In Part III of the Introduction of our “MP4PM – Mind mapping for Project Management”we will not only provide you the next general “MP4PM” features; we will also introduce you the next deliverable/result of “MP4PM” so you can already see how “MP4PM” will work and look like.

If you have missed the first two Parts of our Introduction you should first have a look here:

Introducing "MP4PM-MindmaPping for ProjectManagement" - Part I

Introducing "MP4PM-MindmaPping for ProjectManagement" - Part II

Now let’s have a look on the next general features “MP4PM” will provide you:

Not bad, right? Well, there is still a lot to come ...

OK, let’s come back to the next installment of “MP4PM”. Again we had great support of the projectmanagement.com community and so we had just released the Version 1.0 of the second deliverable (to use project management wording). This time it is a map/template what should support you as a project manager in reviewing the business case/documents which are often the basis for a project initiation, right?

And so the map/template is called “review business case”.

We have promised, that “MP4PM” will be closely aligned tot the PMBoK Guide and the business case or equivalent documents are known as an input to the “develop project charter” process in the PMBoK Guide fifth edition, right?

We have done a version 1.0 already, but of course - like the complete “MP4PM” framework - this deliverable will be continuously improved and developed further. If you want to participate in this development, please feel free to add your valuable inputs in the corresponding discussion threads at the end of this posting. Any feedback is highly appreciated!

You can access an interactive online version of the “review business case” map here (or just by clicking on the picture above):

http://www.projectmanagement.plus/mp4pmmaps/1.1.2%20MP4PM%20review%20Business%20Case.html

Please use this version for review only.

If you want to use the map and/or work with it, then please download it from here:

http://projectmanagement.plus/en/mp4pm/mp4pm-downloads

For downloading the map/files you need to be logged in on projectmanagement.plus.

“review business case” is not only available as .mmap (what is the MindManager file format, but could also be opened with Xmind for instance), it is also provided in several other formats like the usual MS Office formats for instance.

Please try out and let us know your feedback/critic and/or additions; highly appreciated!

In our next blog we will introduce you the next “MP4PM” features and may be we will talking already about the next deliverable what is actually work in progress.

Until next time ... ;)

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If you want to contribute to the map please refer to the following discussion threads; we have created one discussion thread for each branch in the map for a better overview:

In our last blog we had started with the Introduction of our “MP4PM – Mind mapping for Project Management”. In this blog entry we will not only provide you the next two “MP4PM” features; we will also introduce you the very first deliverable/result of “MP4PM” as a preview, so you can already see how “MP4PM” will look like and how it works basically. This way you can see what to expect in near future. And the best is: it is ready to use out of the box for anybody who wants to try out or just having a look. 

But first let’s have a look on the next two features we will provide you within “MP4PM”:

Sounds interesting for you?

OK, let’s come back to our first result out of “MP4PM”. With the great support of the community at projectmanagement.com we have just released the Version 1.0 of our first deliverable (to use project management wording); it is a questionnaire (as mind map of course) for the very first initiation meeting with your project sponsor in the project initiation phase (if you are in the role of the project manager) and it is called “Knowing the Sponsor”.

Since we have said, that “MP4PM” will be closely aligned tot the PMBoK Guide you may wonder now cause “Knowing the Sponsor” is not a PMBoK Guide Process and also not an ITTO, right?! Furthermore the very first process as by the PMBoK Guide is “Develop Project Charter”, correct? … of course …

Yes, but as you also may know there are mostly some additional Steps before you can start creating the Project Charter. Therefore we will have some additional artefacts that we do support with MP4PM and “Knowing the Sponsor” is the very first of them.

We have done a version 1.0 already, but of course like the complete “MP4PM” framework this deliverable will be continuously improved and developed further.

If you want to participate in this development, please feel free to add your valuable inputs in the corresponding discussion thread at the end of this posting. Any feedback is highly appreciated.

You can access an interactive online version of the “Knowing your Sponsor” map here (or just by clicking on the picture above):

http://www.projectmanagement.plus/mp4pmmaps/1.1.1%20MP4PM%20Knowing%20Your%20Project%20Sponsor

Please use this version for review only.

