What is the PMP Certification?

The PMI came on the scene in about 1969, they had the vision of standards and best practices that would better define and promote project management. In an effort to promote project management, in 1984 they established the Project Management Professional (PMP) Certification. It acquired the ISO 9001 recognition and has since grown to become the most widely recognized credential world wide in Project Management.

Why Should You Get PMP Certified?

The PMP credential shows a level of professional achievement not reached by many in the field. This certification is highly sought after because is increases the marketability of individuals, it provides opportunity for advancement in project management, and gives employers and customers an added sense of confidence the project manager and the firm employing that project manager. The PMP certification sets the individual apart, and shows that they can apply best practices that are based in the “Guide to the Project Management Body Of Knowledge (PMBOK guide).

What Are The Requirements

There is an element of training, and element of experience, and a rigorous exam that must be passed to get the PMP Certification. Right here at PM Exam Ready, we help you in every aspect to get ready for that PMP exam and we help you with ALL of the other needed precursors and prerequisites to get in there and get that needed credential.

If you need the required training hours, The PM-Prepcast is the easy way to get the 35 contact hours of PMI approved training. It is by far the best value, for less than $100 you get 40 hours worth of training that completely fill the 35 contact hours required by the PMI. The training is on a podcast, so you can put it on your iPod or other mp3 player, or watch it on your computer. Compare this to other online training that cost between $699 and $999 (most of which only qualify for 21 to 28 contact hours) and you will see the real value of this amazing PMI approved training. If you need the contact hours, don’t delay, get started on the best PMP training you can get you hands on and completely fill the PMI’s contact hour requirement.

The iPod training is fantastic, but I like to have materials that I can hold in my hands. Study guides were an important part of my PMP training. There are a few study guides worth looking at PMP Exam Prep, Sixth Edition: Rita’s Course in a Book for Passing the PMP Exam, The PMP Exam: How to Pass on Your First Try or Head First PMP: A Brain-Friendly Guide to Passing the Project Management Professional Exam. Rita’s course is the most popular and is really the most detailed. However, I like Andy’s approach, it is closer to the PMBOK guide, and is more straight forward. The least expensive, and the guide that is more visual and more entertaining is the Head First guide. They all have their own strengths and weaknesses. I would suggest that you use the links above to go to the amazon page, then click on the “Look Inside” icons above the pictures. Really look at the layout. Read the first preview chapter, you will see the style and flow of each author. Rita expects that you know something about project management when you start, the Head First book explains everything, sometimes in the margins and at the side of the page. If you feel like a beginner, I would suggest the Headfirst text. If you want as much depth as possible, I would suggest Rita’s text. Andy’s is somewhere in the middle.

Last, but not least, take a lot of sample exam questions. Rita’s PM Fastrack Exam Simulation Software for the PMP Exam: Version 6 is a great resource for that, but is quite expensive. The PMP Exam Simulator gives you a lot more questions for a fraction of the cost. Want to know what you need to study? Find out where you stand by Downloading a Free 50 PMP Question Demo Now. Take the sample exam and see where you are right now. See how practice questions will make the difference in getting you ready for the PMP exam.

Come back often to PMExamReady.com. We will get you ready for that PMP exam, and help you every step of the way to getting your PMP credential.

Elroy King

Are you new to PMP? Read about the PMP basics.

If you want to pass the PMP exam you will need to master the PMI-isms.

If you were interested in the Project Management Professional Certification you may be interested in

I am often asked, “what materials do you need to pass the PMP Exam?” I believe that passing the exam requires a three fold approach. First: Focus on the PMI-isms. The Project Management Institute (PMI) devised the PMP certification and the exam. If you want to pass the exam, you are going to have to see Project Management in the same light that the PMI sees it. You absolutely need some PMI approved training. Rita Mulcahy, a prominent PMP and Project Management author, explains that 50% of those that fail the PMP exam fail it because they have not had project management training that uses PMI terminology. The bottom line, you need to see the terms the way the PMI sees them to pass the PMP exam. About the only way to get that knowledge is through some PMI approved training.

