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Getting Familiar with PRINCE2®

PRINCE2® is the abbreviation of Projects IN Controlled Environments and it is a de facto process-based process for effective project management. This is widely used by the United Kingdom government. It is hugely recognized and utilized in the private sector. The method of PRINCE2® lies in the public domain and it proposes non-proprietorial finest practice assistance on project management.Numerous people and organizations from different sectors prefer to use PRINCE2® because it is flexible, innovative, and practical. Irrespective of the project; whether it is developing software, constructing a flyover, or putting forward an advertising movement, the processes, themes, and principles of PRINCE2® will aid you in realizing them all. This process fits well to the public domain and it proposes a generic but the finest guidance to manage a project.Vital featuresChief features of PRINCE2® are:Project-based planning approach.Focuses on business justification.A well-organized organizational structure meant for the team of project management.The flexibility which can be used at a level suitable to the project.Stresses on dividing the project into controllable and manageable stages.History of PRINCEPRINCE2® was recognized by the Central Computer and Telecommunications Agency or CCTA in the year 1989 and since then renamed the Office of Government Commerce (OGC). In June 2010, the OGC office Best Practice Management functions moved into the Cabinet Office.Originally, PRINCE2® was based on PROMPT which was a project management process developed in 1975 by Simpact Systems Ltd. Later in 1979, it was adopted by CCTA in the form of a standard for being used in all the Government information system projects.At the time when PRINCE2® was launched in the year 1989, it superseded PROMPT effectively within government project. However, PRINCE2® continues to remain in the public domain and has bagged copyright by the Crown. In the year 1996, PRINCE2® was published and it is being donated to a group of nearly 150 European organizations.Remarkable benefits of PRINCE2® for peopleWhen you decide to use PRINCE2® then you will have stronger control of resources besides the capability to manage project and business risks. This will benefit you in the following manner:People looking for leading project management skills and higher employment prospects.Executives or directors of projects as well as organizationsProject managers.For people, the certification of PRINCE2® turns into a precious asset to their career as this escalates the prospects of employment and it aids people in doing their job more effectually. According to a survey done on people in project management as well as other roles, like senior management, IT and operations, it has been discovered that candidates found that PRINCE2® is highly appreciated in their career.How does PRINCE2® benefit an organization?For an organization, the formal recognition of responsibilities of PRINCE2® inside a project along with its concentration on what a project needs to deliver proposes an organization’s projects with the following:An organized and controlled start, middle, and finishing.Regular reviews regarding development against the plan.A consistent and common approach.Assurance that a project continues to possess a business justification.According to a 2007 survey done by PricewaterhouseCoopers, higher-performing projects are more likely to be operated with specialized project managers. Amongst all the certificates which empower higher-performing projects, the PRINCE2® named “Arras People’s 2011 survey” is the most well-known.Another report on PRINCE2® found that the adoption of PRINCE2® irrespective of the size of the organization is useful, particularly because of its characteristic of being compatible and adaptable with agile.The methods of PRINCE2®The method of PRINCE2® includes four united compounds of principles, themes, processes, and finally, the project environment.PrinciplesPrinciples are considered the guiding needs and excellent practices that determine whether or not the project is really being managed to utilize PRINCE2®. In fact, there are seven principles and when they all aren’t applied, then it can’t be viewed as a PRINCE2® project.These are the supervisory requirements and decent practices which determine whether the project is genuinely being managed using PRINCE2®. There are seven principles and it is highly required to apply all of them, else it won’t turn out as a PRINCE2® project.The seven principles of PRINCE2® are:Non-stop business justification – It is extremely important to have an acceptable reason for running and handling the project. When it doesn’t happen that way, then it is better to close the project.Learning from experience –The project teams of PRINCE2® ought to continually seek and draw on lessons that are learned from earlier work.Distinct roles and responsibilities – The project team of PRINCE2® ought to have a distinct organizational structure and it comprises the right individuals in the right jobs.Manage by stages – It is extremely important for the PRINCE2® projects to have proper planning, monitoring, and controlling on a stage-by-stage basis.Succeed by exception – Individuals who have been working in the project must be provided with the appropriate amount of authority so that they can work within the setting effectively.Concentrate on products – The projects of PRINCE2® do focus on the product definition, distribution, and quality needs.Tailor for suiting the project environment – It is highly important that PRINCE2® is tailored for suiting the environment, importance, size, risk, capability, and complexity of the project.ThemesThemes describe aspects of project management which ought to be addressed in parallel all through the project. There are seven themes of PRINCE2® and they explain the particular treatment which is needed for different project management disciplines. The themes also explain why they are important.PRINCE2® is important as it aids people in applying the themes by mentioning the minimum requirement which is needed for the themes and it also provides particular guidance on the process of tailoring to particular settings.The seven themes of PRINCE2® are:Business case – It creates and maintains a record of business justification for the project.Quality – It defines the quality requirements and also the measures and additionally, it explains how the project is likely to deliver them.Organization – It defines the individual roles and duties of the entire project team.Plans – These are the steps that are needed for developing the plans and the techniques of PRINCE2® which ought to be used.Change – It is how the project manager would evaluate and perform on alterations to the project.Risk – It identifies risks and opportunities effectively which could influence the project.Progress – It is considered the ongoing practicability and the plans’ performance and how and whether or not the project ought to proceed.ProcessesProcesses describe the project lifecycle’s steps, from the early idea to the project closure. Every process proposes checklists of suggested activities, linked responsibilities and of course, guidance regarding how to tailor to a particular setting.The seven processes of PRINCE2® are the following:Beginning a projectDirecting a projectCommencing a projectControlling a stageHanding product deliveryHandling state boundariesThe finishing of a projectThe management products of PRINCE2®The manual of PRINCE2® comprises twenty-six recommended templates meant for documentation which are linked with the project and are termed “management products.” They are divided into records, baselines, and reports. Some instances of management products are the following:Business Management Approach – Earlier, in the year 2009, it was known as the Benefits Review Plan. It defines the process and time of the measurement of the project’s benefits that can be made.Business case – It is used for capturing financial justification meant for the project. This is viewed as a principle of PRINCE2® that a project ought to have for non-stop business justification. When the Business Case doesn’t make sense, it is suggested to alter or halt the project.Checkpoint Report – It is recognized as a progress report which is developed by the Team Manager before being sent to the Project Manager regularly for reporting the Work Package status.Communications Management Approach – In the 2009 Edition, it was viewed as Communications Management Strategy – It is an account of the processes and occurrence of communication to the stakeholders which covers the flow of information to both directions; to the stakeholders and from the stakeholders. However, information is needed to be supplied from the project and the information is needed to be supplied to the project.Change Control Approach – In the Edition of 2009, it was named Configuration Management Strategy – It is used for recognizing how the products of the projects will get acknowledged, controlled, and shielded. This document is developed by the Project Manager during the initiation of a Project process.Configuration Item Record – It proposes a record that consists of the Product History, Version, Status, Details, and Variant of relationships between products/items, and Product copyholders or Product Owner.End Project Report – It reviews the performance of the project against the actual PID (Project Initiation Documentation).Daily Log – It is used for recording informal issues.Lessons Log – It is a set of notes of lessons that are learned, and they turn vital to future projects.Issues Register – It is an issue log containing notes regarding change requests, complaints, and problems that are sent by all the project members.Quality Register – It comprises details of every planned quality control activity, date, and personnel involved.Project Brief – It is utilized by the Project Board for authorizing the Initiation stage. During the initiating of a project process, the compounds of the Project Brief get extended and refined. The Project Brief grows for forming the PID (Project Initiation Documentation).Risk Register – It is a record of recognized risks, such as opportunities and threats related to the project.How PRINCE2® is different from PMP®PMP® or Project Management Professional might be observed as PRINCE2® 's competitor. Generally, Europe, Australia, and the UK opt for PRINCE2®, whereas the American countries and the US prefer PMP®. Again, Africa, the Middle East, and Asia do not possess any strong fondness for either PRINCE2® or PMP®. However, the vital thing is PMP® can be utilized along with PRINCE2®. Actually, PMP® and PRINCE2® both acknowledge the existence of each other in the advertising material and they try to place themselves in the form of complementary compounds; PRINCE2® in the form of a methodology and PMP® in the form of a standard that can be utilized alongside each other. Practically, practitioners and companies select one system or both based on the environment of the project, costs, and geographical location.The certificationsThe certifications of PRINCE2® which is being awarded by AXELOS need the users to undergo a training course with an ATO (Accredited Training Organization). This is followed by an examination. However, the training and the exam can be conducted in person or online. AXELOS needs that an organization that is proposing certified PRINCE2® training ought to go through an accreditation method for validating the course’s quality content and delivery. When sanctioned, the organization can make use of the title “ATO”. A trainer ought to be re-accredited every three years and experience a surveillance check every year.The four levels of certifications needed for PRINCE2® are:PRINCE2® 2017 Foundation – It confirms that the holder has got enough understanding and knowledge regarding the methods of PRINCE2® and is capable of working in a project management team that is working with this process.PRINCE2® 2017 Practitioner – It confirms that the holder has got ample understanding of the process of applying PRINCE2® in a situation and will be able to begin applying the methods to the real projects.PRINCE2® Agile Foundation – It confirms that the holder has got adequate understanding and knowledge about PRINCE2® methods and responsive way of working. It also explains how agile can get combined with PRINCE2®.PRINCE2® Agile Practitioner – It approves that the holder can apply the project management values of PRINCE2® while combining the concepts of Agile, like Kanban and Scrum.After the completion of the above-mentioned certifications, AXELOS publishes a successful candidate register that can be checked on the web.