If you want to use the map and/or work with it, then please download it from here:

http://projectmanagement.plus/en/mp4pm/mp4pm-downloads

For downloading the map/files you need to be logged in at www.projectmanagement.plus . If you do not want to create a user account there, then just write me a private message here and I will provide you the files.

“Knowing your Sponsor” is not only available as .mmap (what is the MindManager file format, but could also be opened with Xmind for instance), it is also provided in several other formats like the usual MS Office formats for instance (all included in the download package!).

Please try out and let us know what you thinking of it.

In our next blog we will introduce you the next “MP4PM” features and may be we will talking already about the next deliverable what is actually work in progress.

Until next time ... ;)

=====================================================

If you want to contribute to the map please refer to the following discussion threads; we have created one discussion thread for each branch in the map for a better overview:

In our last Mind Mapping article we have given an overview why we think that Mind Mapping is that beneficial for project management. You can find some other articles, blogs and even webinars here at projectmanagement.com where mind mapping is already promoted.
For some reason most of them are relatively old and it seems that this topic has been lacked a bit in the past. I have a personal passion for Mind Mapping in general and for Mind Mapping tools/software and their usage for project management especially and worked with Mindjet MindManager for instance since some years now.

And I am totally convinced that Mind Mapping could be a big help in making the project managers work easier and more efficient.
A survey by Mind Mapping expert Chuck Frey for instance, shows that business users of mind mapping believe their productivity has increased on average by 25%. 

Mind mapping is being used across organizations to:

• Increase productivity
• Enhance meetings
• Simplify request for proposals (RFP)
• Overview knowledge management
• Optimize project management 
• Improve collaboration and communication
• and much more…

In addition i do believe that tool-supported Mind Mapping could be used to support more or less all the PMBoK Guide Processes and ITTO’s in a great way. And this is exactly what we want to realize; therefore we are actually working on an integrated approach which we called "MP4PM - Mind maPping for Project Management".

Starting with this blog we will introduce the most recent features of “MP4PM” over the next few days/weeks while resulting in a comprehensive introduction and overview as a webinar, kicking off a huge webinar series about the usage and how to apply “MP4PM” in your daily project work.

Here are the first two features we want to realize with “MP4PM”:

In our next blog we will not only provide the next two “MP4PM” features; we will also show you the very first deliverable/result of “MP4PM” as a sneak preview, so you can see what to expect in near future. And the bonus is: it is ready to use out of the box for anybody who wants to try. So stay tuned … ;)

=======================================

References/first published here:

http://projectmanagement.plus/en/news/78-ressources/mp4pm/20-introducing-mp4pm-mindmapping-for-projectmanagement-part-i

Soon we will start publishing our new, PMBoK guide aligned and Mind Mapping® based project management framework "MP4PM".

And to kick this off we want to first look at the facts why Mind Mapping® in general is a great tool to gather, organize and transfer information and how it could be a help especially in project management efforts by utilizing Mind Mapping® software.

Mind Mapping® is a way of visually representing ideas and information. Just as geographical maps help people see where they’re going and help them anticipate and avoid obstacles, Mind Maps® let people lay out ideas and connect information in a way that helps identify dependencies, connections, and risks.

Mind Mapping® is a powerful technique and the advantages of Mind Maps® are many:

• The relative importance of each idea is clearly indicated by how near it is to the center, which clearly features the main idea.
• The links between key concepts will be immediately obvious from their proximity and connection to one another. The brain works primarily with key concepts that it links and integrates. Mind Maps® work in the same way, meaning that recall and review will be faster and more effective.
• The nature of the Mind Map® structure allows for the easy addition of new information.
• Each Mind Map® has its own unique pattern, which further aids recall.
• The open-ended nature of the Mind Map® is a great aid to creativity, allowing the brain to make new and exciting connections with ease.
• With practice, you'll find Mind Maps® help you to be your best in every thinking situation.

By looking at those use cases and benefits you might think “well, there are a lot of them appearing in project management also, right?” and yes, there are. Since project management is all about gathering information and work with them and also about communication, Mind Mapping® can be utilized for this actions in a great way. But then you may think “well, but all this paper work … and if it is written down, how to reorganize the information if necessary?" (and it will be, right?).

This is when software tools comes in place; software tools which are basing on the Mind Mapping® principles. Using such Mind Mapping® tools has the following six key benefits:

PROFESSIONAL MIND MAPPING SOFTWARE ...

