It is important to realize the basic thought regarding the PMP certification. It will help you connect the foundations, ideas, and processes that are important for you to know and understand when pursuing the PMP certification. Watch as we talk about the basics of project management to help you get started on your PMP certification path. So, let’s get to the captivating world of project management and disclose the potential of PMP certification to rebuild your career!
What is PMP?
The PMP certification is developed for those who set or want to set priorities in the defined project management path. It is based on the PMI’s PMBOK, a reference text that defines concepts and processes of project management. Moreover, it demonstrates the holder has the fundamental competencies in project management and the ability to supervise projects appropriately.
Why Pursue PMP Certification?
Obtaining the certification offers numerous PMP benefits:
- It is also globally recognized, which means that people with the certification can find jobs anywhere in the world.
- The salary of PMP-certified individuals is greater than that of non-certified individuals.
- In addition to increasing authority, it allows projects to be led, organized, executed, evaluated, and even completed.
- Many employers consider employing PMP-certified practitioners since they practice a structured and proven project management framework.
- Thus, bypassing the PMP exam, one is affiliated with the global PMI professional network, which provides networking and sharing of information.
PMP Certification Requirements
To be eligible for the certification, candidates must meet certain educational and professional experience requirements:
- Education: Bachelor’s or global equivalent plus 36 months’ experience or high school diploma plus 60 months’ experience in project management.
- Project Management Education: 35 contact hours of project management education/training or CAPM (Certified Associate in Project Management) certification.
What are the Key Concepts in PMP?
The PMP certification is based on several major principles that define the principles of effective project management. These include:
1. Project Management Framework
The project management framework is a defined plan that is followed in the planning, implementation, and conclusion of the project. It is made up of five process groups and ten knowledge areas.
A. Five Process Groups
- Initiation – The first stage of a project is called “initiation,” during which the initiative’s potential is briefly described and authorization to move on is secured.
- Planning – The process of planning entails deciding who will accomplish what, when, how, where, and why. It also includes what equipment will be used.
- Executive – The actual execution of the procedures and activities outlined in the project management plan can be considered to be taking place at this level.
- Monitoring and Control – The process of keeping track and auditing or observing the activities, results, and progress of the project.
B. Ten Knowledge Areas
- Integration Management – Organize the different parts of the project.
- Scope management – deciding what is in the project and what is outer the project.
- Schedule Management: It is the process of planning as well as controlling the project setup.
- Cost Management –, cost budgeting, cost estimation, and cost control.
- Quality – Assurances that the project agrees with the standard set.
- Managing people and other organizational resources – human and physical.
- Communications Management – Increase the slide of details between different project stakeholders.
- Risk Management – The action of recognizing, examining, and managing risks in the context of a project.
- Procurement Management – The action of obtaining products or services from an exterior.
- Stakeholder Management – People who are impacted by the project and its outcomes.
2. Project Management Processes
Project Management Processes In the entire there are 49 project management processes, part into five process groups and ten knowledge areas. Besides, these processes provide a complete explanation of how a project should be led from its initiation stage to the execution stage.
3. Project Charter
Project Charter On the other hand a project charter is a legal document that formally authorizes a project. This record forms the specific goals and purpose of the project, the tasks and the parties involved, and the tasks and accountability of each party. They also help to provide a structure for settlement at some phases of the project.
4. Work Breakdown Structure (WBS)
WBS is a graded breakdown of the entire plan into small parts to provide a valid definition of output and work to be accomplished by a project team. In this case, they break the project into more realistic and viable parts that can be easily planned, executed, and even evaluated.
5. Critical Path Method (CPM)
CPM is an organizing tool that decides the sequence of project activities that guides to execution of the project in the shortest possible time. Also, it helps in describing which activities are particular and must be completed in the time frame to ensure that time is not expanded.
