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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used in all the Government information system projects.At the time when PRINCE2® was launched in the year 1989, it superseded PROMPT effectively within government project.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®

10079
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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Enterprises will also look into your account experience, overall performance, communication skills, leadership capabilities, and other important variables while hiring. To put it in simpler words, a PMP certification will imply that you are excellent when it comes to understanding and implying project management principles in real-world situations whereas, a CAPM certification will imply that you have a good grasp of conceptual understanding of project management principles. With this outlook, it is easier to understand why PMP has a higher level of demand and why PMPs are placed into roles with higher responsibilities. Can you convert a CAPM to PMP?You might think if converting a CAPM to PMP is possible. Since the CAPM is the first level on your PM journey, it does serve as the steppingstone to a PMP certification. While you cannot upgrade a CAPM to a PMP, obtaining a CAPM certification will definitely help you pursue a PMP certification. You will be able to add the project management education hours you gained while preparing for CAPM to your PMP exam prerequisite. But you cannot upgrade your CAPM certificate to a PMP certificate without sitting for and passing the PMP exam as well. If you are just beginning your career in project management, a CAPM certification can be a great step towards becoming a PMP and successfully shaping your career, with higher pay and recognition as a project manager.   Conclusion To wrap things up, we have discussed the differences, similarities, and prerequisites of each of these courses. Both PMP and CAPM certifications can add value to an aspiring project manager's career.  If you are someone just starting out in the project management field, CAPM is a recommended course as it is an entry-level certification. But on the other hand, if you have the necessary experience in the project management field, PMP should be your go-to course to enhance your career, as CAPM would do little for you from a development perspective in your career. Both these certifications have their own list of pros and cons. They are both highly recognized certifications and as a certification-seeker, you need to make your choice based on what you are eligible for and what your end goal is. What will you decide? 
CAPM or PMP: Which Is Better?
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The PMP® Exam Blueprint For 2019

Preparing for your PMP® exam might seem like a struggle, but the end result is quite rewarding. From the initial application process, you need to go through a lengthy procedure to become a PMP® certified professional. The PMP® exam tests the professionals on the five project management processes: Initiating, Planning, Executing, Monitoring and Controlling, and Closing.  It is also important for the candidates to have a thorough understanding of the nine knowledge areas under project management, which includes integration management, project scope management, time management, project resource management plan, procurement management, cost management, and time management.The PMP® certification is a validation of a professional’s experience in project management and is offered by the Project Management Institute (PMI) to those candidates who qualify the PMP® examination.The process of preparation can be quite challenging for a candidate who is preparing for a PMP certification. This article discusses the details of the PMP® exam, giving an insight into the prerequisites, layout of the exam and some tips on how to ace the exam the first time.PMP® Examination FormatThe PMP® examination contains a total of 200 multiple-choice questions. Out of these 200 questions, 25 questions are ‘unscored questions’, that is, they do not affect the exam score. These questions act as an effective and admissible way to test the validity of future examination questions. The questions are placed and are asked randomly throughout the examination. It is very important to keep in mind that the unscored questions cannot be distinguished from the scored questions. Hence it is important that all the questions are answered with the same level of precision.No. of Scored QuestionsNo. of Unscored QuestionsTotal number of Questions17525200The standard method of PMI  examination is Center-based Testing (CBT). While paper-based Testing is also available, but only under limited circumstances.The allotted time duration for completion of the exam is 4 hours. There aren’t any scheduled breaks during the examination, though a small break can be taken if needed. If any break is taken during the exam, the exam clock time does not stop but continues to count down.Before you begin taking the exam, you will be shown a tutorial explaining the process of the exam. It’s recommended to go through this video that takes around 15 minutes. Further, your PMP® exam will be followed by a survey. The time for both excludes the four hours of the examination during which you need to answer 200 questions.Allotted time for the Examination4 hoursNew PBT Policy effective from 1 July 2017The Paper-based testing for the PMP® examination is available under limited circumstances. The instances are listed as follows:Distance to a Prometric CBT (Centre-based testing)  site exceeds 240 km (150 miles)A Prometric CBT site isn’t available in the country of residence and travelling across borders is prohibited/burdensome.As of 01 July 2017, the price for PBT exam has been changed, which now equals the CBT prices.NOTE: It should be indicated during the certification payment process if the candidate will be opting for a centre-based or a paper-based examination. In the case of PBT examination, the site location, date and group testing number on the application should be included as well.How are the PMP® examination questions developed?The questions which are asked in the PMP® examination are:Developed in accordance with the standards of  IOC/IEC 17024Developed and are validated independently by global work groups of PMP® certification holders.Monitored via psychometric analysisAccording to the specifications made in the PMP® Examination Content Outline.Referenced to the present project management titles, which include but not limited to PMI ’s global standards.Are any language aids provided for the PMP® examination?PMI  examinations are administered in