-         LET PEOPLE WORK THE WAY THEY THINK

With professional Mind Mapping® software, you can brainstorm and capture ideas in freeform, and then add structure and depth. Drag-and-drop editing and markers let you apply order, connect ideas, and group concepts into themes. Built-in templates often make it easy to bring clarity to important projects, and completed maps give you a more effective way to communicate.

-         REDUCES INFORMATION OVERLOAD

Professional Mind Mapping® software lets you organize ideas and information in a single view so you can see connections and draw conclusions quickly. It’s easy to assemble content-rich information maps with attachments and links that let you process information without having to jump between different apps and browsers. You maybe even can even import tasks, email, and contacts from Microsoft Outlook to Mind Maps® to better organize your work life.

-         HELPS STRUCTURE BUSINESS, STRATEGIC & PROJECT PLANS

Professional Mind Mapping® software provides deep capabilities for organizing information to drive critical business processes and decision-making. More advanced features can include Guided Brainstorming tools, 2x2 analysis views, budgeting and forecasting tools, and numerous project management features where we look into in detail later on.

-         IMPROVES COMMUNICATION

Professional Mind Mapping® software visual format lets you show the big picture and then drill down to display details as needed, all in a single view. Improve meetings by quickly capturing discussion notes and follow-up action items in context. Use priority markers, symbols, and embedded images to highlight the most important points.

-         WORKS WITH YOUR EXISTING TOOLS

Professional Mind Mapping® software is integrated with Microsoft and Apple productivity apps, including MS Word, MS PowerPoint, MS Excel, MS Outlook, MS Project, and Apple Keynote and Pages. Individuals can map out their work in the professional Mind Mapping® software, and then publish final reports and proposals in the most appropriate format.

-         CAN BE USED ACROSS THE ORGANIZATION

Professional Mind Mapping® software may have an enterprise version which extends the value offering integration with Microsoft SharePoint to enable collective information management and collaboration. With the Enterprise Version people across the organization can use professional Mind Mapping® software intuitive visual frame - work to capture and organize information, then share editable maps so teams can solve problems, prioritize strategies, plan projects, and process information together.

After looking at the Mind Mapping® benefits in general and the advantages of using Mind Mapping® software especially we will know focus on the specific benefits of using the combination of them applied to project management:

Successful project management depends on effective management of expectations and commitments. Mind Mapping® software helps you keep teams in alignment on the decisions and tradeoffs that determine if a project will meet goals and deadlines. Create a blueprint for your project by defining goals, prioritizing issues, capturing stakeholder input, and validating requirements—all in one application.
 

MIND MAPPING FOR PROJECT MANAGEMENT 

Visualize Goals

Clearly defining goals and prioritizing issues means getting input—and more importantly, buy-in—from the entire team. Mind Maps® give project teams a virtual whiteboard for brainstorming where every idea and concern can be surfaced and cataloged. Mind Maps® help teams think visually so they can quickly lay out deliverables and identify any gaps in the plan.

Validate Requirements

Adequately validating requirements is one of the first steps to ensuring project success. Quickly capture stakeholder input in a format that encourages participation. Verify decisions by visually ordering and reordering topics, drilling down to review details, and using priority markers to provoke essential trade-off discussions.

Manage Resources

Use Mind Maps® to create detailed process maps to intelligently allocate resources and identify dependencies. Mind Maps® helps everyone involved see the big picture and all the details in context. And if needed, you can export straight to Microsoft Project and other MS Office products and also the independent and high flexible HTML5 format (can be opened by any web browser!)

Adjust and Optimize

Quickly make adjustments when schedules and resources change. The task roll-up feature shows the overall impact of changes to assignments and dependencies so that everyone can understand (and respond to) the implications of schedules and budgets. Integrated Gantt charts provide a timeline view of your schedule.

Agree on Budgets

Create and manage project budgets in the project Mind Map® alongside priorities and schedules—all in one place. Most professional tools have a feature to quickly set up formulas throughout your map and use the formula editor to add more sophisticated calculations. Conduct “what if” analyses by dragging topics into or out of the formula’s range to immediately adjust the calculations.