Getting Familiar with PRINCE2®

10065
Getting Familiar with PRINCE2®

PRINCE2® is the abbreviation of Projects IN Controlled Environments and it is a de facto process-based process for effective project management. This is widely used by the United Kingdom government. It is hugely recognized and utilized in the private sector. The method of PRINCE2® lies in the public domain and it proposes non-proprietorial finest practice assistance on project management.

Numerous people and organizations from different sectors prefer to use PRINCE2® because it is flexible, innovative, and practical. Irrespective of the project; whether it is developing software, constructing a flyover, or putting forward an advertising movement, the processes, themes, and principles of PRINCE2® will aid you in realizing them all. This process fits well to the public domain and it proposes a generic but the finest guidance to manage a project.

Vital featuresKey features

Chief features of PRINCE2® are:

  • Project-based planning approach.
  • Focuses on business justification.
  • A well-organized organizational structure meant for the team of project management.
  • The flexibility which can be used at a level suitable to the project.
  • Stresses on dividing the project into controllable and manageable stages.

History of PRINCEHistory of PRINCE2

PRINCE2® was recognized by the Central Computer and Telecommunications Agency or CCTA in the year 1989 and since then renamed the Office of Government Commerce (OGC). In June 2010, the OGC office Best Practice Management functions moved into the Cabinet Office.

Originally, PRINCE2® was based on PROMPT which was a project management process developed in 1975 by Simpact Systems Ltd. Later in 1979, it was adopted by CCTA in the form of a standard for being used in all the Government information system projects.

At the time when PRINCE2® was launched in the year 1989, it superseded PROMPT effectively within government project. However, PRINCE2® continues to remain in the public domain and has bagged copyright by the Crown. In the year 1996, PRINCE2® was published and it is being donated to a group of nearly 150 European organizations.

Remarkable benefits of PRINCE2® for people

When you decide to use PRINCE2® then you will have stronger control of resources besides the capability to manage project and business risks. This will benefit you in the following manner:

  • People looking for leading project management skills and higher employment prospects.
  • Executives or directors of projects as well as organizations
  • Project managers.

For people, the certification of PRINCE2® turns into a precious asset to their career as this escalates the prospects of employment and it aids people in doing their job more effectually. According to a survey done on people in project management as well as other roles, like senior management, IT and operations, it has been discovered that candidates found that PRINCE2® is highly appreciated in their career.

How does PRINCE2® benefit an organization?

For an organization, the formal recognition of responsibilities of PRINCE2® inside a project along with its concentration on what a project needs to deliver proposes an organization’s projects with the following:

  • An organized and controlled start, middle, and finishing.
  • Regular reviews regarding development against the plan.
  • A consistent and common approach.
  • Assurance that a project continues to possess a business justification.

According to a 2007 survey done by PricewaterhouseCoopers, higher-performing projects are more likely to be operated with specialized project managers. Amongst all the certificates which empower higher-performing projects, the PRINCE2® named “Arras People’s 2011 survey” is the most well-known.

Another report on PRINCE2® found that the adoption of PRINCE2® irrespective of the size of the organization is useful, particularly because of its characteristic of being compatible and adaptable with agile.

The methods of PRINCE2®

The method of PRINCE2® includes four united compounds of principles, themes, processes, and finally, the project environment.

Principles

Principles are considered the guiding needs and excellent practices that determine whether or not the project is really being managed to utilize PRINCE2®. In fact, there are seven principles and when they all aren’t applied, then it can’t be viewed as a PRINCE2® project.

These are the supervisory requirements and decent practices which determine whether the project is genuinely being managed using PRINCE2®. There are seven principles and it is highly required to apply all of them, else it won’t turn out as a PRINCE2® project.

The seven principles of PRINCE2® are:

Seven principles of PRINCE2

  1. Non-stop business justification – It is extremely important to have an acceptable reason for running and handling the project. When it doesn’t happen that way, then it is better to close the project.
  2. Learning from experience –The project teams of PRINCE2® ought to continually seek and draw on lessons that are learned from earlier work.
  3. Distinct roles and responsibilities – The project team of PRINCE2® ought to have a distinct organizational structure and it comprises the right individuals in the right jobs.
  4. Manage by stages – It is extremely important for the PRINCE2® projects to have proper planning, monitoring, and controlling on a stage-by-stage basis.
  5. Succeed by exception – Individuals who have been working in the project must be provided with the appropriate amount of authority so that they can work within the setting effectively.
  6. Concentrate on products – The projects of PRINCE2® do focus on the product definition, distribution, and quality needs.
  7. Tailor for suiting the project environment – It is highly important that PRINCE2® is tailored for suiting the environment, importance, size, risk, capability, and complexity of the project.

Themes

Themes describe aspects of project management which ought to be addressed in parallel all through the project. There are seven themes of PRINCE2® and they explain the particular treatment which is needed for different project management disciplines. The themes also explain why they are important.

PRINCE2® is important as it aids people in applying the themes by mentioning the minimum requirement which is needed for the themes and it also provides particular guidance on the process of tailoring to particular settings.

The seven themes of PRINCE2® are:

  1. Business case – It creates and maintains a record of business justification for the project.
  2. Quality – It defines the quality requirements and also the measures and additionally, it explains how the project is likely to deliver them.
  3. Organization – It defines the individual roles and duties of the entire project team.
  4. Plans – These are the steps that are needed for developing the plans and the techniques of PRINCE2® which ought to be used.
  5. Change – It is how the project manager would evaluate and perform on alterations to the project.
  6. Risk – It identifies risks and opportunities effectively which could influence the project.
  7. Progress – It is considered the ongoing practicability and the plans’ performance and how and whether or not the project ought to proceed.

Processes

Seven Processes of PRINCE2

Processes describe the project lifecycle’s steps, from the early idea to the project closure. Every process proposes checklists of suggested activities, linked responsibilities and of course, guidance regarding how to tailor to a particular setting.