6. Earned Value Management (EVM)
EVM is a project performance measurement method that incorporates the scope, time, and cost aspects. Also, it is used to contrast and evaluate the performance and advance of a project based on the variations between the projected and the actual.
How to Prepare for the PMP Exam?
To attain the certification, a candidate must have a detailed comprehension of numerous project management principles. It is considered to be one of the substantial tests in this field. Further, the PMP exam consists of 180 questions and takes 230 minutes to complete. These questions are designed from the five process groups and ten knowledge areas that are mandatory in the PMP exam. Moreover, a book that is of paramount importance to PMP is known as the PMBOK Guide. What makes it valuable is the amount of information presented to the audience, describing the tools, processes, and methodologies involved in managing projects. So, to the students’ surprise, numerous providers offer PMP exam preparation courses and it can be more useful to take one of these classes as they provide a more formal approach.
PMP Exam Content Outline
The PMP exam content outline is divided into three PMP domains:
- People (42% of the exam) – Focuses on leading and managing the project team.
- Process (50% of the exam) – Covers the technical aspects of managing a project.
- Business Environment (8% of the exam) – Examines the connection between projects and organizational strategy.
Domain I: People
This domain emphasizes the skills required to effectively lead and manage a project team. The following key topics include:
- Tools for conflict solving and maintaining good working relationships among the members of a team.
- Tactics for encouraging and directing members towards project goals.
- Also, offer the resources, training, and services to boost the effectiveness of the team.
- Promoting self-organizing and including key participants in decision-making.
- Analyzing training requirements and reinforcement.
- Strategies employed in the formation, development, and management of the project team.
- Addressing and Removing Impediments, Obstacles, and Blockers: To assess potential causes of delays and then recognize any obstacles to project advancement.
- Contracting and bargaining skills that involve other stakeholders in the organization.
- Additionally, stakeholder management and ensuring that there is effective communication with the stakeholders.
- Therefore, establishing clear compatibility of objectives and expectations of all members of the team and all parties interested in the project’s results.
Domain II: Process
This domain focuses on the technical aspects of project management, covering processes and methodologies. The following key topics include:
- Coordinating as well as executing project activities to generate meaningful results on time.
- The creation and integration of communication strategies to monitor and facilitate information exchange within the appropriate timeframes.
- Anticipating possible adversities and ensuring that measures are put in place to reduce risks.
- Evaluating stakeholder needs and expectations to foster communication and partnership.
- In addition, costing, budgeting, and effective management of resources or expenses should be determined and controlled.
- Time management and effectively working within timelines to deliver the project on time.
- Maintaining quality and assuring that the implementation of project outputs delivers results that are up to the set standards.
- This is one way of defining and controlling what is in scope within the project and what is not.
- The following are some of the basic tasks that must be performed during project planning:
- Setting up procedures for responding to modifications in the project scope, timelines, and related costs.
- Ensuring project documentation and record-keeping throughout the process.
- Choosing the right methodology to use in the execution of the project management approach (Agile, Waterfall).
- Identifying accountabilities, tasks, and choice criteria.
- How to recognize and manage project issues in particular and in general.
- How to transfer and store every project’s valuable knowledge to improve future performance.
Domain III: Business Environment
This domain examines the connection between projects and the broader organizational strategy. The following key topics include:
- Complying with the legal requirements of the project in terms of laws, regulations, and standards.
- Evaluating the results and ensuring that the project brings about the desired change.
- In addition, making changes to the project based on developments in the environment that impact the project.
- Minimizing the positive or negative effects of the results of the project on the organization and other stakeholders.
- Therefore, applying changes to the processes and results of the projects systematically.
Conclusion
PMP can benefit from this in terms of certification, career advancement, and personal development. Further, the PMP exam requires candidates to understand the basic concepts to pass. Suppose the candidates are willing to develop their careers by enrolling in PMP certification online training Today. In that case, they can achieve the PMP certification by mastering the fundamentals of project management and using the time for study and practice.
