Posts by elroyking

Is PMP Certification Really Necessary?

Mar16
2012 Leave a Comment Written by elroyking

The PMP certification is difficult to qualify, and the test is hard to pass. Many project managers wonder if the effort is really worth the gain. Project Management is a field that is growing, and even continued strong during economic downturns. When money is tight, management turns to Project managers to control spending and use resources in efficient ways. If you were still on the fence about the value of the PMP Certification, then now is the time to see what Villanova University has to say about it.

Quoted from Villanova University:

“Why PMP^® Certification Is So Crucial:

According to the Project Management Institute (PMI), the average annual salary for PMP^® certified Project Managers in the U.S. is $111,824, almost $14,000 more than the salary of those without PMP^® certification.*

PMI also reports demand for project professionals is staggering, with an average of 1.2 million projected new jobs needing to be filled each year for the next decade.**”

More Information on PMP Certification

PMP Certification

PMP Certification Training

PMP Certification Requirements

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Do You Have a Framework for Project Management?

Mar15
2012 Leave a Comment Written by elroyking

Having a framework for Project Management requirements may help your projects deliver on time and under budget. The problem with most projects is that the requirements aren’t understood by the entire team. Training the team is an important part of the process. When teams interpret requirements differently, then the outcomes are usually not the best. Project Management works best with a Project Management Framework.

Project requirements are rarely collected and made available in a final form to a project team. Instead, requirements are often collected through an elicitation process, which involves a discovery, analysis, understanding and validation endeavor.

Usually, a business or requirements analyst carries out the requirements elicitation process. The project manager is typically responsible for planning and setting up the requirements elicitation and management framework.

Well-planned and well-managed project requirements are common characteristics of successful projects.

This simplified framework can be a guiding requirements checklist for project managers:

Organizational assets: Identify the available organizational process assets for planning and managing project requirements. The organization or project management office might already have standards, guidelines and templates that can or should be used as a starting point.

Stakeholders: Use the stakeholder register to identify the stakeholders who will help provide, collect, analyze and document the project requirements.

Categories: Identify and categorize the requirements types that are to be elicited, such as:

Project requirements: Business requirements, end-user requirements, functional and non-functional requirements, etc.

Product requirements: Technical requirements, product features, functional requirements, etc.

Indirect requirements: Overhead imposed by organizational or enterprise environment and standards related to security, regulations, infrastructure and industry, etc.

Project Management Framework

PM Framework guide PDF

Project Management Training

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Does your Project Management have a Plan B?

Mar14
2012 Leave a Comment Written by elroyking

Project Management needs a plan B. For Daphne Depassé, that means some interesting things. It means adding some new roles to the Project Management Team and extending the reach of project management to include the look and feel of the office and other environmental factors. What factors play a part in creating good projects? How do we react to these factors? Perhaps your Project Management needs a Plan B.

If we are really serious about the importance of the environment we work in and the stories we tell, we should have a Set Designer and a Storyteller on our projects.

Yes, I am totally serious.

So is Daphne Depassé, an Amsterdam based solution designer. As I live 20km from Amsterdam, you could say we are neighbors. And that makes me a happy neighbor.

She developed an entire method, Plan B, for running projects.

A method called “Plan B”!

“What’s the plan?”

“B.”

It’s awesome.

Like. The need for a Set Designer. And a Storyteller.

I want to be both. And a Project Shrink.

Or. The importance of the look and feel of the environment we work in.

For More Information

Set Designer and Story Teller

Project Management

Project Management Plan B

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Agile Project Management, The Must Have Skill

Mar13
2012 Leave a Comment Written by elroyking

Agile Project Management, The Must Have Skill

So many companies are looking at Agile development. It makes so much sense, agile makes projects more flexible and more manageable. Project management is enhanced by the agile methodology, not replaced by it. Every manager, even those who never think they will ever use agile can benefit from learning it. The PMI has this to say about it.

As more companies incorporate agile practices, it’s fast becoming a hot new skill. Here’s how to build your expertise — and show it off to employers.

28 February 2012

Agile is going mainstream — giving a distinct edge to project professionals with expertise in the area.

Sixty percent of 6,042 software project managers and developers from around the world reported that up to half of their company’s projects are implemented using agile practices, according to the “State of Agile Survey,” sponsored by VersionOne and conducted by July-November 2011. The survey also revealed 17 percent of companies don’t currently practice agile but plan to in the future.