The seven processes of PRINCE2® are the following:

  1. Beginning a project
  2. Directing a project
  3. Commencing a project
  4. Controlling a stage
  5. Handing product delivery
  6. Handling state boundaries
  7. The finishing of a project

The management products of PRINCE2®

The manual of PRINCE2® comprises twenty-six recommended templates meant for documentation which are linked with the project and are termed “management products.” They are divided into records, baselines, and reports. Some instances of management products are the following:

  • Business Management Approach – Earlier, in the year 2009, it was known as the Benefits Review Plan. It defines the process and time of the measurement of the project’s benefits that can be made.
  • Business case – It is used for capturing financial justification meant for the project. This is viewed as a principle of PRINCE2® that a project ought to have for non-stop business justification. When the Business Case doesn’t make sense, it is suggested to alter or halt the project.
  • Checkpoint Report – It is recognized as a progress report which is developed by the Team Manager before being sent to the Project Manager regularly for reporting the Work Package status.
  • Communications Management Approach – In the 2009 Edition, it was viewed as Communications Management Strategy – It is an account of the processes and occurrence of communication to the stakeholders which covers the flow of information to both directions; to the stakeholders and from the stakeholders. However, information is needed to be supplied from the project and the information is needed to be supplied to the project.
  • Change Control Approach – In the Edition of 2009, it was named Configuration Management Strategy – It is used for recognizing how the products of the projects will get acknowledged, controlled, and shielded. This document is developed by the Project Manager during the initiation of a Project process.
  • Configuration Item Record – It proposes a record that consists of the Product History, Version, Status, Details, and Variant of relationships between products/items, and Product copyholders or Product Owner.
  • End Project Report – It reviews the performance of the project against the actual PID (Project Initiation Documentation).
  • Daily Log – It is used for recording informal issues.
  • Lessons Log – It is a set of notes of lessons that are learned, and they turn vital to future projects.
  • Issues Register – It is an issue log containing notes regarding change requests, complaints, and problems that are sent by all the project members.
  • Quality Register – It comprises details of every planned quality control activity, date, and personnel involved.
  • Project Brief – It is utilized by the Project Board for authorizing the Initiation stage. During the initiating of a project process, the compounds of the Project Brief get extended and refined. The Project Brief grows for forming the PID (Project Initiation Documentation).
  • Risk Register – It is a record of recognized risks, such as opportunities and threats related to the project.

How PRINCE2® is different from PMP®PRINCE2 VS PMP

PMP® or Project Management Professional might be observed as PRINCE2® 's competitor. Generally, Europe, Australia, and the UK opt for PRINCE2®, whereas the American countries and the US prefer PMP®. Again, Africa, the Middle East, and Asia do not possess any strong fondness for either PRINCE2® or PMP®. However, the vital thing is PMP® can be utilized along with PRINCE2®. Actually, PMP® and PRINCE2® both acknowledge the existence of each other in the advertising material and they try to place themselves in the form of complementary compounds; PRINCE2® in the form of a methodology and PMP® in the form of a standard that can be utilized alongside each other. Practically, practitioners and companies select one system or both based on the environment of the project, costs, and geographical location.

The certifications

The certifications of PRINCE2® which is being awarded by AXELOS need the users to undergo a training course with an ATO (Accredited Training Organization). This is followed by an examination. However, the training and the exam can be conducted in person or online. AXELOS needs that an organization that is proposing certified PRINCE2® training ought to go through an accreditation method for validating the course’s quality content and delivery. When sanctioned, the organization can make use of the title “ATO”. A trainer ought to be re-accredited every three years and experience a surveillance check every year.

Four levels of certification for PRINCE2

The four levels of certifications needed for PRINCE2® are:

  • PRINCE2® 2017 Foundation – It confirms that the holder has got enough understanding and knowledge regarding the methods of PRINCE2® and is capable of working in a project management team that is working with this process.
  • PRINCE2® 2017 Practitioner – It confirms that the holder has got ample understanding of the process of applying PRINCE2® in a situation and will be able to begin applying the methods to the real projects.
  • PRINCE2® Agile Foundation – It confirms that the holder has got adequate understanding and knowledge about PRINCE2® methods and responsive way of working. It also explains how agile can get combined with PRINCE2®.
  • PRINCE2® Agile Practitioner – It approves that the holder can apply the project management values of PRINCE2® while combining the concepts of Agile, like Kanban and Scrum.

After the completion of the above-mentioned certifications, AXELOS publishes a successful candidate register that can be checked on the web.

KnowledgeHut

KnowledgeHut

Author

KnowledgeHut is an outcome-focused global ed-tech company. We help organizations and professionals unlock excellence through skills development. We offer training solutions under the people and process, data science, full-stack development, cybersecurity, future technologies and digital transformation verticals.
Website : https://www.knowledgehut.com