English. However, for the questions and answers of the PMP® examinations, language aids are provided with no additional costs.Language Aids are available in 14 languages, which are stated as follows:ArabicHebrewBrazilian PortugueseItalianChinese (Simplified)Chinese (Traditional)JapaneseKoreanFrenchRussianGermanSpanishPolishTurkishThe language aids are provided when the examination is being administered. They are protected under the PMI  Test Security and Confidentiality rules.NOTE: If a language aid is required, it should be indicated as a part of the payment process, that is, while submitting the application online; or as a part of the application process, if a paper application is being submitted.The post-exam survey and pre-exam tutorial are administered only in the English language. The language aid is provided only for the PMP® examination questions and answers.What is the Blueprint of the PMP® Examination?The PMP® examination blueprint, which is depicted in the table below defines the proportion of questions which are asked from each domain. These percentages determine the number of questions that will appear in the examination, covering all the domains and process groups of the project management. The following is the blueprint:Blueprint of the PMP® ExamDomainPercentage of QuestionsInitiation13%Planning24%Execution31%Monitoring and Controlling25%Closing7%TOTAL100%Further, let’s discuss the domains, tasks, knowledge and skill statements which are defined by the Role Delineation Study. There are multiple tasks under each domain which are measured through the process of PMP® certification.Domain I, Initiating - 13%Task 1: Carry out a project assessment based on the available information, meetings with stakeholders, and the lessons which are learned from the previous projects.Task 2: Figure out the key deliverables to direct the achievement of project goals and manage customer expectations based on the business requirements.Task 3: Use appropriate tools and techniques to perform stakeholder analysis so that expectations can be aligned and support can be gained for the project.Task 4: Recognise high-level risks, constraints, and assumptions based on the historical data, current environment, organisational factors, and expert judgement, so that an implementation strategy can be proposed.Task 5: Engage in the process of development of project charter by compiling and analyzing the gathered information so that it is ensured that the project stakeholders agree on its elements.Task 6: Acquire the project charter approval from the sponsor, so that the authority assigned to the project manager can be assigned, while at the same time commitment and acceptance can be gained.Task 7: Perform benefit analysis with relevant stakeholders so that the project alignment with organizational strategy can be validated.Task 8: Ensure that there is a common understanding of the key deliverables, milestones, as well as their roles and responsibilities by informing the stakeholders of the approved project charter.Knowledge and SkillsAnalytical skillsBenefit analysis techniquesElements of a project charterEstimation tools and techniquesStrategic managementDomain II, Planning - 24%Task 1: Based on the project charter and lessons learned, review and assess the project requirements, constraints and assumptions with the stakeholders.Task 2: Based on the approved project scope and using scope management techniques, develop scope management so that the scope of the project can be defined, maintained and managed.Task 3: Based on the project scope, resources, schedule, approved project charter, and other information, plan the cost management using estimating techniques so that the project costs can be managed.Task 4: Based on the approved project deliverables and milestones, scope, and resource management plans, develop the project schedule so that a scheduled completion of the project can be managed.Task 5: Come up with a Project Resource Management plan where the roles and responsibilities of the project team members can be defined so that a project organizational structure can be created and guidance can be formed regarding how resources will be managed and assigned.Task 6: Work on a communication management plan which will be based on the project organizational structure and stakeholder requirements, so that the flow of project information can be defined and managed.Task 7: Based on the project scope, budget, and schedule, create a procurement management plan. This ensures that the required project resources will be available.Task 8: To prevent the occurrence of defects while at the same time control the cost of quality, come up with a quality management plan to define the quality standards for the project and its products which will be based on the project scope, risks, and requirements.Task 9: Work on change management so that the changes can be managed and tracked.Task 10: Develop a risk management plan. Identify, analyse and prioritize the project risk; create a risk register, and define risk response strategy to do so. This way, the uncertainty and opportunity throughout the project life cycle can be managed.Task 11: Present the project management plan to the relevant stakeholders in accordance with the applicable policies and procedures, so the approval to proceed with the project execution can be attained.Task 12: Conduct kick-off meeting, communicate the start of the project, and other relevant information to engage stakeholders and gain commitment.Task 13: Develop a stakeholder management plan after analyzing the needs and potential impact so that the stakeholders’ expectations can be managed and can be engaged in project decisions.Knowledge and SkillsChange management planningCommunications planningEstimation tools and techniquesLean and efficiency principlesQuality management planningRegulatory and environmental impacts assessment planningScope deconstruction (e.g., WBS, Scope backlog) tools and techniquesStakeholder management planningWorkflow diagramming techniquesCost management planning, including project budgeting tools and techniquesContract types and selection criteriaHuman resource planningProcurement planningRequirements gathering techniquesRisk management planningScope management planningTime management planning, including scheduling tools and techniquesDOMAIN III, Executing - 31%Task 1: Follow the human resource and procurement management plans by obtaining and managing the project resources so that the project requirements can be met.Task 2: Lean and develop the project team to manage the task execution based on the project management plan so that the project deliverables can be achieved.Task 3: Use appropriate tools and techniques to implement