Tech research giant Gartner predicts that 80 percent of software development projects will use agile development methods by the end of 2012. And although it has its roots in software development, agile is quickly spreading into other sectors.

“You’d better get on the agile train and learn it if you’re going to be a successful project manager in the future,” says Donna Reed, founder of The Agilista PM, a Seal Beach, California, USA-based consulting firm.

Project professionals must first develop a firm understanding of agile — and be willing to adjust. With traditional project management approaches, most of the parameters are known before launch. Agile, however, is iterative, with goals, milestones and features subject to change midstream.

“Many classically trained project managers feel unnerved when dealing with the lack of prescription in agile projects,” says Simon Robertson, PMP, principal project manager and trainer of Robertson Consulting, Stockbridge, United Kingdom. “They find themselves fighting to be in control instead of embracing the constantly changing environment.”

Here are more Agile resources:

Wikipedia Agile

Agile Project Management PDF

Are you an agile project manager?

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Posted in PMP Exam - Tagged agile project management, must have Project Management Skill

Get the PMBOK guide version 5 review copy now before it comes out!

Mar13
2012 Leave a Comment Written by elroyking

Wouldn’t it help if you saw the PMBOK guide before it came out? What if you could contribute to make it better. Now is your chance:

Comment on the exposure draft of the PMBOK^® Guide — Fifth Edition

Participate in the standards development process for the renowned PMBOK^® Guide. Review and comment on the exposure draft for the update of this important standard.

The draft will remain open through Tuesday, 20 March.

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What is PMP

Aug22
2011 24 Comments Written by elroyking

What Is PMP Certification?

PMP Certification is the desired outcome of creating a Project Management Professional (PMP®). The Project Management Institute (PMI®) started the PMP® credential their way to promote project management standards and PM excellence. The credential has grown to become one of the most popular project management credential in the world.

What Is PMP Certification, and what Do PMs Get Out Of It?

Project Managers that have the PMP® certification have training in nine knowledge areas, five process groups, and in professional responsibility and ethics. Those core fundamentals promoted by the PMI® are taught in project management classes and training. PMPs will typically make 15% more in salary than their counterparts who are not certified, they get more management respect and can be trusted with the biggest and most important company projects, not because they have a credential paper, but because they have the PM training that comes with getting the PMP® certificate. Training on the methodologies and PM best practices from the PMI’s guiding principles make a big difference to projects.

Project Management Spans All Disciplines

Although surprising, project management spans all disciplines and every industry. Everywhere you go, you will see projects. It may seem strange that information or education about project management can really apply to all of the industries, technologies, and applications world wide. Project management is often quite an art, because it is different across industries. The PMI® found that the life cycle of projects and products can differ from one industry to an other. What the PMI® wanted was to establish is a standards that could be applied to any project across all industries and disciplines that would produce better project results, no matter which industry it was applied to. The end result is an evolving standard endorsed by the PMI® via a document produced by them called the Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK® guide). The document is now at version 4, it contains 42 processes. They understand that not every business or project will need all 42 processes, so they have listed the processes separately, but have organized the processes so that project managers and their team can select the ones that make sense for their project.

What is PMP, and How it leads to Being The Best Project Manager

Applying the skills, knowledge, principles, and methodologies contained in the PMBOK® guide has proven to make projects more successful. This success is what sets PMPs on a pedestal, above their counterparts. Projects That are more successful, get noticed by upper management. Projects ran by PMPs are more likely to be on-time and on-budget. I hope this answers the question, what is PMP. Now on to how to get your PMP certification.

How To Become A PMP

To become a PMP®, project managers need to apply to take the PMP® exam. The application process takes some time and contains some prerequisites. Those prerequisites include project management certification education, and project management experience. If you need help applying for the PMP® credential the new On-Demand PMP® Bootcamp includes a step-by-step guide, and document templates that make applying for the PMP® a breeze. Take the worry out of the application process, and find out how easy it is to get that PMP® certification. See the references below to know more about What Is PMP.

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Posted in PMP Exam - Tagged pmp certification training, PMP Exam, What is PMP

Project Management Training

Aug22
2011 3 Comments Written by elroyking

Project Management Training

You are going to need Project Management Training if you want to achieve the Project Management Professional (PMP®) credential. For more details about the PMP certification see PMP Credential. The hardest part about getting that certificate is that you are going to have to pass the difficult PMP certification exam. Project management experience is required to apply to take the exam, so many project managers believe that their experience will get them through the PMP exam. They are very wrong, and the high failure rates for the exam is evidence of how wrong they are. However, most project managers can pass the exam, once they have been trained in the PMI’s methodologies and processes. Rita Mulcahy, a prominent PMP instructor states in her book that 50% of those who fail the PMP exam, fail it because they lack the experience of managing large projects in the PMI’s methods. Project Management Training can overcome those obstacles and create an environment that will let you succeed.