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This shows the importance of risk management and the emphasis organizations place on qualified risk managers.Benefits of getting PMI-RMP certifiedApply risk management practices for greater competitive advantageIdentify and measure risks in project development and implementationQuantify and create risk response strategies to deliver products that meet stakeholder expectationsUse a proactive and focused approach to preventing problems, rather than dealing with them once they occurIncrease your visibility within the companyAim for greater career growthEarn salaries upto $115,931Top companies that hire PMI-RMP professionalsWhere to take training for certification: Aspirants must train from an Authorized Training Partner (ATP) of PMI.Who should take the training for certificationRisk ManagersRisk Management ProfessionalsProject ManagersProject SponsorsProgram ManagersProject EngineersProject CoordinatorsPlanning ManagersPlanning EngineersProject Cost Control EngineersQuantity SurveyorsCivil EngineersIT Project ManagersProduct ManagersProject AnalystsBusiness AnalystsProject LeadersProject Co-ordinatorsTeam LeadersTeam MembersEligibilityTo apply for the PMI-RMP® Credential, you need to possess a:Secondary degree (high school diploma, associate’s degree, or the global equivalent)4,500 hours of project risk management experience40 hours of project risk management educationORFour-year degree (bachelor’s degree or the global equivalent)3,000 hours of project risk management experience30 hours of project risk management educationExam FormatNo of questions: 170 questions Type: Multiple ChoiceTime: 3.5 hoursDuration to get certifiedApplication fee: For PMI membership: USD $ 129 plus USD $10 for application fee.Course fee for certification: INR12999, USD 999Exam fee for certificationIn U.S.Member: $520Non-member: $670Retake fee for certificationMember: $335Non-member: $4354. PRINCE2® Foundation/PRINCE2 PractitionerThe PRINCE2 (PRojects IN Controlled Environments) Foundation and Practitioner credentials are sought-after offerings from AXELOS. There are a number of credentials offered under PRINCE2 that make it suitable for a wider audience. Axelos keeps the PRINCE2 curriculum regularly updated with the latest industry advances, which makes it suitable for new age project management and intensive, demanding projects.  PRINCE2 Demand: PRINCE2 extends its applicability across industries and sectors. This makes it very popular in the market as it is a one size fits all model. Although PRINCE2 was founded in the UK, it has now firmly established its presence in industries across the world. According to a report in LinkedIn, PRINCE2 is the most popular project management methodology. A professional adept at PRINCE2 and holding the credential is highly valuable and sought after by organizations implementing PRINCE2 for their projects.  Benefits of getting PRINCE2 certifiedGuide projects in their entiretyTailor PRINCE2 to suit the needs of projects and organizationsValidate your commitment to continued excellence and quality  Master and demonstrate your proficiency of the PRINCE2® framework  Gain project management best practices and grow your career with confidence Work across projects in diverse sectors and industriesShow your ability to work in challenging work environments  Command higher salaries (upto $99,012 average) than your non-certified peers Top companies that hire PRINCE2 professionalsShellBPTranspower New ZealandIBMHPAquasoftGetronicsSiemensWhere to take training for certification: Aspirants must undertake training from a Certified Partner of AXELOS and an accredited training organization (ATO) with PeopleCert®.Who should take the training for certification?Project ManagersProject CoordinatorsProject AnalystsProject LeadersProduct ManagersProgram ManagersProject SponsorsTeam LeadersSenior Responsible OwnersProduct Delivery ManagersBusiness Change AnalystsProject and Programme Office PersonnelOperational Line ManagerAnyone who wishes to build up knowledge in project management EligibilityThere are no eligibility requirements for the PRINCE2® Foundation certification exam. To qualify for the PRINCE2 Practitioner exam, you must have at least one of the following certifications: PRINCE2® Foundation or higher (applicable only to certificates obtained after 1 January 2009) Project Management Professional (PMP)® Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM)® IPMA Level A® (Certified Projects Director) IPMA Level B® (Certified Senior Project Manager) IPMA Level C® (Certified Project Manager) IPMA Level D® (Certified Project Management Associate) Project Management Qualification (PMQ) Project Professional Qualification (PPQ) Exam FormatFoundation ExamDuration: 60 minutes (1 hour) Questions: 60 Multiple choice questions Pass mark: 33 out of 60 available, or 55% Use of textbook: No, it’s a closed book examPractitioner Exam Duration: 150 minutes (2.5 hrs) Questions: 68 Objective type questions Pass mark: 38 out of 68 available, or 55% Use of textbook: Yes, but only the official PRINCE2® manual is permitted. Duration to get certifiedYou will need to attend 32-hours of PRINCE2® Foundation and Practitioner training from an ATO of AXELOS and PeopleCert®, following which you will be required to take the exams to demonstrate your knowledge of PRINCE2 and get certified. The results of your tests are issued within 2 business days from the date of your exam.  Course fee for certification: USD 1999Exam fee for certification: Included in course fee5.  