Now you have a number of options:

You can attend a 4-7 day training course held by MosaicProjects or GlobalKnowledge. The rates vary, but will cost between $1500 and $2000. The actual number of contact hours awarded from the class depends on the number of classroom hours you attend, but they vary between 21 and 25.

There are some online classes Point Advantage, Online Training or Simplilearn online training. Either one will cost between $699 and $999.

However, the very best value will be the The PM-Prepcast.

The PM-Prepcast gives you:
40 hours of PMI approved PMP training in a podcast.
35 contact hours recognized by the PMI.
Exclusive tips and tricks for taking the PMP exam.
Sample test questions and more. For a one time fee of about $99.

Check out the PM-Prepcast and start preparing for the PMP exam in the PMI way today!.

Second: You really need some great visual and hands-on type of reference materials. There are some great manuals at different levels and at different price points.

PMP Exam Prep, Sixth Edition: Rita’s Course in a Book for Passing the PMP Exam

and The PMP Exam: How to Pass on Your First Try

Are probably the best texts for an in-depth study. However, I have found that the entertaining and visually stimulating approach of Head First PMP: A Brain-Friendly Guide to Passing the Project Management Professional Exam to be a real advantage to learning and remembering the materials. Take the time to look any of these texts on the Amazon links provided (click on the link above the picture that says, “Look Inside”), you will get a feel for how the material is laid out. Rita’s book is the most popular and is very good, but I feel Andy Crowe’s book is more closely related to the PMBOK guide, and the Head First book is much more interesting and fun. By the way the A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge: (Pmbok Guide) (Paperback) is indispensable! It is dry reading and almost repetitive in its precise and methodical approach, but the commercial study guides will make much more sense if you spend the time with the PMBOK guide and understand where the PMI is coming from.

Finally, after you have mastered the principles and how to apply them, it is time for the third fold of this study method, you are going to need a lot of practice with sample exam questions. The PMP training classes, the study materials, and any helps you might find will have sample questions. Make complete use of those sample questions first. They come with your materials, be sure to get your money’s worth, but don’t underestimate the value of a really good sample test program. Rita Mulcahy’s PM Fastrack Exam Simulation Software for the PMP Exam: Version 6 is a great companion to the materials that you have acquired thus far. Simulation software will help you get used to the types of questions that will be asked on the exam and in the same format on the computer. Rita has done a great job at this simulation–but the cost is quite high. A second alternative is the PMP Exam Simulator. For about $49 you get 6000 sample questions. The exam Simulator is, by far, the best value in simulation software. Get the demo now, Download a Free 50 PMP Question Demo Now.

With a great PMI approved, PMP training course, a really good PMP prep manual, and PMP exam simulation software, you will pass the PMP exam. It is all in getting the best materials and assimilating the information provided in them.

Elroy King

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Look Inside the Simulator

Updates According to PMBOK 4th Edition
Process verb noun format changes
Select sellers is now conduct procurements
Delete contract administration
Add close procurement
Request seller responses is not administer procurement
Plan contracting is now conduct procurements
Communications planning is now identify stakeholders
Information distribution is now plan communications
Performance reporting is now distribute information
Scope planning is now collect requirements
Process Names Now Verb-Noun Format
Enterprise Environmental Asses and Organizational Process Assets Separated
Standardized Change, Preventive, Correction and Repairs
Delete develop preliminary scope statement
Delete plan scope

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Initiating (22 questions) 11% of exam
Project Planning (46 questions) 23% of exam
Execution (54 questions) 27% of exam
Monitoring and Controlling (42 questions) 21% of exam
Closing (18 questions) 9% of exam
Professional Responsibility (18 questions) 9% of exam
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If you manage projects, then you will know that to succeed, you need to communicate clearly with all of your project stakeholders. Otherwise your staff will lack clear direction, team morale will be low and your project may deliver over schedule and exceed its budget.

