Life gets really interesting when we start to extrapolate the brand identity concept into our project methodologies. What drives the decisions about what different organizations use? And is there any tangible benefit to choosing a “brand label” project execution approach?
To have transparency, an organization first needs consistent processes and common markers. Standards, frameworks and methodologies are implemented to generate consistency...but what's the difference between them?
Question: My team seldom seems to be able to communicate effectively about project data and reports, even using the most specific common words. And we disagree on whose meaning is correct. How do we find a reputable source to rely on to clear up these misunderstandings?
| A. | Whichever team member has the most years with the organization should be allowed to define terms for the team to adopt. Defer to this person. |
| B. | The field of knowledge management is being used as a common foundation for defining terms for the project management field and beyond. |
| C. | Ask the person who has the most recent PMI certification, as those with older certifications may not understand today’s project management practices. |
| D. | The National Association of Project Management Dictionary should be the standard for all project managers, regardless of where they reside. |
Your application has been approved, and the easy parts of the PMBOK have been read at least once. Now the hard studying starts. As our series continues, our trusty trainer explores process groups and ITTOs.
Thinking of taking the Project Management Professional exam offered by PMI? Be sure you know when to schedule it as a new exam based on the fifth edition of A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge will be introduced this year.
Preparing for the PMP exam can be a lonely road. A good study group can help prepare you for the exam--and can make studying a lot more fun, too.
Question: I’m a busy PMP, and I hear there are some big changes to the PMBOK Guide, Fifth Edition. Since I don’t have time to go through 589 pages word by word, is there anything I really have to change to do my job effectively?
| A. | No. There is nothing that affects PMPs who are already certified, so go about your business as usual. |
| B. | There may be. It depends on the kind of work you do and the type of organization where you work. |
| C. | Yes. To maintain your PMP certification you must reflect each change to the PMBOK Guide in your daily work in order not to void your status. |
| D. | Change your work processes only insofar as you agree with each and every change that has been made. Otherwise, do what you have always done. |
Executives are often faced with hiring PMs without having a strong background in projects themselves. Here we provide a little insight for hiring managers by looking at organizational structure, project nature and the qualities of the manager.
Enough waiting! Let’s get this long-delayed PMP certification completed! With the holidays (and the excuses) now behind us, a bootcamp pro tries to whip your mind into shape. So where the heck do you start?
Once you begin to contemplate actually taking the PMP exam, there are several things you’ll need to consider besides just studying and prepping. Here are some tips for scheduling your exam--and for ensuring that you’re ready for the test.
What value does gaining a project management certification really give you? The salary surveys are relentless and seductively appealing, but statistics can be misleading. Like most things in life, the true value of certification is difficult to fully evaluate and will vary from person to person.
If you are a certified PMP, you are well aware of the continuing education requirements to maintain your credential. There are a variety of ways to meet the continuing education requirements. But are you aware of the creative, free and fun ways to maintain your credential?
Many people believe agile methods and certifications are like oil and water. One is a context-sensitive, adaptive framework; the other is a prescriptive, rigor-based measurement model. Certifying agile methods is like trying to bar-code clouds--a misapplication of quantification in a domain that resists it. Yet if the research organizations are to be believed, there are a large group of people doing it. Here's the lowdown on what you should know.
Congratulations! You've passed the PMP exam! But your work isn't finished...now you need to shift your focus to earning the 60 PDUs required to maintain that credential you worked so hard for. If you follow this six-step plan of attack, you'll be well on your way.
You've studied hard, but a few nagging concerns keep creeping up. There are many myths related to the PMP exam and its process. In this article, we are going to bust six of the common ones.
While a PMP credential is not a guarantee that a potential candidate will ultimately be successful in a role, one cannot conclude from that fact that the credential doesn't offer value. Recent research has also shattered that assertion.
One project manager comes across some strongly held misconceptions about PMI’s standards that continue to amaze him. Let’s look at some of the more common misconceptions and identify what he feels is the best approach to take when looking at those standards.
Quality analysis and quality management can be a full-time occupation for an entire team of people on a project. Unfortunately, not all projects have the scope or resources available to hire a quality team to work on a project. This article explores some basic guidelines for using analysis to manage quality on a project.
You've probably read many articles on the difference between traditional project management and agile (specifically, Scrum). One practitioner has been surprised with how established agile practitioners don’t want to let project managers into their “club”. Why can’t project managers become agile?
Our PM skills are not standing still--they are changing and progressing, and we need to adapt to those changes because they are what people are learning today. Project management is an evolving discipline--are you evolving with it?
Analyzing information and data is a very important skill for a project manager in all phases of the project. Are you getting an "A" for analysis effort?
Code inspections are an implicit, often unspoken best practice among agile project management teams. This silence has caused some people to question the quality control of the agile PM paradigm. Surprisingly, agile teams have not forgotten to mind the Ps and Qs of quality engineering--and not only continue to perform code inspections, but perform them more often. This results in even greater quality than traditional project management teams.
You're leading the team to deliver...what more do they want?! This article highlights a few, simple best practices that--if introduced at the beginning of your project--might help you easily control costs along the way.
We're all actors on a project stage...and a well-written planning document sets us up for a successful project. Here, we explore the key elements of this all-important effort.
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"People are always blaming their circumstances for what they are. I don't believe in circumstances. The people who get on in the world are the people who get up and look for the circumstances they want and, if they can't find them, make them." - George Bernard Shaw |
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