PgMP®: Program Management Professional (PgMP)® Certification TrainingAnother project management from the PMI, this credential is more advanced than the PMP and certifies the holder’s ability to manage complex projects that cover functions, organizations, cultures and geographies. The credential mandates holders to be proficient in the six prime focus areas: Governance, Prioritization, Escalation, Resource Management, Benefits Realization, and Stakeholder Management.PgMP Demand: Credentials from the PMI are known for their rigorous standards and testing, which is why they are well accepted in industries across sectors. PgMP holders are better able to promote integration and coordination of multiple projects for the overall benefit of the program. According to PMI’s 2015 Pulse of the Profession® report, an organization’s projects are far more successful with program management than without it — 76 percent compared to 54 percent. This further compounds the demand for PgMP professionals. Benefits of getting PgMP certifiedGet in-depth knowledge of tools and techniques to handle complex multiple related projectsUnderstand Program Lifecycle and its processes, competencies, tools and techniques with practical sample templatesLearn to implement large-scale programs to align with business strategyOpen yourself to lucrative job opportunities and leadership rolesWork in projects across geographiesEarn high salaries, upto $139,000 on averageTop companies that hire PgMP professionalsAmazonGoogleMicrosoftCognizantCapgeminiDeloitteJP Morgan ChaseErnst & YoungWhere to take training for certification: Aspirants must train from an Authorized Training Provider of PMI®Who should take the training for certificationTeam LeadsSponsorsProject DirectorsProgram ManagersPortfolio Managers  Project Management Office (PMO) HeadsEligibilityA Four-year Degree (Bachelor's or Global equivalent), with at least four years of Project Management experience and four years of Program Management experience.ORA Secondary Diploma (High school or Global equivalent), with at least four years of Project Management experience and seven years of Program Management experience. Exam FormatNo of questions: 170 multiple-choice, of which 20 are considered pretest questions which are not scored.Question type: Most questions are scenario based and test a professional's understanding and clarity of thoughts on different Program Management concepts.Time: 4 hoursDifficulty level: DifficultDuration to get certified: You have to complete your 24 hours of training from an Authorized Training Partner (ATP) of PMI. Make a study plan and stick to it religiously. The PgMP is considered to be more difficult than the PMP and requires a fair bit of preparation. Once you pass the 4-hour exam you will be PgMP certified.  Course fee for certification: INR 13,999; USD 1199Application fee for certification: For PMI membership: USD $ 129 plus USD $10 for application fee.Exam fee for certificationIn IndiaMember: ₹46,338.00Non-member: ₹77,230.00In U.S.Member: $800Non-member: $1000Retake fee for certificationMember: $600Non-member: $8006. PMI-ACPPMI-ACP Demand: Agile is a fairly new concept in the context of product development. Though organizations reap immense benefits by adopting Agile, the road to transformation can often turn out to be expensive if not well executed. PMI-ACP professionals are therefore in huge demand as they can bring in project management best practices in Agile environments and ensure project success.  Benefits of getting PMI-ACP certifiedThe shortage of Project Managers has increased job opportunities in the Agile environmentYou will qualify for Agile jobs with expertise in Agile methods like Scrum, FDD, Kanban, etc. which are in demand in the industryEarn salaries in the range of $108,000 on an averageEquips you with knowledge of various Agile methodsMakes you more marketableTop companies that hire PMI-ACP professionalsStandard CharteredOracleIBMVMWareSource: IndeedWhere to take training for certification: Aspirants must train from an Authorized Training Provider of PMI® Who should take the training for certification?Project ManagersProject PlannersQuality Assurance StaffDevelopers/ProgrammersDesigners, TestersProject ControllersProduct OwnersScrum MastersScrum Team MembersEligibilityTo apply for the PMI-ACP®, candidates must meet the following requirements:1. General Project Experience2000 hours of working on project teams within the last 5 years or having an active PMP®/PgMP® credential2. Agile Project Experience1500 hours of working on Agile Project Teams or with Agile Methodologies, in addition to “General Project Experience” above;3. Training in Agile Practices21 contact hours earned in Agile PracticesExam FormatNo of questions: 120 MCQ, of which 20 are pre-testDuration: 3 hoursDuration to get certified: Once you complete the course, you need to schedule the exam date. Exam applications have to be submitted and approved by PMI. Online applications m ay take upto five business days to get processed. Once your application is processed, you can schedule your exam date, and on passing receive the PMI-ACP credential.Course fee for certification: INR 10,999, USD 1099Application fee for certification: For PMI membership: USD $ 129 plus USD $10 for application fee.Exam fee for certificationFor members: $435Non-members: $495Retake fee for certificationMembers: $150Non-members: $200SummaryProject Management is among the most sought after job roles, not only in the tech industry but any industry that executes and manages projects. By 2027, 88 million individuals will need to be skilled in project management-oriented roles. This makes it among the hottest job trends in the coming years, and a credential will go a long way in helping you capitalise on this trend.
Best Project Management Certifications in 2021
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Best Project Management Certifications in 2021

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Project Contracts – A Vital Legal Binding

One of the key knowledge areas discussed in the Project Management Professional (PMP®) certification is Procurements Management. As part of project procurements management a project manager is mainly expected to be able to initiate, execute and manage projects based on the project contracts. This article is an attempt to discuss about project contracts, to discuss the importance of such contracts and to give an introduction to types of contracts as a precursor to subsequent articles. The PMBOK® defines a contract as follows. “Contract represents a mutually binding agreement that obligates the seller to provide the specified products, services or results, and obligates the buyer to provide the monetary or other valuable consideration in return. A contract can also be called an agreement, understanding, undertaking or a purchase order.” (PMBOK® 5.0) Any project involves two or more parties. One main party that is the buyer and the other the seller. In addition to these there can be other 3rd party elements that are not directly involved in the contract but are interested in or are impacted by the same. The contract between the buyer and the seller happens to protect the interests of the two parties entering into the agreement. The seller provides goods or services to the buyer for which the buyer compensates the seller monetarily or through other financial or non-financial means.   A contract is a formal agreement between the two parties and it is a legal binding amongst the two entities. A formal contract must be in written format and can be used even in court of law in the case of either party failing to honour their commitment or in the case of an appeal against any misdeeds. Dishonouring contracts may actually lead to settlements even in court but should ideally be settled mutually among the disagreeing parties, most probably through a mediator called an ‘arbitrator’. Normally in large organizations contracts are managed by a separate contract manager or a procurements manager. The management of contracts are done in 2 separate ways namely; centralized contracting and decentralized contracting. In centralized contracting, one contract manager manages all the contract related matters for multiple projects. This requires expertise in contracting, standardization of contracting practices across the organization and more focused management of contracts. In decentralized contracting, separate contract managers are allocated to manage the procurements for individual projects. This results in full time management of contracts and the contract manager must report progress to the project manager. This results in more focused management of project contracts and with time creates specialized expertise in contracting. However, this may result in duplication of contracting expertise and less standardization of contracting practices across multiple projects in the company. There are three main types of contracts. They are Cost Reimbursable OR Cost Plus, Time and Material or Unit Price and Fixed Price or Lump Sum contracts.  The applicability and use of these contract types based on the type of project, complexity and the parties involved may decide on variations based on the charges involved in order to ensure that the contract terms are mutually beneficial for the two parties. Hence, these contracts vary based on the cost, time and price.  A cost plus or cost reimbursement contract is a contract in which the contractor is reimbursed or paid all the actual expenses they incur when carrying out the work. In addition to this they are also allowed to charge an extra fee allowing them to obtain a profit. For example a contractor taking up building a contract may claim resource costs as well as any miscellaneous expenses incurred for travel, food, purchases as well as charge an additional amount from the customer in order to make a profit from the tasks carried out. A fixed price contract on the other hand does not depend on the resources utilized or time expended. A fixed amount is agreed upon between the contractor and the customer where the amount is paid to the contractor even if the resources expended is lower or higher than the agreed upon amount. Time & material contract is where the contracting party is paid only for the amount of time or resources spent. For example if there is a software development firm which assigns 4 resources for a project on a T&M basis the company will be paid an hourly rate for each resource based on the amount of time they spend on tasks in the project.  Each contract type has its own pros and cons for both the contracting and implementation party. For example a fixed price contract is suitable for an organization as they would know the amount due before hand and know that they won’t end up paying extra if the triple project constraints are not met. Similarly, a time and material project may be suitable for both parties, as amount will be charged only based on the amount of work done in the project and for the time spent. Advantages and disadvantages of each contract type depend on the context. Thus, it is important for stakeholders involved in projects to negotiate on contracts wisely.
Project Contracts – A Vital Legal Binding
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Project Contracts – A Vital Legal Binding

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How much does a PMP® Certification cost?