Be Prepared

Most of the professional Mind Mapping® tools (like MindManager or XMind for instance) helps you often get started faster with project map templates and pre-built map topics for creating project charters, plans, status, and timelines. Once you create a project, you can save your working Mind Map® as a custom template to guide future work, reducing the time needed to start your next project.

And this is exactly what we want to provide with our “MP4PM – MindmaPping for project management” initiative. Aligned to PMBoK Guide and covering all of the 47 (5^th version) processes and all their related ITTOs!

This will mean that you do not need to build up this project templates on your own; you can use them out of the box or doing some customization related to your own project management processes used in your organization. Tailoring the PMBoK Guide processes for specific project needs becomes very easy this way and even if your company does not rely on PMI’s methodology it still will be very useful (hopefully).

Thank you for taking time reading this first article as a kickoff to the upcoming articles and maybe webinars.

Next time we will introduce our “MP4PM” a bit more in detail and also provide you a “sneak preview” so you can see what to expect in the next weeks, month's and maybe even years. We hope you will like it.

Any feedback is highly appreciated.

=======================================

first published here:

http://projectmanagement.plus/en/news/78-ressources/mp4pm/19-mind-mapping-for-project-management-an-overview

References:
http://www.buzan.com.au/learning/benefits.html
https://www.mindjet.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/Managing-Projects-with-MindManager-User-Guide.pdf
https://www.mindjet.com/uses/project-management/

Mastering the project management methods represents only one condition for the target-aimed managing of projects. Also other skills like  in-depth management, soft skills and strategic skills are required to succeed in the field of project management. With the new "Talent Triangle" PMI calls for this skills of its future candidates for recertification. This article is about the most important changes.  It explains you the new areas of expertise of the "Talent Triangle", provides an overview of how the PMI recertification is affected and shows ways to acquire the required competencies in there.

 Since PMI adressed the changes last year there rumors many questions regarding the change like:

• What means those described areas of expertise for my actual qualification ?
• What exactly will change per Decemeber 1st?
• How do we re-certification after 1 December 2015?
• How and where  do I find qualifications, which met the new PDU requirements ?
• and many more ...

This article should help answering those and may be all your other questions; therefore it describes,

•      what the new "Talent Triangle" is
•      describes the areas of competence a project manager needs to master, which are displayed in the "Talent Triangle"
•      an overview of the various PMI certifications,
•      the impact of the introduction of the "Talent Triangle" respectively on the future re-certifications  
•      opportunities to acquire the required PDU's accordingly to the skills mentioned in the "Talent Triangle"

Project Management Methods Are Only Half The Battle

Mastering the project management methods is only one of the prerequisites for goal-oriented management of projects. In order to be truly successful, a project manager needs much more knowledge and skills. This was the result of a market survey initiated by PMI and the feedback from certified project managers around the world. Therefore 71% of the asked companys think, that special leadership skills of the project managers are crucial important for the success of a project.

The evaluation of the market investigation and the feedback of the certified project managers resulted in a range of skills which help project managers to better carry out their projects. This was the basis where PMI developed the the "Talent Trinagle" from, which was published as part of the announcement of the changes in the recertification process early 2015t.

Under "Talents" PMI understands employees who perform their tasks optimally. In this sense the "Talent Triangle" is the description of the areas of competence, in which a project manager can act safely, in order to optimally fulfill his role. By emphasizing the leadership and strategic skills (Leadership and Strategic and Business Management) in addition to the methodological knowledge (Technical Project Management), the project manager is gaining profile.

The "Talent Triangle" and the re-certifications

 
The three sides of the triangle represent the talent necessary for a successful project management: Technical Project Management, Leadership, Strategic and Business Management.   

In the recent re-certification every form of qualification in project management issues has been recognized. In future the project managers must prove,  that they have continued to develop their skills in accordance with the "Talent Triangle". This way PMI wants to ensure that project managers focus their development on covering all areas of competence of the Talent Triangle and thereby strengthen their leadership and strategic skills more clearly.

The areas of expertise

The enumeration of the facets of the areas of expertise carried out here examplary.

Competence Area "Technical Project Management"

The term "Technical Project Management" can be described best by translating it with "methodical project management knowledge". Here is demanded by the project manager that he has the methodical knowledge that is required for project management; that he has the ability to apply this knowledge in practice and so he can fullfill his role as a project manager in the planning and implementation of the project adequately.

