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From Missiles to Mission Statements: A Career in Project Management

In the 1950s during the development of the Polaris missile system the U.S. Navy found themselves overwhelmed with the many subdivisions of the project. So they invented a new technique to cope with it. This was the beginning of modern day project management.

Project management, often hard to define, encapsulates many aspects of management and is applied in a variety of industries ranging from advertising to construction.

Project managers are responsible for every phase of a project from inception to completion. This includes determining the mission and goals, hiring, training, motivating, and supervising employees or contractors, creating a feasible work schedule, closely monitoring a fixed budget, securing materials, and communicating with clients, internal staff, and the public. Project management means balancing time, money, and scope while keeping a project moving forward.

It's a tricky, complicated process that requires special training which can be earned through an MBA program.

Do I Need an MBA in Project Management?

An MBA in project management is a specialized program that provides training in leadership and management, and integrates human resources, law, finance, and logistics as well. Through this MBA program you'll learn to develop projects and objectives, calculate budget and resource requirements, analyze risks, and communicate project details effectively.

An MBA program not only improves your career prospects but you'll earn a higher salary; a 2006 survey reports an average MBA graduate's base salary is $87,170. With an MBA in project management you'll earn management skills that will greatly enhance your value to current or potential employers.

Earning this MBA through an online degree program can generally be completed in less time than standard full-time programs, and provides you with greater geographic flexibility. After all, managers must go where the project takes them. An online degree enables you to schedule classwork around your professional commitments. And earning an online degree demonstrates that you're resourceful, self-motivated, and comfortable working with technology.

So begin your online MBA degree in project management today!