To make sure that your projects communicate effectively, we have described here…

How to Create a Communications Plan

Using the Communications Plan template , we have described how to create a bullet-proof Communications Plan for projects. We have provided a snapshot of this template here by listing the 10 steps you need to take to create a Communications Plan for your project.

Step 1: Situation Analysis
The first step to take when creating a Communications Plan is to perform a Situation Analysis. This is a fancy term for researching your existing communications environment.

Review the performance of all communications within your project and identify the Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats.

Then identify any lessons learned from past communications exercises, so that the same mistakes made in the past are not repeated here.

Step 2: Communications Objectives
Great. So you know what your communications strengths are and where you need to improve. You are now ready to set out your communications objectives.

List the top three objectives that you want to achieve from your project communications. For instance, you might want to inform stakeholders of the project progress, boost management buy-in or improve your team productivity.

Step 3: Communications Guidelines
Then set out your communications guidelines for controlling communications within your project. For example, you may decide that:

* All messages will be distributed through pre-defined channels
* All critical communications will be pre-approved by management
* All communications will be tailored, based on stakeholder needs

Step 4: Target Audience
Now define exactly who it is that your team will formally communicate with. Remember, formal communications are a method for controlling the messages sent out by your team. They promote a single consistent view of your project to a specified audience so that “everyone has the same version of the truth”.

Step 5: Stakeholder Needs
Each target audience group will have their own needs. These stakeholders will require information that is specific to their role in the project. For instance, a Project Sponsor will need to be informed of high priority risks and issues, whereas a Quality Reviewer might need to be notified of the current status of project deliverables.

Step 6: Key Messages
Then list the key messages that need to be sent to each Stakeholder. Key messages may include project status, project issues, project risks, project deliverables or project resources. The next step is to define how you will deliver each message to them, through a delivery channel.

Step 7: Delivery Channels
There are a huge variety of ways in which you can deliver your key messages to stakeholders (e.g. emails, newsletters, meetings, conferences). For each stakeholder, identify the channel that you will use to deliver your key messages.

Step 8: Communications Schedule
Now you are ready to create the schedule of communications events, activities and actions that are required to deliver the right messages to the right people at the right time throughout the project. Create a detailed schedule of events and for each item listed, specify the timeframes for completion and any dependencies on other events in the schedule.

Step 9: Communications Events
For each event listed in your schedule, describe it in depth. Make sure that you define the purpose of the event, how it will take place and when it should occur.

Step 10: Communications Matrix
And finally, once you have listed the events and described them in detail, you need to identify who will manage them and who will review their effectiveness. Create a Communications Matrix which lists for each event who is accountable for the event, who will take part and who will review its success.

Once you have taken these 10 steps, it is up to you to get your Communications Plan approved by your manager and then execute it to deliver communications efficiently across your project.

And just one last tip – to improve your communications you need honest feedback on your team’s performance. Implement feedback measures such as questionnaires, feedback forms and surveys to learn how to continually improve communications within your project team.

To plan communications for your projects…

Download this Communications Plan template now.

Download the entire kit of Project Management templates

Elroy King

You really can be ready for the PMP Exam with help from PMExamReady.com. It is THE place to get ready for the PMP Exam.

Pass the PMP exam the EASY way with the BEST PMP exam prep course from a PMI approved source — PMP Exam Prep Made Easy.