Required competencies therefore include (but are not limited to):

•     techniques for requirements analysis and definition
•     project planning and controlling
•     Risk Management
•     Scope Managament

The contents of this area of competence will vary by type of certification. So, for example, has a project manager for Agile projects to dominate the Agile methods, Scrum about Kanban through to Extreme Programming. A portfolio manager on the other hand needs to know how a project portfolio is managed - from the integration of projects in the company's strategy on the coordination of projects in a portfolio to the further development of the portfolio.

According to PMI, the competencies in the area "Technical Project Management" can best be learned via seminars, webinars, online trainings and so on, cause structured knowledge is appropriated here. In contrast, the soft skills which have to be learned in the competence area "Leadership" are associated with a fundamental change in behavior of the project manager.

Yet another study of PMI showed that 66% of surveyed organizations indicate that project managers with the appropriate technical skills very hard to find. (See also: PMI's Pulse of the Profession In-Depth Report The Competitive Advantage of Effective Talent Management, 2013.) This can not only be because there are too few project managers, but also the fact that the existing project managers often does not have the necessary technical project management knowledge, which the companies expect of them.  In fact this is a great argument why becoming a PMP (or gaining another available certification) is valuable and can benefit your project manager career!

Competence Area "Leadership"

By consciously naming and design of "Leadership" as its own area of competence it is emphasized that the successful management of projects not only requires technical/methodical knowledge, but also leadership skills. Management knowledge is more important, the larger and more complex a project is.  

With leadership knowledge is meant the ability to lead and develop a team and to show an situationally appropriate behavior  in dealing with the various stakeholders.
While a project manager with expertise in the area "Technical Project Management" can plan and execute the project; his expertise in the field of "Leadership" will help him dealing with the handling  of the various stakeholders in the project.

These include (but is not limited to).:

•     Negotiations 
•     Conflict Management
•     Motivation of employees
•     Feedback techniques
•     Ability to influence stakeholders
•     Team Development
•     Emotional intelligence

71% of organizations surveyed indicate, according to a further PMI study, management skills as most important for the long-term success and 75% consider it as very important for the successful management of complex projects. (See also PMI : PMI's Pulse of the Profession In-Depth Report Navigating Complexity, 2013.)
 

Competence Area "Strategic and Business Management"

"Strategic and Business Management" is -  like "Leadership" -  an element that also comes from the skills repertoire of managers. The definition of PMI for this area of ??expertise can be translated as: "Strategic knowledge and industry knowledge", which improve the project implementation and promote better corporate results.
This means specifically, that project managers implement and execute their projects accordingly to the strategy of the company as well as they acting with an entrepreneurial spirit and have knowledge of the industry they working in.
 

These include (but not limited to):

• Entrepreneurial activity
• Marketing and law
• StrategicPlanningand alignment of projects
• Contract management
• Management of complexity

Studies of PMI have shown that the success rate of projects by 58% rising to 72% if they support the company's strategy.  (See also PMI : PMI's Pulse of the Profession In-Depth Report Navigating Complexity, 2013.)

 [widgetkit id="3" name="PMI's Talent Triangle"]
(Source: pmi.org)

The certification scheme of PMI

PMI offers a wide range of certifications. These are aligned with the activities, the project manager has to do in project management. Below you can find a listing/overview about the available certifications.

PMP - Project Management Professional: This certificate validates the competence, that the credential holders adequately perceive the role as a project manager and that they have the competence for leading and directing project teams. ( for further informations about this certification please visit pmi.org/pmp ; for informations about how to start your PMP preparations, you may also visit our "Guide to kickstart your PMP Prep!" )

PgMP - Program Management Professional: This certificate proves that the credential holder can manage multiple, complex and interrelated projects/tasks within a program, which are combined to achieve strategic and organizational results. (for furhter information about this certification please visit pmi.org/PgMP )

PfMP -  Portfolio Management Professional: This certificate attests many years of experience and extensive knowledge as a portfolio manager to the credential holder. It demonstrates proven ability in the coordinated management of one or more portfolios to achieve organizational objectives for the credential holders (for further information about this certification please visit pmi.org/PfMP )

