PMP Exam Tip: What is the difference between Workaround and Contingency Plan?
From the Certification Insider Blog
by Cornelius Fichtner
Cornelius Fichtner help you with your PMP Exam Prep (https://www.project-management-prepcast.com) as well as earn free PDUs (www.pm-podcast.com/pdu). Passing the PMP Exam is tough, but keeping your PMP Certification alive is just as challenging. Preparing for the exam requires an in-depth study of the PMBOK Guide and dedicated study discipline. And once you are PMP certified, then you are required to earn 60 Professional Development Units (PDUs) every 3 years to keep your certification alive. Let me help you make this journey easier with tips and tricks on how to prepare for and pass the exam as well as efficiently earning your PDUs once you are certified.
Recent Posts
Episode 549: How to Bring Clarity to Chaotic Projects
Episode 548: From Project Delivery to Value: How Project Managers Create Real Business Impact
Episode 546: The Real Reason Project Requirements Keep Changing
Episode 544: The Four Pillars of Project Success
Episode 543: Catch Project Trouble Early and Protect Your Delivery
Categories
AGILE,
Agile,
Agile,
Agile Projects,
Annual Plan and Portfolio,
Artificial Intelligence,
Audit,
Best PMP Exam Simulators,
Business Analysis,
Business Analysis,
Business Analysis Practitioner,
Business Management,
CAPM,
Career Development,
CCRS,
Change Management,
Communication Management,
Communications Management,
Earning PDUs,
Education,
Emotional Intelligence Tools,
Entrepreneur,
Free PDUs,
Interpersonal Skills,
Knowledge Areas,
Knowledge Management,
Leadership,
Lessons Learned,
Lessons Learned Management,
Management,
meeting management,
Millennial Project Managers,
Multiple Projects,
NASA,
Opportunity Cost,
PDU,
PDU Podcast,
PDUs,
PDUs: Business Acumen,
PDUs: Not Applicable,
PDUs: Power Skills,
PDUs: Ways of Working,
PgMP®,
Planning,
PM Exam Simulator,
PM Formulas,
PM Podcast,
PM PrepCast,
PMBOK,
PMBOk 8,
PMBOK Guide,
PMBOK® Guide,
PMI,
PMI Agile Certified Practitioner (PMI-ACP)® Exam,
PMI Audit,
PMI Educational Foundation,
PMI Global Congress,
PMI Talent Triangle,
PMI Talent Triangle/PDUs: Not Acceptable,
PMI-ACP,
PMI-ACP Certified,
PMI-ACP Eligibility,
PMI-ACP Exam,
PMI-ACP Exam Formulas,
PMI-ACP Exam Prep,
PMI-ACP®,
PMO,
PMO,
PMO,
PMP,
pmp,
PMP Audit,
PMP Cerficiation,
PMP Certification,
PMP ebook,
PMP Exam,
PMP exam coach,
PMP Exam Overview,
PMP Exam Prep,
PMP exam prep material,
PMP Exam Prep Video,
PMP exam sample question,
PMP Exam Tip,
PMP Lessons Learned,
PMP Mock Exam Free,
PMP Mock Exam Online,
PMP Re-certification,
PMP sample question,
PMP Study Materials,
PMP training,
PMP®,
podcast,
Portfolio Management,
Positive Leadership,
Power Skills,
Process Groups,
Professional Development Units,
project,
Project Assumptions,
Project Business,
Project Business Management,
Project Integration Management,
Project Leadership,
Project Management,
Project Management Basics,
Project Management Institute,
Project Management Methodology,
Project Management Podcast,
Project Management Principles,
Project management professional,
Project Management Skills,
Project Management Trends,
project manager,
Project Manager Skills,
Project Manager Soft Skills,
Project Managers,
Project Metrics,
Project Planning,
Project Schedule,
Project Sponsorship,
Project Success,
RAM,
RBS,
Resource Breakdown Structure,
Responsibilities,
Responsibility Assignment Matrix,
Risk Management,
Risky Projects,
Roles,
sample PMP exam,
Situational Project Management,
soft skills,
Strategy implementation,
study,
Study Techniques,
Study Tips,
Teams,
Technical Project Management,
The Agile PrepCast,
Virtual Communication,
Work-Life Balance
Date
Although many people use the terms “contingency plan” interchangeably with “workaround”, they are not the same. The difference between the two terms is related to whether the problems being handled were identified ahead of time or not. Contingency plans are made based on potential risks that are identified that could derail a project. Workarounds are responses to problems that develop while the project is being worked that were never identified.
When a project plan is first put together, potential risks are identified that could pose a significant threat to the project if they occur. Contingency plans are developed around those possible issues and they are completed before the threat takes place. These contingency plans should address the objective of the plan, the criteria for activating the contingency plan, the people and responsibilities involved, and the additional details required for implementation.
Here is an example of a contingency plan. A company that produces skis has a project to stock its retail stores with the latest models for the winter season. While the project was being planned, a risk was identified regarding a potential strike. The project continued, but a contingency plan was developed in case the strike lasted longer than anticipated. In the case that the strike was not over by a pre-identified date, the company decided to reassign the work that was to be done by the factory on strike to alternative factories. Potential costs were reviewed and it was determined that this contingency plan would be beneficial.
A workaround is not a planned response because the problems being addressed were not anticipated ahead of time. Per the name, a “workaround” let’s you “work around” the problem. As soon as it is determined that there is an unanticipated problem, it needs to be addressed, researched and incorporated into the documentation of the project plan.
A corrective action must be taken occasionally to make sure the project stays in line with the projected results. Examples of corrective action include the implementation of both contingency plans as well as workarounds. Most projects will require the implementation of a contingency plan or will require a workaround to be created. Since larger projects tend to be more complex, these are common fixtures as the size of the project increases.
The PMBOK Guide discusses both Workaround and Contingency Plans in sections 11.5.3 – 11.6.3 in it’s fourth edition.
Posted on: March 17, 2011 12:43 AM |
Permalink
Comments (2)
Please login or join to subscribe to this item
TRIDIB ROY
Senior Manager| Quinnox Consultancy Private Limited
Bangalore, Karnataka, India
Hello Sir,
Need help here.
Why Rita says Workaround gets implemented in Monitor risks process?
This doesn't look rational . As per my understanding when an unidentified risk occurs , after issue log entry , we create a CR , and a CR can get implemented only as a part of Direct and Manage project work. Will you please throw some light , some reference. Yes , this terminology is not part of PMBOK6
Amina Oladoja
Federal Capital Development Authoriity
Abuja, Fct, Nigeria
Workaround are responses to risk that were not identified ,as such when you're planning risk responses to those risk you have identified you determine workaround to cater for any risk that will occur that was not earlier identified. So planning risk response it is!
Please Login/Register to leave a comment.
|
"Life is to be lived. If you have to support yourself, you had bloody well better find some way that is going to be interesting. And you don't do that by sitting around wondering about yourself."
- Katharine Hepburn
|