Project Management Training Options

PMP exam training can be obtained in a lot of different ways. Modern communications technology creates even more opportunities than have ever existed. Truthfully, the most effective training has always been live classes or bootcamps. Many live classes or bootcamps boast over 90% pass rates on the PMP exam. The advantages of a live Project Management Training class or bootcamp can be summarized down to the following: 1. access to a live instructor that communicates the material in more than just an on-page format. 2. Being able to ask the instructor questions, which enhances the learning process and makes learning a lot easier and more complete. 3. Having other students in the class, which is beneficial because someone else will probably ask the questions that you sort of had but didn’t know how to vocalize. 4. Input from multiple senses, learning is better from a class because your reading re-enforces what you hear in class, and coupled with activities is retained much better. The disadvantages of a class has often out-weighes the advantages, however. The travel to and from the class is expensive. Lodging, while you attend the class away from home is expensive. The time away from work and home–especially the evenings and the down time when you are not attending class, is a huge waist. Also, the training from live classes has always been very expensive, in and of itself.

Live Online Project Management Training

How can you get the advantages of a live class, without the disadvantages? Where can you find a Project Management Training that costs so much less than an on-site class, and comes with a guarantee that you will pass the PMP exam? The answer is using modern technology to bring the class to you. You really can enrol in a LIVE PMP certification training, without leaving your home or office. You save all of the overhead that contributes nothing to your learning experience, so you can concentrate just on the learning. If you have an Internet connection, you have what you need for this Live-Online class. The live-online class has a live instructor that answers questions and teaches concepts. The class is made up of other online students, who can ask questions and reply to comments. The class comes with everything you need to pass the PMP exam, and with an iron clad guarantee that you will pass the PMP exam. At the present time, 97% of students that complete the course pass the PMP exam on their first try. Dig into the details of the Live Online PMP Certification Training.

On Demand Project Management Training

Perhaps you are thinking that a PMP certification training that was self paced might be a better choice for your current circumstances. You may be right. There is an option here that will be to your liking. The on demand PMP certification training provides the same materials and teaching that the live class provides, except that the lessons are not live, but archived. What this means is that the time commitment is the most flexible. You can really watch the classes when it is the most convenient for you. You miss out on the other students in the class, and being able to ask a live instructor questions, but, the instructor segments can be watched again and again to really get down those tough concepts. As a busy working professional, the on demand PMP certification training will absolutely work for you. Just look at everything you get with the PMP On-Demand Certification Training.

More Project Management Training Options

There are other options that are available to you for your PMP certification needs. Stop by our home page and get a FREE PMP Certification tool, that can help you memorized the PMP processes. Find Free PMP exam questions and PMP exam book reviews. It is all available at Project Management Training.

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Posted in PMP Exam - Tagged pmp certification training, PMP exam training, PMP training, project management training

PMP Certification Training

Aug22
2011 10 Comments Written by elroyking

PMP Certification Training

You are going to need PMP® certification training if you want to achieve the Project Management Professional (PMP®) credential. For more details about the PMP certification see PMP Credential. The hardest part about getting that certificate is that you are going to have to pass the difficult PMP certification exam. Project management experience is required to apply to take the exam, so many project managers believe that their experience will get them through the PMP exam. They are very wrong, and the high failure rates for the exam is evidence of how wrong they are. However, most project managers can pass the exam, once they have been trained in the PMI’s methodologies and processes. Rita Mulcahy, a prominent PMP instructor states in her book that 50% of those who fail the PMP exam, fail it because they lack the experience of managing large projects in the PMI’s methods. PMP certification training can overcome those obstacles and create an environment that will let you succeed.