CAPM -  Certified Associate in Project Management: This certificate confirms a basic knowledge and understanding of project management, its (PMI)terminology and the related project processes. (for further information about this certification please visit pmi.org/CAPM )

PMI-PBA -  Professional in Business Analysis: This certificate attests experience in business analysis. The credential holder is able to work effectively with stakeholders to define their business requirements. They shape the output of projects and drive successfull business outcomes.  ( for further information about this certification please visit pmi.org/pba )

PMI-ACP -  Agile Certified Practitioner: This certificate is designed for those who apply the agile principles and practices in their projects. It certifies both experience as well as training in Agile methods such as Scrum, Extreme Programming, Lean and Kanban. (for further information about this certification please visit pmi.org/ACP )

PMI-RMP - Risk Management Professional: This certificate attests knowledge and experience in identifying and evaluating project risks and developing plans to mitigate risks and to capitalize on project opportunities. (for further information about this certification please visit pmi.org/RMP )

PMI-SP -  Scheduling Professional: This certificate attests demonstrated knowledge and many years of experience in the development and maintenance of project schedules. (for further information about this certification please visit pmi.org/SP

Re-Certification by collecting PDUs  

All these certificates must be renewed after a specified number of years. For re-certification you have to collect so-called "Professional Development Units (PDU)". The number of PDUs is determined by the respective certificate. A PMP credential holder for instance must making a total of 60 PDUs within the 3 year re-certification cycle.
It is possible to transfer up to 20 additional PDUs that he had acquired to the following year.
Since December, 1st 2015, a PMP has to be aware that he need PDUs for the categories of training from all three competence areas of Talent Triangle.

There are two PDU types: "Education" and "Giving back"

The PDUs to be acquired are divided into two different types:

•     Continuing Education (minimum of 35 PDUs over 3-year-cycle required) and
•     Giving Back to the Profession (maximum of 25 PDUs possible).

The two PDU types are further divided into different categories.
 

Education and Training:

    Category A: qualification courses from recognized education providers (R.E.P.) and qualification programs of the local associations of PMI (Chapters) and communities. For 1 hour training one PDU could be claimed

    Category B: Continuous training. This can be offered by universities, their own company or other training providers. again f or 1 hour training one PDU could be claimed. The evidence can be provided via an attendance certificate or course materials.

    Category C: self-study. They include the following learning activities: reading books, magazines and manuals; Watching videos or listening to podcasts; informal discussion with colleagues; Coaching by a colleague. for 1 hour self-study one PDU could be claimed .

The recognition of PDUs is requested at PMI using their online system "Continuing Credential Requirements" (CCR). PDU's i n category A training have already been approved in advance. The approval of Category B and C takes place after the application. In this case, the PDUs are only credited for certification if they are recognized by PMI.

Contributions to the development of project management ("giving back")

• Development of new project management knowledge: This includes writing articles as an author or co-author, posts in blogs or podcasts, lectures and presentations, performing training, conducting discussions or participation as an expert in a panel discussion. For every hour that is spent in these activities, 1 PDU may be invoked. Detection is carried out by reference to the finished product in the CCR system.
   
• Volunteerism: These include, for example, participation in a PMI organization, contributions to these PMI organization, such as directing an event or creating documents, project management support of charities. For every hour of work a PDU may be invoked. However, a prerequisite is that the activity was not remunerated. When applying for the PDUs, enter the appropriate activities and as proof a contact person who can confirm this activity. As a PMI Member you have several volunteer opportunitys (live and virtuell) around the world.
   
• Working as a project manager in the respective working environment: for 12 months of activity, you can make 5 PDUs submitted. Detection is carried out by a job description of the employer or client.

PDUs in the categories "contributions to the advancement of project management" can only be claimed for activities that have already been completed.

PDUs can be earned in one training for several competency areas when subjects treated of several competence areas. The PDUs must be divided according to the proportions of subjects in training. Assume a 2-day training with a total of 16 hours of training, where 10 hours related to the topics "Project Definition", "content and scope of the project" and the "Work Breakdown Structure" and 6 hours are related to the topic "negotiation with stakeholders "; than 10 PDUs could be claimed for " Technical Project Management "and 6 PDUs can be credited for " Leadership".  If the training provider is a R.E:P. such allocation can be seen from the exercise description.