Method123 has just announced today the release of their newest full featured Project Management Template – the Quality Management Process template.
The Quality Management Process helps the project manager and team set up how quality will be handled and measured on the project. With the proper quality procedures in place, your customer will be assured of receiving a quality solution, quality deliverables and will gain significant confidence in your delivery team. Knowing their project dollars aren’t being left to chance will make them want to come back to your organization for more successful work in the future.
Indeed, project quality is difficult to measure and even harder to guarantee. With a Quality Management Process in place during the Project Planning project planning process, your organization will be able to boast to customers about the repeatable processes that are being incorporated into their projects across the board.
“Quality is something that should be ingrained in the Project Management Methodology throughout the entire engagement,” states Jason Westland, CEO and president of Method123 Ltd. “Our Quality Management Process template will help your organization setup the proper quality infrastructure to manage all of their projects for their customers. It’s an ongoing win for your organization, far beyond just your current project.”
With Method123′s Quality Management Process, an organization can create their own quality assurance policies and implement them smoothly so that positive progress is realized on all projects going forward. It will increase executive leadership’s confidence in the quality of your deliverables and provide great returns in the form of customer confidence and satisfaction as well as repeat business.
With the Quality Management Process template, the Project Manager and organization will be able to:
View data
– Define project quality goals to be met by projects and team members
– Plan for how performance against quality goals will be measured and reported– Identify corrective action to take on quality issues– Target areas for quality improvements– Create reports on overall project and deliverable quality throughout the entire project portfolio
– Define project quality goals to be met by projects and team members — Plan for how performance against quality goals will be measured and reported — Identify corrective action to take on quality issues — Target areas for quality improvements — Create reports on overall project and deliverable quality throughout the entire project portfolio
The Quality Management Process will help you:
– Define and perform quality assurance tests and checks
– Better prepare for acceptance testing and approvals
– Take certain quality control measures
– Identify areas for improvement and begin to take action

“In this economy surviving in the midst of stiff competition is difficult and never a sure thing. Any edge is a good edge,” says Westland. “Many companies are sacrificing quality to allow for price cuts. Customers still want quality and when they see companies taking great measures to ensure that, it can mean the difference between retaining customers and losing customers. Use our Quality Management Process to make sure you’re company is creating quality deliverables and outputs on their projects. The customer is important and this is one way you can really show them that and shine.”
The Quality Management Process template and the full Project Management Kit product offering are both available for purchase and download at Method123′s website.

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Quality Management is one of nine project management knowledge area covered in the Project Managment Institute’s (PMI) Guide to The Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK guide v4). For more info on the PMBOK guide see The PMBOK Guide.

You really can be ready for the PMP Exam with help from PMExamReady.com. It is THE place to get ready for the PMP Exam.

Pass the PMP exam the EASY way with the BEST PMP exam prep course from a PMI approved source — PMP Exam Prep Made Easy.

Elroy King

Project Scope Management is the act of defining what work there is to do, and making sure that only the work define is done (no gold-plating).

Some point to keep in mind:
1. Product scope is not the same thing as project scope. A product may require many projects.
2. All of the work that will go into the project should make up the project plan. Include things like meetings and mile-stones, reports and analysis.
3. The Scope Baseline includes a scope statement, the Work Breakdown Structure (WBS), and the WBS dictionary. This document is a “living” document, in that it can be changed with progressive elaboration–however it must be changed with strict adherence to the Integrated Change Process.
4. The Scope Management Plan is the document that explains the how of the project. How is the project going to be planned, executed, and controlled?
5. Scope planning includes creating the scope management plan and the processes for addressing scope change.
6. Be sure to address all of the needs of all stakeholders. Stakeholder identification and needs analysis is critical.
7. Convert stake holder needs into product or service requirement.
8. The Work Break Down Structure. This breaks down the work into smaller, more manageable objects called “work packages.”
9. The WBS is a top-down approach, it is a hierarchy of activities. Work packages are further broken down into schedule activities.
10. All activities have to be in the WBS, work that isn’t there shouldn’t be done.
11. The level above the work package is the Control Account.
12. A WBS dictionary contains the detail about the work packages including an identifying number, the control account, the resource responsible for the work package, significant milestones and schedule goals, any interdependancies, and a detailed description of the work to be accomplished.

Elroy King

If you have any project management questions or questions about the PMP exam, leave them as a comment and I will try to answer them.

You can be ready for the PMP exam, with PMExamReady.com.

Make the most of managing your project with the best project management software”.

Make memorizing for the PMP a flash!

Get your free PMP handbook.