PMP Certification Training Options

PMP exam training can be obtained in a lot of different ways. Modern communications technology creates even more opportunities than have ever existed. Truthfully, the most effective training has always been live classes or bootcamps. Many live classes or bootcamps boast over 90% pass rates on the PMP exam. The advantages of a live class or bootcamp can be summarized down to the following: 1. access to a live instructor that communicates the material in more than just an on-page format. 2. Being able to ask the instructor questions, which enhances the learning process and makes learning a lot easier and more complete. 3. Having other students in the class, which is beneficial because someone else will probably ask the questions that you sort of had but didn’t know how to vocalize. 4. Input from multiple senses, learning is better from a class because your reading re-enforces what you hear in class, and coupled with activities is retained much better. The disadvantages of a class has often outweighes the advantages, however. The travel to and from the class is expensive. Lodging, while you attend the class away from home is expensive. The time away from work and home–especially the evenings and the down time when you are not attending class, is a huge waist. Also, the training from live classes has always been very expensive, in and of itself.

Live Online PMP Certification Training

How can you get the advantages of a live class, without the disadvantages? Where can you find a training that costs so much less than an on-site class, and comes with a guarantee that you will pass the PMP exam? The answer is using modern technology to bring the class to you. You really can enrol in a LIVE PMP certification training, without leaving your home or office. You save all of the overhead that contributes nothing to your learning experience, so you can concentrate just on the learning. If you have an Internet connection, you have what you need for this Live-Online class. The live-online class has a live instructor that answers questions and teaches concepts. The class is made up of other online students, who can ask questions and reply to comments. The class comes with everything you need to pass the PMP exam, and with an iron clad guarantee that you will pass the PMP exam. At the present time, 97% of students that complete the course pass the PMP exam on their first try. Dig into the details of the Live Online PMP Certification Training.

On Demand PMP Certification Training

More PMP Certification Training Options

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Posted in PMP Exam - Tagged pmp certification training, PMP Exam, PMP training

Project Management Institute

May20
2011 1 Comment Written by elroyking

The Project Management Institute or PMI was founded in 1969. It has become the largest organization for project managers. PMI is the leads the world as a membership association designed just for the project management profession. If you are a project manager, and want to further your career, this is the place for you. The PMI boasts more than half a million members, some of which are credential holders, they can be found in over 185 countries. If you want to be recognized as someone who stands out in your organization, you will want to associate yourself with the these guys. The PMI standards and credentials are recognized throughout the world, along with their professional development opportunities and very large research program.
Project management is found everywhere, in every industry and discipline. The PMI is the basis for open standards and has had a hand in the overall acceptance of project management’s successful role in academics, industries, organizations, and governments..

Among the services that the PMI provides are credential certificates for for project practitioners of all skill or education levels. There are currently five credentials. Obtaining a credential shows both your project management expertise as well as a commitment to the profession. PMI certifications ensure that you and your projects excel.

Project management is more important now than ever before because, now, one-fifth of the world’s GDP, which equates to $12 trillion, is being spent on projects.

Something to keep in mind is that many skilled PM practitioners will be leaving the workforce because of retirement — in the United States alone, it is estimated that 40% of the project management workforce will be out the door by 2015 — Without a doubt, the demand for these kinds of knowledgeable project managers is truly growing. As much as $4.5 trillion of that total GDP is estimated to be at risk, and the holes found in the current talent pools are getting larger and larger.

With the upcoming opportunities, you can find your place to be competitive. Currently there are more than 400,000 PMI credential holders, they can be found in every industry, telecommunications, healthcare, finance, IT and construction, and many more. In a survey conducted by PricewaterhouseCoopers in 2007, 80% of projects that were high-performing, used a credentialed project manager. Prepare for your future by a PMI certification.

Available Certifications:

Project Management Professional (PMP)®
Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM)®
Program Management Professional (PgMP)®
PMI Scheduling Professional (PMI-SP)®
PMI Risk Management Professional (PMI-RMP)®

For courses that prepare you to get one of these credentials go to PMExamReady.com, and get ready to pass the PMP exam

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Posted in PMP Exam - Tagged PMI, PMP Exam, Project Management Institute

PMP Exam

Apr30
2011 11 Comments Written by elroyking

PMP Exam

The PMP exam is the portal (or the roadblock) on the road to Project Management Professional certification. It is the one thing that prevents many project managers from achieving the sought after credential.

Getting past that roadblock is something that is achievable for most project managers, but they need a plan and some good execution to make it happen.

What Is On The PMP Exam?

Passing the PMP exam starts with a basic understanding of what the exam actually covers. The Project Management Institute (PMI) publishes a guide that explains the make up of the test. The table below summarizes that information.

Figure 1 Summary of Contents of PMP Exam
PM Process Percent of Questions
Project Initiating 11
Project Planning 23
Project Executing 27
Project Monitoring and Controlling 21
Project Closing 9
Professional and Social Responsibility 9

Types of PMP Questions

Knowing what will be on the PMP exam also entails knowing what types of questions will be on the exam.

