pm.plus - the PMP Blog

Intro

​​Can I ask you a question?

In your opinion, what would you get from your project management colleagues if you asked them for a sample of the project management plan?

Well, I bet most of them would send you a schedule created with MS Project or (even worse) MS Excel. Some will send you a sample project charter, and others will even send you a project status report based on MS Powerpoint or something similar ...

Try it out! Am I right? I guess, yes...

Few may know that a well developed and created project management plan is much more than the examples above. And even fewer could send you a sample since they have already created a project management plan for their projects!

After studying this guide, you will be asked for this support in the future as you will be an expert in creating a relevant project management plan and have the appropriate tools and techniques.

Here we go:

The Concept of the Management Plans

​
Management plans document the strategy and approach for managing the project and project processes in terms of scope, timing, cost, quality, resources, communication, and risk, as well as Procurement and stakeholder management.
This means that each knowledge area has its own management plan that documents the strategy and approach for project management in that specific project. These plans are essentially a set of documents with processes, procedures, practices, and standards that the project team will follow to ensure consistent results.

When creating a management plan, ask yourself always this question: 

"How do I define, plan, manage and control the scope (or schedule, costs, quality, etc.) of my project?"

You think ahead and document how you will manage each knowledge area (and ultimately the project) based on its specific needs, How you will manage each knowledge area during execution, and how you will monitor and control each knowledge area. These efforts should cover all aspects of the project.
You also need to think about who is involved in the project and how you will behave. Managing these people, evaluating their work, and motivating them. Management plans are necessary and unique to each project, The format, and level of detail of management plans should be adapted to the needs of the project and the style of the project leader, and the organizational influences.
If you have not yet created management plans for your projects in practice, this concept can be difficult to implement in the beginning. However, you will quickly realize the benefits of creating management plans. Therefore we want to illustrate the concept with an example:

With regard to the cost management plan we would ask ourselves the following questions (and answer them in the cost management plan!):

"How will we ensure that all costs are identified and estimated?"

"Who will be involved in the cost estimation?"
 
"What methods for estimating the costs that we will use? "

"What historical records, processes and organizational requirements must be used or met? "

"Which estimation tools and techniques will we use? "

"What is the appropriate level of accuracy?"
"How will financing and cost constraints be constrained in determining the budget?"
 
"Which data, metrics and measurements do we need for cost planning?"

So far to the planning part.

The executive part of a management plan focuses on the processes and procedures involved in carrying out the work.

The executive component of a cost management plan answers questions such as (but not limited to):

"Which cost data is needed?"
"Who is responsible for the collectionof the cost data?"
"Where will we collect the raw data that will later be used for monitoring and control?" 

The monitoring and control component of a management plan defines the processes and procedures to measure project progress, compare actual project results with the plan, and determine how to deal with deviations that require change.
 

The Project Management Plan - understanding its Purpose

What we have discussed in the previous section applies to all the specific management plans (Scope, Time, Cost, Quality, Communication, etc.) you will develop for your project throughout the planning phase and iterations. And all those single management plans (plus some additional components we will discuss in a second) combine to the so-called Project Management Plan.  

The Project Management Plan is more than just a workbook to determine what work needs to be done. The Project Management Plan is a continuous document that controls the following elements: 
​

■ Provide Structuring 

The Project Management Plan is developed to create a structure within which the project can develop until successful completion. It is a careful but accurate collection of documents that serve as a reference point for all project execution, monitoring and control, and project or phase completion.
​

■ Provide documentation

A truly successful project requires a documented Project Management Plan. Documents provide a historical overview and the reasons why decisions were made the way they were made. A Project Management Plan must include documentation of the assumptions and constraints that influence the development of the project management plan. Both the size of the project, the application environment within which the project operates, and the business environment factors can all influence the level of detail provided by the project management plan.

■ Enable communication 

Project Management Plans are documents that provide information and explanations as to why project decisions have been made, as documented. The Project Management Plan serves as a source of communication between stakeholders, the project team, and management to communicate how the project is managed.

■ Provision of baselines

A Project Management Plan contains several baselines. As the project progresses towards completion, management, stakeholders, and the project manager can use the Project Management Plan to see what has been predicted in terms of cost, scheduling, quality, and scope, and then compare how these predictions will compare with actual project progress.

The Complete Guide for developing a Project Management Plan contains the following sections: 

• Intro
• ​The Concept of the Management Plans​
• The Project Management Plan - understanding its Purpose
• Preparing for the Project Management Plan development
• Application of tools and techniques
• Use of a project management information system
• Components of the Project Management Plan
• Putting it all together
• Exercise: "What are the specific actions required to create a project management plan that is bought into, approved, realistic, and formal?"
• Baselining the Project Management Plan
• Benefits of a Project Management Plan
• Project ​Management Plan Example and Template
• Tailoring Tips for your Project Management Plan
• How to create a customized Project Management Plan - Step-by-Step

For further information please refer to my profile here at pm.com. 

Thanks and kind regards,

Markus

https://goo.gl/yjMrMb

The one thing that we all really like about project management is how unpredictable days can sometimes be, right? I come to the office in the morning with a clear plan of what I’m going to do and then something happens. I love this challenge because as a project manager, I now have to re-evaluate the situation and change my plans accordingly.

But there is more to it than just responding with a knee-jerk reaction. These times demand situational awareness, and you need skill and finesse to handle changing demands effectively. Situational awareness is an important skill to build as a project manager and in this article we’ll look at what it is and how you can use it on your projects.

Contents

1. What is Situational Awareness?
2. What is Situational Leadership?
3. How To Apply Situational Awareness
4. How to Make A Situational Assessment
5. Situational Leadership: Team Development
6. Making An Ethical Situational Assessment
7. Developing Your Situational Awareness

https://goo.gl/yjMrMb

This article is based on an interview that was recorded with Oliver Lehmann, MSc., PMP. The interview was done because “Situational Project Management” was recently added to the Project Management Professional (PMP)® Exam Content Outline, and Oliver has published a book on the topic (see link below).

So if you are currently in the middle of your PMP exam prep, then you can expect to see questions about situational project management on your exam. Therefore the article is not intended as a book review but as an introduction to the topic.

For more information about the book go here:

https://goo.gl/UnZ00W

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:

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)