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If studying for the PMP exam is giving you anxiety and headaches, then it is time you learned about the easy way to pass the PMP exam. Get your training from 38 hours of video. They can be downloaded to your computer or your mobile device. All of the PMP topics are discussed and presented in an easy to digest way. You get lots of tips and tricks about passing the exam, sample exam questions, and 35 contact hours for your PMP application. Jump on board, and get your PMP exam training the easy and efficient way.

Check out the The PM-Prepcast.

Elroy King

If you have any Project Management questions or questions about the PMP exam, leave them as a comment, and I will try to answer the questions.

You really can be ready for the PMP Exam with help from PM ExamReady.com. It is THE place to get ready for the PMP Exam.

Don’t crash and burn on the PMP exam. Get prepared with the PMP Exam Simulation Software. 6000 unique PMP questions for less than most PMP exam prep texts.

Know those difficult PMI-isms when you sit for the PMP exam, by learning these Project Management Terms

What is your process for estimating time and cost on your projects? Are you like a lot of project managers, just guessing and crossing your fingers? Estimating is an art, and as a project manager it really isn’t your job to actually do the estimating, you need the experts involved to do the estimating, meaning those that are going to do the work should help you come up with the estimates. There are three types of estimating that might help you out here.

Analogues Estimates

Each project will be unique, without a doubt, but this project may be like one that your company has done before. You may even be a assigned a number of the resources that worked on the similar project. If this project is like the last one, but bigger–then you can take the actual time and cost from some of the activities and estimate what this one will cost by using the old numbers and multiplying them by the percent bigger this project appears to be. This is the concept behind analogues estimating and can usually pretty good depending on how similar this project really is.

Parametric Estimates

These estimates assume that you can break down the activity into single units. If you have an estimate for how much and how long putting down, say, 10 square feet of tile will take, then you can multiply that number by the number of square feet in the building to get a good estimate of time and cost. The key is to find a small unit that can serve as the base for determining the entire job.

Three-Point Estimating (PERT)

Three-point estimating is also popular. You go to your expert and ask what the optimistic estimate for time and cost would be, then ask for the pessimistic estimate, taking into consideration the worst case scenario. Finally ask for the most likely estimate. The formula for getting a weighted average from these figures is the following:

Opimistic + 4 times Most Likely + Pessimistic

6

By dividing by six, the sum of the optimistic estimate, the four times the most likely estimate and the pessimistic estimate create a weighted average that could be closer to the real time and cost for the activity.

Keep in mind that these estimates will have to be revised as time goes on. This process is called Progressive Elaboration. It simply means that we get more precise and more detailed as we progressively know more about the project and the details.

I hope this helps in the ever difficult art of cost and schedule estimation.

Elroy King

If you have any Project Management questions or questions about the PMP exam, leave them as a comment, and I will try to answer the questions.

You really can be ready for the PMP Exam with help from PM ExamReady.com. It is THE place to get ready for the PMP Exam.

Know what Enterprise Environmental Factors are? Get a quick refresher course at Enterprises Environmental Factors.

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Know those difficult PMI-isms when you sit for the PMP exam, by learning these Project Management Terms

If you are in Utah, visit the local PMI chapter and make some new friends.

PMI Northern Utah Chapter
Summer Morning Networking Meeting for August 2010

When: 7:00 a.m., Thursday, August 19, 2010
Where:
In Utah County – Einstein’s Bagels, 43 East Center Street, Provo, Utah
In Salt Lake City – Millcreek Coffee Roasters, 657 South Main Street, Salt Lake City, Utah
In Ogden – Jeremiah’s, 1307 West 12th Street, Ogden, Utah
Cost: No cost; however attendees are responsible for purchasing their own food and/or beverages.
Come enjoy an opportunity to network with project managers in your area. Bring any questions and issues you have relating to your current projects so ideas and solutions may be shared. And feel free to bring suggestions to the Chapter Board member(s) who will be in attendance.
We look forward to seeing you there!
PMI – Northern Utah Chapter

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Are you up on your PMP Vocabulary?

PMI-isms — Indispensable Terms

Project Management Earned Value Terms

Project Management, What is it?

Organizational Process Assets

Elroy King