Types of Questions

* Knowledge based — these types of questions entail remembering facts and principles of project management best practices as outlined in the PMBOK guide.

* Situational — these types of questions are looking for the student’s understanding of how to apply the project management principles. It usually starts with something like “You are the project manager for company XYZ, and you have just…”, after explaining some background the questions will be worded around what you should do in this situation or what you should do next.

* Formula Based — these questions require you to remember a formula or calculation that would help you make a decision or manage some aspect of the project.

* Interpretation Based — these questions test if you can interpret where you are in the process and what evidences tell you about what situation your project is in.

In all cases, you will need to select the best answer from among what may seem like more than one reasonable answers. This can be very difficult. It can help to answer a number of sample test questions to become acquainted with each question type.

Make A Plan

At this point, you should make your test preparation into a project. Create a preparation plan and stick to your plan. There are several ways to get ready for your exam. If you have the time and the resources I would recommend a live PMP prep class, make sure it is a PMI R.E.P. approved class, that it provides the 35 contact hours that you might need, and that it has a guarrantee that you will pass on the first attempt.

Preparing On Your Own

If you are going to try to prepare on your own, below is a good summary of what you really need to do to be ready to take the difficult 200 question 4 hour exam.

Get your training materials from at least three separate sources. There are good books out there, there are good courses and workbooks out there, but few of them are designed to really fill all of the needs of an aspiring PMP test taker.

Consider starting with the PMBOK guide. Some people will say that you don’t need it, and I will be the first to admit that it is a good reference book, but is really dry reading–however, it is the basis of the exam and seeing the materials as they are presented by PMI is educational on its own.

PMP Exam Prep Books

There are three really good Exam Prep Books: Rita Mulcahy’s, Andy Crowe’s, and Head First texts. I prefer Rita’s text, it is more in depth and has a number of activities that are unique to it. However, I have found Andy’s text easy reading, it follows the PMBOK guide best of the three, and it has good sample test questions. The Head First text uses modern learning methods that incorporate the use of marginal notes, highlighted captions, and lots of pictures and examples. I really liked the layout and the different way that it teaches the material.

Multi Media

I find it easier to learn material when it comes in different media and methods. I would suggest adding an audio/visual course such as the PM Prepcast, or a course that include audio/visual material such as on-demand PMP bootcamp. Both courses will earn students 35 contact hours, and will be a great boost to learning the material.

Take a Sample PMP Exam

One of the best ways to prepare for a PMP exam is to take a lot of sample questions. The PM Exam Simulator can give you nine base PMP exams to practice on which includes some 1800 questions. You can get a feel for the format of the test which is the closest we have seen to the real test, and you can see what the quality of the sample exam is like by trying out the Free PM Exam Simulator. Go ahead try it today. Another option for a PMP Exam Simulator is the PMP Practice Exam System.

So the plan from here is to get the printed materials that appeal to you (click on the links above where you can click on the “look inside” link that will take you inside each text, where you can get a feel for each one and make a decision about which one might be best for you). Next get a hold of an audio/visual test instruction. The instructors are all PMI R.E.P approved, you will appreciate the quality of the instruction and how they can help you study the right things. I didn’t mention it before, but I really like flash cards to help me learn important facts for tests. There are two that I could recommend they are Hot Topics and PM eFlash Cards. Both are great and worth the value. Finally chose a practice exam system to round out your study. Give yourself 3-4 months to do the study and memorizing and get ready to be PMP Exam Certified.

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Posts by elroyking

“Why PMP® Certification Is So Crucial:

Agile Project Management, The Must Have Skill

What Is PMP Certification?

What Is PMP Certification, and what Do PMs Get Out Of It?

Project Management Spans All Disciplines

What is PMP, and How it leads to Being The Best Project Manager

How To Become A PMP

Project Management Training

Project Management Training Options

Live Online Project Management Training

On Demand Project Management Training

More Project Management Training Options

PMP Certification Training

PMP Certification Training Options

Live Online PMP Certification Training

On Demand PMP Certification Training

More PMP Certification Training Options

PMP Exam

What Is On The PMP Exam?

Types of PMP Questions

Make A Plan

Preparing On Your Own

PMP Exam Prep Books

Multi Media

Take a Sample PMP Exam

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“Why PMP^® Certification Is So Crucial: