Study the scenario and complete the question$($s$)$ that follow$($s$)$:

Accidental Project Manager

Once upon a time, there was a young man who began his career in technology $$ writing computer programs, analysing business needs, designing and implementing computer software. He worked on things called projects, as a member of a team, or sometimes as a lone ranger on a tiny project. He loved working in technology, because he could exercise his creative cleverness and amaze the town folk with technological magic.

One day, a company with whom had just started working asked if he would move $3,000$ kilometers away to manage a project to create and install a computer system for court staff so they could record offences, schedule trials, record results, collect fines, and $...$ well.. you get the picture. Never one to say no to an opportunity, this young man, who had never managed a project in his life, said, $$Yes$!$ I$$d love to do it$!$ Some might call this attitude foolhardy. He called it good fortune $-$ and so began his career in project management.

He and his small team worked hard to figure out client needs, design and create a system a piece at a time, confirm it with the client, and then implement it$.$ The project was very successful, providing what was required, and maybe a little bit more $($which he later learned was called $$gold plating$),$ within the expected budget and on time.

Since then, the subject of our little story managed many projects, always successfully. Then came a time when he noticed there was a professional organisation called the Project Management Institute that had a body of knowledge called the Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge. He realized that his past success had been a matter of common sense $($not so ubiquitous he always thought for a term with such a name$)$ and to some extent, good luck and friendly clients. He was often heard talking to himself while holding the guide close to his chest, muttering $$Where have you been all my life!$[$OK$...$ not true, but added for comedic effect$]$

Thus began the professionalization of our friend. After managing projects for fifteen years, he immersed himself in this warm body of knowledge, researched, studied, wrote and passed the exam known as the $"$PMP exam". He enjoyed rubbing shoulders with other beings who also managed projects or had an interest in the same. He liked what he read and experienced so much that he decided to volunteer with the professional organisation locally and globally, never looking back, even another fifteen years later. In fact, he is still volunteering today.

He has also been spreading the good PM word within his organisation and far and wide. I heard about this person one day through a sort of telepathic connection. He obviously loved what he was doing. Otherwise, why would he continue? I asked him what he loved about project management, and his answer surprised me$.$ He said, $$Project management is all about people. People who are your clients, people who are your team, people who hear about the project and are want to know more, people with their own lives outside the projects, and people working to provide for their families. People. It$$s all about people.$$ I said, $$What$?$ It$$s not all about projects?$$No$,$ he said, without people, there would be no projects. There would be no organisations. There would be no important needs being met through projects. Projects are people. Just like life $$ it$$s all about people. And that$$s why I love being a project manager. Working with people to understand what needs to be done, to bring the team together to work toward a successful conclusion in a way that makes us proud of what we have accomplished and makes the client want to work with us again.$$

And so ends this brief tale of the accidental project manager. He is still out there, an accident no more. Still being successful. But now, it is not a matter of uncommon common sense or even luck. Now it is a matter of knowledge, experience, making plans, working plans and.... well... most importantly $$ working with people. It$$s all about people!

y of the "Accidental Project Manager" from his initial role in technology to becoming a professional project manager. Discuss the key factors that contributed to his success in project management despite his lack of formal training initially.

$(15$ Marks$)$

$3\mathrm{.}2$ Discuss how joining PMI and obtaining PMP certification transform the "Accidental Project Manager's" career. What value do such organisations and certifications bring to individuals and the broader project management community?

$(15$ Marks$)$