a quality management plan. This is done to ensure that the work is being performed as per the required quality standards.Task 4: Follow the change management plan to implement the approved changes and corrective actions so that the project requirements can be met.Task 5: Follow the risk management plan to implement the approved actions so that the impact of risks can be minimized while at the same time, the advantage of opportunities on the project can be attained. ‘Task 6: Follow the communication plan and manage the flow of information so that the stakeholders are kept engaged and informed.Task 7: Follow the stakeholder management plan to maintain the stakeholder relationship so that continued support can be received and expectations can be managed.Knowledge and SkillsContinuous improvement processesElements of a statement of workProject budgeting tools and techniquesVendor management techniquesContract management techniquesInterdependencies among project elementsQuality standard toolsDomain IV, Monitoring and Controlling - 25%Task 1: Use appropriate tools and techniques to measure the project performance so that any variance and corrective actions can be identified and quantified.Task 2: Follow the change in the management plan and manage changes to the project so that the project goal remains aligned with the business needs.Task 3: Use appropriate tools and techniques to meet project requirements and business needs in order to verify that the project deliverables conform to the quality standards which has been established in the quality management plan.Task 4: Monitor and assess the risk to determine if exposure has changed and evaluated the effectiveness of response strategies so that the impact of risks and opportunities on the project can be managed.Task 5: Review and update the issue log as well as determine corrective measures by using appropriate tools and techniques so that the impact on the project can be minimized.Task 6: Use lessons learned management techniques to capture, analyze, and manage the lessons learned so that continuous improvement can be attained.Task 7: According to the procurement plan, monitor the procurement activities so that the compliance with project activities can be verified.Knowledge and SkillsPerformance measurement and tracking techniquesProject control limitsProject monitoring tools and techniquesQuality measurement toolsRisk response techniquesProcess analysis techniquesProject finance principlesProject quality best practices and standardsRisk identification and analysis techniquesQuality validation and verification techniquesDomain V, Closing - 7%Task I: Collect the final acceptance of the project deliverables from the relevant stakeholders as confirmation that the project scope and deliverables were achieved.Task II: According to the project plan, transfer the ownership of deliverables to the assigned stakeholders so that the project closure can be facilitated.Task III: Obtain financial, legal and administrative closure via the accepted practices and policies so that a formal closure of the project can be attained and a transfer of liability can be ensured.Task IV: According to the communications management plan, prepare and share the final project report so that the project performance can be documented and conveyed as well as project evaluation can be assisted.Task V: Collect and combine the lessons that were learned throughout the project and conduct a project review so that the organization’s knowledge base can be updated.Task VI: Archive the materials and project documents by making use of the generally accepted practices so that statutory requirements can be complied with and for potential use in future projects and audits.Task VII: Use appropriate tools and techniques to get feedback from relevant stakeholders so that their satisfaction can be evaluated.Knowledge and SkillsArchiving practices and statutesContract closure requirementsFeedback techniquesProject review techniquesActive listeningBenefits realizationBusiness acumenCoaching, mentoring, training, and motivational techniquesConfiguration managementCustomer satisfaction metricsDecision makingDiversity and cultural sensitivityExpert judgment techniqueGenerational sensitivity and diversityInterpersonal skillsLeadership tools, techniques, and skillsMeeting management techniquesOrganizational and operational awarenessPresentation tools and techniquesProblem-solving tools and techniquesQuality assurance and control techniquesRisk assessment techniquesStakeholder management techniquesVirtual/remote team managementCompliance (statute/organization)Close-out proceduresPerformance measurement techniquesTransition planning techniqueApplicable laws and regulationsBrainstorming techniquesChange management techniquesCommunication channels, tools, techniques, and methodsConflict resolutionData gathering techniquesDelegation techniquesEmotional intelligenceFacilitationInformation management tools, techniques, and methodsKnowledge managementLessons learned management techniquesNegotiating and influencing techniques and skillsPeer-review processesPrioritization/time managementProject finance principlesRelationship managementSituational awarenessTeam-building techniquesTips for passing and preparing for PMP® ExamPMP® exam requires a lot of dedication and efforts in order to clear it at one go. The following tips will surely help you to prepare and pass your PMP® exam:Memorise all formulas to easily answer the math questions.Spend around 4 hours to practice full sample exams at one sitting.On the day of your exam, use your time effectively to answer 200 questions within 4 hours. You will have 1 minute to answer each question.Answer all questions, do not leave any question blank.Use the process of elimination for obviously incorrect answer options to maximise probability in case you are not sure about the correct answer.Avoid spending too much time on any single question. If you are spending more than 2 minutes on a single question then you can make your best guess for the answer and mark it for review at the end of the exam.Try to reserve the last 10 minutes to review the marked questions.Read all the answer options before selecting an answer.Keep in mind that some questions may provide hints to other questions in the exam.Wear comfortable cloth and footwear on the day of your exam.To wrap it up!The PMP® certification acts as a validation of a professional’s experience in project management and is a challenging process as well. Start preparing well for the five domains (Initiating, Planning, Executing, Monitoring and Controlling, and Closing) in advance so that you can ace the examination and get nearer to achieving your dream career. All the best!
The PMP® Exam Blueprint For 2019
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The PMP® Exam Blueprint For 2019

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A Comprehensive Guide to PMP® Exam Preparation

Are you still trying to figure out a way to start preparing for your PMP® Exam? Fret not! This blog will guide you with some best practices that you should adopt while preparing for your PMP® exam. This will surely help you to successfully clear your PMP® certification exam.Every PMP certification aspirant differs from one another in terms of experience and expertise. Similarly, every person has got a unique learning habit. Therefore, you should get your own study plan which is based on your personal learning likes and needs. But this doesn’t mean that you should get worried about developing the study plan as you can find a plethora of resources to cater the needs of exam candidates, both online and offline which allows you to come up with a plan which fits your specific needs, style of learning, and individual circumstances.6 best practices for your PMP® Exam preparationUsually, most of the successful PMP® candidates spend long hours preparing for their PMP® certification exam. So, you should make sure that you have plenty of time to prepare for your PMP® exam. You can adopt the following best practices to prepare for your PMP® certification exam:1.Review the PMP® Examination Content OutlinePMP® Examination content outline is an important document which will help you to do well with your PMP® exam. You should go through this document which is published by PMI® to find the following information:Break up of questions as per the Process areasList of skills, tasks, and knowledge which are required as per PMI’s Role Delineation study.Going through this credible document will give you a high-level idea of what all get covered in the PMP® exam. You should go through this once you feel that you have attained a reasonable command on the content covered by PMBOK® Guide or any other study guide which you are referring in order to ensure that you avoid any unwanted surprises while appearing for your PMP® certification exam.2.Take up a formal study course offered by any accredited Registered Education Provider (R.E.P)Project Management Institute (PMI) has approved a few organisations to offer project management training in order to establish a global network of quality education providers to help all the Project Management Professional (PMP®) credential aspirants and credential holders.Enrolling yourself in a PMP® training course is one of the best ways to prepare for your certification exam. The reasons are as follows:These courses provide tailor-made PMP study materials and best practices for the PMP exam.They give you a quick start in getting a grasp of various project management concepts, formulae, terminology, and other key inputs which help you to prepare for your PMP exam.You can also get the 35 contact hours certificate by taking up these training courses which is necessary for you to be eligible for the PMP® exam.3.Come up with a study planYou should start treating your PMP® certification as a project and prepare a plan which covers all the activities that would help you to get PMP® certified. But the core element in this plan is to have a well-defined study plan. You should break your study sessions into smaller chunks and prepare a study plan which includes timelines to read PMBOK®, practice mock tests, study various materials etc.4.Review the latest edition of PMBOK® Guide and self-study books published by other reputable training organisationsNo matter whatever reference material you want to study in order to prepare for your PMP® certification exam, the PMPBOK® Guide is the recommended study material for all the PMP® aspirants. The page number 61 of the guide contains a table that shows the relation between 13 Knowledge Areas and 5 Process Groups with 47 processes. It further explains how these are applicable to project management.As a candidate, you should be thorough with this table and draw this table on a piece of paper in 5 minutes while appearing for your exam. The same can be used as a reference in answering the 200 exam questions. Other than the PMBOK® Guide, you can also review other study guides published by R.E.P.s and other reputable training organisations.5.Get ready for your exam by practicing Mock TestsDo you want to check the status of your PMP® certification exam preparation? You can do that by taking PMP mock tests. These can help you to map the gaps in your project management knowledge. You can take a test and review the results to find the areas that you need to work on.Focusing on answering the questions by sitting at a place for four hours is not a piece of cake. Taking full-length mock tests helps you to prepare for such a physically daunting and mentally straining process. However, it is a very important drill for your PMP® certification exam. So, it’s better to take up these mock tests and prepare well for your big day.6.Study groupStudying in a group can prove to be quite helpful while you are preparing for your PMP® certification exam. Catch up with the like-minded PMP® aspirants to know about new tactics and get benefited in other ways by being a part of the study group. Few of the benefits are as follows:Studying in a group is the best escape from the monotony of studying alone.You can surely overcome the areas which you are struggling with.Helping others will also boost your confidence.Sharing project management experiences with others help you to crack the scenario based questions which is the trickiest part of the PMP® certification exam.It further helps you to stay on course and helps you to motivate each other in the group.The biggest advantage of studying in a group is that it forces you to study on a regular basis and makes the preparation activity a part of your routine.Tips and tricks to prepare for your PMP® examYou need to study numerous materials in order to crack your PMP® certification exam. But do you have access to the right books and materials? Every person has his or her own way of learning. The following ways will surely help you to become efficient in your study and get equipped with all the knowledge that you need to crack your PMP® exam:If you have access to the workshops conducted by PMI then that would be a big benefit for you. This will also help you to receive the bundle of 35 credit hours which are necessary to qualify for your PMP® application procedure. Attending a PMP® boot camp gives you access to numerous benefits. Few of them are:1.Review everything which you need to cover on the examEverybody is oblivious about what he or she is going to encounter during the PMP® certification exam. Whatever you will find in the exam is sure to be geared from the PMBOK®. This means you should be thorough with the PMBOK® guidelines to get PMP® certified at one go. But the PMBOK® consists of only 75% of what you will see in the exam. What about the rest? You need to seek for a PMP instructor’s guidance in order to fill the gap in learning to qualify your PMP® certification exam.2.Review how to study for the examAs discussed, the PMBOK® guide is a great resource for your PMP® certification exam. At times, even if the questions are lengthy with a situational circumstance, you need to bring it down to a rule that needs to be comprehended. Further, there are certain focus areas on which you need to invest more of your study time than others. It is always better to seek guidance from a professional rather than guessing what you should study.3.Informal questionsIf you lack the idea of how to implement cost, schedule, or risk structure, then it’s a great opportunity for you to understand it. You should learn to shed light on practical application using fundamental examples.You should change your study methods to prepare well for a continuously evolving exam process like the Project Management Professional (PMP)® exam. These days, this exam is based on PMBOK® Guide 6th edition and is a lot harder than it was in the past. The 4 partially correct choices which are provided for all the questions make it even confusing and raise the level of complication for the candidate.The following tricks are surely going to help you in shaping up your exam:Get aligned with the exam dynamics by spending 30 minutes every day on a free exam simulator.Follow the rule of 85%. Keep practicing mock exams until you score at least 85% in all the model exams. This indicates that you are ready to face the PMP® certification exam.Another important trick is to understand the ‘ITTO TRICK Sheet of 49 processes’ which you can find in the PMBOK® guide. This will really prove helpful to you in mapping all the processes inputs, outputs, tools, and techniques.In order to rightly utilize the 12 minutes after the exam, you need to read and memorize the Formula Trick Sheet. You need to print and paste the same on your desk in order to practice it every day because writing this after 4 hours exam will surely help you to track the questions and save significant time.You need to read and memorize the PMPBOK® 6th Edition 49 Process Chart. Print and paste the same on your desk and practice it every day until you can draw the chart within 8 minutes.To wrap it upWhen you begin with your preparation for PMP® certification, you should remember that attaining the PMP® certification shows your commitment to the profession of project management and demonstrates your credibility to earn more as well as raising the value of your resume above the non-certified professionals. Keeping these points in mind will surely help you to avoid getting discouraged during your certification process.You can also learn more about PMP® certification hereThis blog throws light on a few best practices along with some tips and tricks to smoothly proceed with your PMP® journey. It is important for you to set a standard time for your studies other than having a thorough understanding of the PMBOK® guide. So, start clearing your calendar to fit in your daily study time as PMP® needs a lot of thorough studies and is not an easy path to success.
A Comprehensive Guide to PMP® Exam Preparation
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A Comprehensive Guide to PMP® Exam Preparation

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