As I’m looking to begin chapter 4 this week, all I have to say is wow! This chapter is long and intense looking.
How should I attack this chapter? This pretty much puts me in a position to revise my current study plan schedule as there’s no way I could tackle this in a week. I was thinking of attacking two processes per day. Getting familiar with each and their ITTOs. I’m guessing the best way to try and understand the ITTOs is to study the flow diagram? How come the data flow chart doesn’t mention the tools and techniques?
Any suggestions on how to break this down and attack is appreciated. Saving Changes...
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Margaret LoveSenior Instructor| VelociteachGreenville, Sc, United States
Ummm... they are all going to be long and intense looking :-) Keep in mind that Integration management is the "umbrella" for the other knowledge areas. It's the set of highest level processes that "integrate" all of the details from the other knowledge areas. My recommendation is to read through it now (assuming you're just getting started with your studies), without trying to memorize the ITTOs. Just get an idea of the overall concepts there. Then, study every other knowledge area, always thinking about how those details will integrate at the highest level. At the end, come back and study Integration more in depth. It will make more sense then. Saving Changes...
Margaret LoveSenior Instructor| VelociteachGreenville, Sc, United States
By the way, I'd recommend a study approach that is not so knowledge area focused. I think it should be more cyclical... read PMBOK once to get the overall flow of things.. then again to learn names of processes and one or two key inputs tools and outputs... then again to drill down into the remaining details. Draw your own diagrams as you go.... Saving Changes...
Yes Michael exactly, to understand the ITTO's, you need to study the flow diagrams. Saving Changes...
Sergio Luis ConteHelping to create solutions for everyone| Worldwide based OrganizationsBuenos Aires, Argentina
Forget about to memorize the PMBOK Guide. Concentrate into read it and understand it. Take exam questions mockups and make tons of questions (3-4 the total amount of question of the exam). Always take situational questions. From questions, study the PMBOK Guide. The key is not memorize it. The key is to understand situations where you are located into a chapter of the PMBOK Guide. Saving Changes...
Hi Michael, I am currently studying also, as my colleagues have said, we cannot memorise the book, revise then re-map the process as Kevin suggested to gain an understanding, I find it much easier this way. Good luck. Saving Changes...
Markus KopkoAI Enabler for Project & Program Mgmt | Founder PMotion.ai / The PM
AI Coach| PMotion.aiHamburg, Hamburg, Germany
Michael -
I would strongly recommend you to skip chapter 4 ‘Integration Management’ for the moment and to proceed with the other Knowledge Areas first.
You will come back to Integration Management after working through all the other Knowledge Areas. If you do so, you will see that your understanding not only of chapter 4, but all the interrelations between the project management processes will be much better.
Here’s why:
To understand Integration Management, you need first to understand what goes on in the other nine areas.
Think about it… the section on Integration Management teaches you how to get scope, time, cost, quality, resources, communications, risk, and procurement to play nicely with each other. Unless you understand the unique purpose, goals, and characteristics of each knowledge area, it will be increasingly challenging to orchestrate your integration.
How can you integrate if you do not know what you are throwing into the mix?
So when you start your study of the PMBOK® Guide knowledge areas, briefly skim over Integration Management, to get a basic understanding. Then study the other areas. Finally, come back and study Integration Management in more detail.
Having this knowledge of how the parts add up will increase the odds that your projects will be integrated, and live happily ever after. ;)
I have conducted a complete study plan and have made it available for any interested PMP aspirant as a course online. You can find it on my website or give me a short note if you are interested.
My prep guidance program contains tons of tips and helps like mentioned above, also for handling all that ITTO stuff and much more ...
However, all the best for your proceeding preparations and the exam as well of course.
Regards,
Markus Saving Changes...
Kavitha GunasekaranProject Manager| Aerospace & Defence OrganisationChennai, Tamil Nadu, India
In this chapter, the change request process and 'the next best option' situational questions have to be understood thoroughly. Pl. refer Rita Mulcachy's change management steps. All the best! ITTOs and process flows are purely on logic so remember unique features and you could easily answer the questions! Saving Changes...
Before looking in to the chapter, I actually was using Google to see if I can find some hints and one thing which a few of you touched on, I found as well - That is to study Integration last and focus on the other processes first. It's easier to really understand the material for it to make sense. Basically if you don't understand how the other knowledge areas flow and work, how can you understand the relationship in how they integrate.
So I will be starting with Scope management and move forward from there. Then once I'm ready I will go back to Integration and connect it all. Saving Changes...