In a non-recognized training program, the applicant must make himself the division. From the training plan is most apparent on which training topic omitted what times. The themes must then be assigned to the areas of expertise of the talent Triangle. For example, on the first day of a two-day seminar "methods and tools of stakeholder management" treated and on the second day "conversation with stakeholders". The hours of the first day will be assigned to the competence area "Technical Project Management" and the hours of the second day to the competence area "Leadership".

If the minimum number of PDUs earned in each of the competency areas that further PDUs (needed to complete the full number of PDUs in total) can be earneed in any competencearea. A PMP can e.g. making a total of 12 PDUs in the competence area of "Technical Project Management", a total of 12 PDUs in the competence area of  "Leadership" and a total of 11 PDUs in the competence area  "Business and Strategic" . He has earned the minimum number of required PDUs for the PDU-type "training and education"(namely 35 PDUs).

(Source: pmi.org)

For the PMI credential holders, it will not always be easy to assign any specific course content to one of the elements of the Talent Triangle. Great therefore is certainly that accredited training provider (R.E.P.) must assign their course content aligned to the competence areas.

How to effectively and efficiently acquire skills

Knowing what skills are needed, is important. However, how can these competencies be acquired as effectively and efficiently as possible?

Missing skills are not only acquired in formal training programs, such as training or seminar. The so-called. "70:20:10 Model for Learning and Development", which was developed in the 1960s by Morgan McCall, even emphasized that we acquire 70% of our knowledge through practical activities, 20% from other people and only 10 % through formal training.

Formal learning methods, such as e.g. Training, university courses or webinars, have especially great importance and effectiveness when new content has to be learned. In contrast, there are informal ways of learning, for example, the idea of introducing ??a new project management tool as part of a meeting, watching videos, or the advice of a colleague. This qualification can be submitted under the category C (self-study).

Choice of training provider

Both, the number of suppliers of Project training as well as the number of trainings offered to project management are very large. Therefore, it is important to find out the right one for the individual training needs.
Use the following checklist to verify that you have selected the training provider suits your qualification needs.

• Does the raining provider offer a specific seminar on the content / the competence to which I want or need to acquire/improve?
• Is there a detailed course description available?
• If not: Is it possible to request some?
• Is the to-learn content broken down by areas of expertise and PDUs?
• Are the announced methods suited to acquire the desired content / skills (e.g. role plays and exercises)?
• Is the institution and/or the teacher known as qualified in professional circles / from colleagues / my network?
• Are there any references to the seminar?
• Can I interview colleagues in the company or in my network, who have already attended the seminar?

What is better: Off-the-job training or training on-the-job?
 

Qualification Off-the-job - pros and cons

Off-the-job activities are formal qualification events such as seminars and trainings. The participants attended a qualification usually with a training provider.

Pro:
Off-the-job skills training are impulse. The participants get to know something new and gain inspiration. You should take advantage of off-the-job activities, if you want to familiarize yourselve with a new topic. For example, if you have not yet any knowledge in strategy development and want to learn tools such as the SWOT analysis.
O ff-the-job activities are also suitable for training of soft skills. Here you can try out new behaviors in a protected seminar environment. Off-the-job activities are usually offered only for very general topics such as basics of project management, presentation or team management. The fact that it is not directly involved in the daily operations, you can focus on learning.
 

contra:
Off-the-job measures have the disadvantage that the participants the newly acquired knowledge can not or only partially connect with his daily work practice. The transfer of learning, the implementation of what has been learned in the work practice, essentially determines whether the participants the knowledge and skills successfully appropriated. It can not be always resorted to the help of an instructor and the learner is usually left on their own.

With off-the-job training PDU in categories A and B can be earned.

 Modern learning formats

The modern learning formats are a special form of off-the-job measures. This term may be used to summarize all forms of learning, which are now offered in addition to traditional training and learning and which using new technologies such as the Internet, mobile devices or videos.

pros:
The advantage of these learning formats is that they can be used both in the work environment, as well as at home. In general, the lessons are offered in small learning units from 30 min to 2 hours. This learning can be well planned in the daily routine. Compared to presence seminars modern learning formats are usually cheaper also.
Modern learning formats should be used if you want to acquire specific topics quickly. Posted on: December 15, 2015 09:06 AM | Permalink | Comments (28)