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- 1.1 What is a project?
- 1.2 What is project management?
- 1.3 What is program management?
- 1.4 Why do we need project management?
- 1.5 Project management skills
- 1.6 Interpersonal skills management
- 1.7 What is PMP?
- 1.8 PMP certification
- 1.9 Need for PMP certification
- A project is a temporary endeavor undertaken to create a unique product, service, or result.
- The temporary nature of project indicates that a project has a definite beginning and end.
- Projects are completed when the project goals are achieved or it is determined the project is no longer viable.
- A successful project is one that meets or exceeds the expectations of your stakeholders.
- Project Management is the application of knowledge, skills, tools and techniques to project activities to meet project requirements.
- Project management is accomplished through the use of the processes such as:
- Initiating
- Planning
- Executing
- Monitor and Controlling
- Closing
- Project managers or the organization can divide projects into above phases to provide better management control with appropriate links to the ongoing operations of the performing organization. Collectively, these phases are known as the project life cycle.
- Project managers deliver projects while balancing following constraints:
- Scope
- Schedule
- Quality
- Resources
- Customer Satisfaction
- Risk
- A program consists of a group of related projects and Program management is the process of managing multiple ongoing projects.
- An example would be that of designing, manufacturing and providing support infrastructure for an automobile make.
- Program management involves centrally managing and coordinating groups of related projects to meet the objectives of the program.
- In some cases Project Management is a subset of Program Management.
- The project manager may report to the program manager in such cases.
- A portfolio consists of multiple programs.
- We need project management to manage projects effectively and drive them to success.
- Project Management starts with the decision to start a project upon weighing its need and viability.
- Once a project starts, it is crucial to watch the project progress at every step so as to ensure it delivers what all is required, in the stipulated time, within the allocated budget.
- Other drivers influencing the need of project management are:
- Exponential expansion of human knowledge
- Global demand for goods and services
- Global competition
- Team is required to meet the demand with quality and standard
- Improved control over the project
- Improved performance
- Improved budget and quality
- Many of the tools and techniques for managing projects are specific to project management.
- However, effective project management requires that the project management team acquire the following three dimensions of project management competencies:
- Project Management Knowledge Competency: This refers to what the project management team knows about project management.
- Project Management Performance Competency: This refers to what the project management team is able to do or accomplish while applying their project management knowledge.
- Personal Competency: This refers to how the project management team behaves when performing the project or activity.
- The management of interpersonal relationship includes:
- Effective communication: The exchange of information
- Influencing the organization: The ability to "get things done"
- Leadership: Developing a vision and strategy, and motivating people to achieve that vision and strategy
- Motivation: Energizing people to achieve high level of performance and to overcome barriers to change
- Negotiation and conflict management: Conferring with others to come to terms with them or to reach an agreement
- Decision Making: Ability to take decision independently.
- Political and cultural awareness: Important to handle various personal and professional issues.
- Team Building: Ability to create a productive team.
- PMI’s Project Management Professional (PMP) credential is the most important industry-recognized certification for project managers.
- Globally recognized and demanded, the PMP® demonstrates that you have the experience, education and competency to lead and direct projects.
- The process for PMP certification involves documenting a significant number of hours that you have dedicated to project management in each of the various stages of a project.
1.8.1 Exam Syllabus
- The PMP exam is based on the PMP Examination Specification, which describes tasks out of five performance domains:
- Initiating the project (13%)
- Planning the project (24%)
- Executing the project (30%)
- Monitoring and controlling the project (25%)
- Closing the project (8%)
- The exam consists of 200 multiple choice questions written against this specification.
- Twenty-five of the 200 questions on the exam are "sample" questions used to fine-tune the degree of difficulty and precision of the exam and as such are not counted for or against a test taker.
- These questions are placed randomly throughout the exam.
- The test taker is only graded on their proficiency on 175 questions.
- The numbers in parentheses describe the percentage of questions for each domain.
- The Project Management Framework embodies a project life cycle and five major project management Process Groups:
- Initiating
- Planning
- Executing
- Monitoring and Controlling
- Closing
- Based on above five process groups there are ten project management Knowledge Areas:
- Project Integration Management
- Project Scope Management
- Project Time Management
- Project Cost Management
- Project Quality Management
- Project Human Resource Management
- Project Communications Management
- Project Risk Management
- Project Procurement Management
- Project Stakeholder Management
- The processes of these knowledge areas are described by their inputs, tools and techniques, and outputs.
1.8.2 PMP Certification Requirements
- To apply for the PMP, you need to have either:
- A secondary degree (high school diploma, associate’s degree, or the global equivalent) with at least five years of project management experience, with 7,500 hours leading and directing projects and 35 hours of project management education.
- A four-year degree (bachelor’s degree or the global equivalent) and at least three years of project management experience, with 4,500 hours leading and directing projects and 35 hours of project management education.
- Government, commercial and other organizations employ PMP certified project managers in an attempt to improve the success rate of projects in all areas of knowledge, by applying a standardized and evolving set of project management principles.
Chapter 1
Introduction to PMP
Topics covered in this snack-sized chapter: