, but because I know when to adapt it to my environment.
So no, PMP isn’t just theory. It’s a toolkit, and the value comes from knowing how and when to use which tool.
Would I recommend it to someone in the product field? Yes – if you’re looking to lead projects at scale, align cross-functional teams, or step into broader delivery or portfolio roles.
Happy to chat more if you’re on the fence.
BR