An update to the update on Google’s Project Management Certificate
The world continues to wait for Google’s announced Project Management certificate that was declared about six months ago. Yes, it’s really been that long since we all got on the hype-train to see how Google would change our industry. Here’s my last update as a reminder.
It’s an oft searched term here on PMfive, and for a good reason, it’s been touted as a possible competitor to the more expensive certifications from the likes of PMI, APM, and even PRINCE2.
And at the risk of being click-bait-ish, I’ve search high and low for an actual update without any luck. So, I think it’s high time to start pontificating on the subject.
Theory Time
Since Google openly announced their plans to offer, among other things, a competitive Project Management certificate, two things have happened. First, the world has been devastated by a pandemic (the bad), and second, Google announced its own entry into the growing field of digital project management tools via an Area 120 project called Tables (the good). You can read Google’s The Keyword blog post on the new tool and check out the beta version here.
The delay theory goes like this: the development of the certificate was slowed via COVID, and there’s probably a minor push to show off their own new tool within the new certificate training. However, this might be a little over-the-top as I’ve taken a few of the Google courses, and none thus far openly tout their own wares. With Tables being in beta, perhaps they’re waiting a bit to let it mature in the ecosystem. Again, this is just my theory. However, with a lack of information from Google on the progress, this is the best I can do.
Other Training (and free too!)
In the meantime, be sure to check out Google’s offerings of free courses on the Grow with Google platform. I partake in the course fairly often, and they’re not too bad. You can also check out their free app, Primer, to get some courses on the go.
