Preparing for the Exam with PMBOK Guide—Fifth Edition (Part 3): Integration Management

Following 20 years at a large Canadian telecommunications firm, Bruce established the project management consulting firm Solutions Management Inc (SMI). Since 1999, he has provided contract project/program management services, been a source for project management support personnel and created/delivered courses to over 7,000 participants in Canada, the United States and England.

  Career Development   Integration Management   Using PMI Standards  

While writing this article, I am less than a few miles from the most eastern point in North America. I’m here working with a client in the offshore oil exploration business, helping them get ready for the PMP exam.

Day 1 was a tough day for the group. As noted in my article titled “Getting the Boot: A Training Option”, it’s much easier preparing for the PMP exam if some PMI-oriented project management courses have been taken. This group hasn’t had that opportunity, yet they are under pressure to complete their certification.

Much like in Part 1 and Part 2 of this series, I walked them through the first three chapters of A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK Guide) and then we tackled the first knowledge area: Project Integration Management. By the end of the day, they looked like they had just come back from a day-long hike of the nearby oceanfront trails! They were exhausted and could hardly take another “step”. Clearly, they were in for a tough week of trying to get into game shape.

Let’s be honest: There is no easy way to get fit. Slow walks on the beach are fun, but there needs to be some serious effort to truly get in shape. Project Integration Management involves six processes that span all five process groups and is a challenging introduction to newcomers to PMBOK Guide knowledge areas. …

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