 Are you planning to take the PMP® certification exam soon? If yes, you should take the next step by starting with the application process. But before that, you need to have a clear idea about the costs which are included in the process of getting PMP® certified.  PMP® is considered as one of the most valuable and high demand certifications in the project management category. Having a PMP® certification under your belt will introduce you to the world of greater opportunity and lucrative salaries. But PMP® is a tougher exam compared to other certifications and requires more preparation to pass the exam.There are multiple items to consider when you try to find out the cost involved in the PMP® certification process. The PMP® certification costs include the application and exam fees plus any other additional costs associated with preparing for the exam.It is not just about the PMP® Exam feeYou need to pay an amount of $555 as the exam fee to sit for your PMP® certification exam. But you can bring it down to $405 by becoming a PMI member. But this is not the only cost involved in the PMP® certification cost. The costs can further be explained in the following points:1. Become a PMI member:It is not necessary for you to become a PMI member to sit for your PMP® certification exam. But the benefits of getting a membership with PMI is more than the membership fee. The annual membership fee along with the first time registration fee is $139. You can save $150 on the exam fee itself by becoming a PMI member.Apart from the exam fee, you get a free copy of the latest edition of PMBOK® Guide and other standards or guides published by PMI which you need to be thorough with in order to pass the PMP® examination. Further, you can gain the required PMP® PDUs for free by watching the webinars and joining the annual online conferences which are exclusively available for the members.2. PMP® certification exam fee:Once you become a PMI member, you need to pay $405 as the PMP® certification exam fee to take the computer-based exam at your nearest Prometric exam center. But it is $555 for non-members.You can take up the PMP® certification exam three times in the one-year eligibility period. Again, if you are a PMI member, you just need to pay a PMP® re-examination fee of $275 whereas, the non-members need to pay $375.3. PMBOK® Guide:As a PMP® aspirant, you shouldn’t consider only the PMBOK® Guide to be the syllabus of PMP® exam. It is an official reference book for the PMP® exam. It is recommended for every aspirant to read the PMBOK® Guide more than once while you prepare for your PMP® exam. The content of the PMBOK® Guide can be found in the real PMP® exam. The current cost of PMBOK® Guide is $47.98.Got a PMI membership? Then you can download the free copy of the PMBOK® Guide from the PMI website.4. Earning 35 contact hours by attending the Project Management Training Course:You need to complete 35 hours of project management course work to sit for the PMP® exam. Taking up a Project Management Training Course can help you to earn these 35 contact hours. The cost of these courses ranges based on the training provider. You need to spend around $1,000 to meet this requirement.5. PMP® exam reference books:As you know that PMP® certification exam consists of a complex exam pattern and you need to be well prepared to clear it at one go. You can get access to reference books both in hard copy and online. These resources contain tons of project management knowledge which proves helpful while you prepare for your PMP® exam.6. Practice Exams and Mock Tests:Taking PMP® sample exams plays a pivotal role in your PMP® exam preparation. These mock tests and practice exams prove as a good resource to test your readiness for the exam. Further, these mock tests will help you understand the techniques of time management which is an important factor while writing your PMP® certification exam.7.Renewing your credentials:You can’t stop your quest once you get your PMP® certification. Your PMP® certification is only valid for three years and you need to renew your credentials before it gets invalid. So, you need to pay $150 to renew your credential every three years. However, you can bring down this cost to $60 by becoming a PMI member.Confused? The following chart will help you to get a clear understanding of the costs involved in your PMP® certification:Sl. No.PMP® Certification Cost (Different Cost Aspects)Costs1PMI Membership fee along with joining fee$1392PMI Membership renewal fee$129 per year3PMP® Certification Exam fee for PMI members$4054PMP® Certification Exam fee for non-members$5555Rescheduling fee for PMI members$2756Rescheduling fee for non-members$3757PMBOK® handbook cost for membersFree8PMBOK® handbook cost for non-members$50 on Amazon9Cost of study guides and resources$40 to $10010Cost of practice tests$60 to $10011Renewal cost of PMP® certification for PMI members$6012Renewal cost of PMP® certification for non-members$150Online PMP® trainingWon’t it be great if you get access to PMP® certification training from your preferred location? You can make it possible by opting for online PMP® certification training. The e-learning course provided by the R.E.P.s give you access to innumerable mock tests and exam revisions. Few of the features of such courses are as follows:35 PDUs on completion of 35 hours of e-learning15 audio-visual modules covering all course topics from PMBOK® Guide13 hours of online contentPMP® eBook in downloadable format and PMP® exam blueprintA question bank on all knowledge areasTips and tricks to pass PMP® in the first attempt.PMI Talent Triangle™ BundleYou need to continue your learning and development in order to maintain your PMP® certification. The PMI® has set a 60 PDU requirement which you are expected to meet in order to continue your PMP® journey. As a PMP® certification aspirant, won’t you be happy to get all the course which you need to fulfill your PDU requirements in a bundle? You need to earn 35 PDUs in the Education category and meet the following minimum requirements, as per the PMI Talent Triangle™  skill areas:Education PDUs - Minimum Talent Triangle RequirementsCertificationTechnical PDUs RequiredLeadership PDUs RequiredStrategic PDUs RequiredRemaining PDUs - across any area of PMI Talent TriangleTotal Minimum RequiredPMP8881135The activities and courses included in the three components of the PMI Talent Triangle™ are as follows:TechnicalLeadershipBusiness & Strategic ManagementLife Cycle ManagementCoaching & MentoringCustomer relationship & satisfactionTime, Scope, Risk ManagementProblem SolvingBenefits RealisationEstimationTeam BuildingLegal & Regulatory complianceAgile PracticesEmotional IntelligenceStrategic planning & analysisGovernanceConflict ManagementOperational FunctionsData gathering and modelingBrainstormingBusiness acumenEarned value managementInfluencingCompetitive analysisPerformance ManagementListeningMarket awarenessInterpersonal skillsBusiness models and structuresThe best way to earn 35 contact hours of PMP® trainingYou can get access to PMP® certification training in three different methods. They are classroom training, instructor-led training, and self-learning method. All the mentioned modes have their own pros and cons, but self-learning is considered as the cheapest of all the three courses.You can choose between self-learning mode or instructor-led mode to take your online training. There are numerous R.E.P.s in the market who provide such training and help you attain 35 contact hours to fulfill the PMI requirements.You should consider the following important factors while searching for the best online platform for your PMP® certification training:Is the training provider a registered training body?Will you be provided with 35 hours certificate?Is the training provided in English?What is the duration of the eLearning access?Salary of a PMP® certified professionalAfter knowing about all the costs which you need to bear in order to get PMP® certified, won’t you love to know about what lies ahead of it? Here are five jobs for project management professionals in the US with the highest paid salaries.1. Pharmaceutical project management professionalA Pharmaceutical Project Manager works with researchers, doctors, and engineers to ensure that the research and development stay on schedule and on budget. He or she is responsible for overseeing the development of new medication for the treatment of diseases and other health problems. The average annual salary of a Pharmaceutical Project Manager based in the US is $131,833.2. Resources project management professionalA Resources Project Manager works toward making the process of extracting and growing natural resources by working with farmers, mining, and oil companies and eliminating waste as well as improving communication. He or she looks into the procurement of natural resources for efficient delivery to end consumers. The average annual salary of the Resources Project Manager based in the US is around $129,368.3. Consulting project management professionalFrom environmental engineers to sales managers, a Consulting Project Manager works at all the levels of the industry and they work on a case-to-case basis. He or she works with the goal to furnish industry expertise and advanced knowledge to the client in order to lead their project to success. A Consulting Project Manager earns an annual average salary of $129,208 in the US.4. Aerospace project management professionalThe job description of an Aerospace Project Manager includes working with designers and engineers to ensure the delivery of the new aircraft on time and on budget. His or her focus areas include quality control and risk management. The average annual salary of the Aerospace Project Manager based in the US is $121,923.5. Engineering project management professionalAn Engineering Project Manager communicates with clients to ensure the quality of the end product as demanded by the client. The annual salary of the Engineering Project Manager based in the US is $121,769 per annum.To concludeAs you can see, the PMP® certification involves a lot of other costs other than the exam cost itself. There is a cost involved in all the processes which you need to go through in order to get PMP® certified. But these costs can vary from person to person and the country you are residing in. Further, adding a PMP® certification to your collar exposes you to better career opportunities and higher salaries.
How much does a PMP® Certification cost?
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How much does a PMP® Certification cost?

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