I am almost done with my application online, however, the project description part is a bit tough as I am not sure if I am providing the right information there. The issue is the 500 character limit, which unfortunately also includes spaces, so it is infact more like a 400 char limit and within that they want you to talk about Objectives, Key Deliverables and the Project outcome.
400 charactes is barely 2 sentences, how did you guys respond to this? Please help.
I am listing a sample from one of my Software development projects where I was the Project Lead, please comment if this is adequate or what I should modify.
Sample Project Description:
Confirmed and documented complete system requirements by interviewing end users.
Tested and verified compliance with user requirements and other quality specifications during the course of development.
Created and managed an active project plan with a detailed WBS and deliverables schedule.
Provided weekly updates to team members on progress and briefed them on anticipated risks that could affect the project
Trained end users, client and deployed the system successfully and on-time.
Here is sample # 2 which is divided in to the 5 process areas, which method works better? Is it the concise summary or the individual sections.
Someone please advise..
Project Description Sample :
Initiation – Defined Scope, Project risks, Assisted with developing Project charter and identified key stakeholders
Planning – Defined WBS and developed project requirements, constraints and assumptions
Execution – Flowcharted business processes for all 3 departments for user requirements, Tested and verified compliance with user requirements
Control – Measured project performance and ensured deliverables met approved QC standards
Closing – Obtained final acceptance, documented lessons learned, archived project data, created and distributed final project report
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George JucanManaging Partner| Organizational Perfomance Enablers NetworkWoodbridge, Ontario, Canada
Trim down anything that is not project management. PMI does not care about interviewing users to gather user requirements, or testing to ensure business compliance. Keep only clear project management type activities in the description, and make sure that you trim down the time claimed accordingly – they do audit a good percentage of submissions, and you can loose your PMP. For example, if you’ve been Team Lead for 1 year, I would only claim 25-30% as project management activities, because the remaining is normally technical leadership and activities (unless you have some job description, status reports etc. that would demonstrate a heavier percentage of project management activities). At least, that’s how I trimmed down in my application. Saving Changes...
Well, I was the Project lead but I was also playing the role of a Business analyst and a tester.
Wouldn't that fall under Execution? It says under execution - "Execute the tasks defined in the project plan in order to achieve the project goals"
This could very well mean that the project has a task of system testing or requirements gathering and if I performed it, should I not record those hours in Execution? Because I am executing a task which is part of the project plan. And I am also managing that project, if that task was performed by someone else obviously it would not count.
I mean what else is there to execute for a PM if all the team members are doing the real work?
I usually have listed 8-10 month projects where I am claiming close to a 1000 hours and the bulk of the hours are coming from 'Execution'- mostly like 30-35% and it is actually performing the tasks in the project plan.
By your defintion if there are 2000 hours in an year and if you are a team lead, you only spend about 500 hours on actual Project Management, which would require you to work for 9 years minimum before you can qualify (500*9=4500 hours).
I find that a bit odd and hard to believe, but that is just me. Saving Changes...
George JucanManaging Partner| Organizational Perfomance Enablers NetworkWoodbridge, Ontario, Canada
If this was the case, any developer would qualify as they are hands-on "executing" the tasks. The application requires time spent on project management activities, that could be during the Execution phase or not. Best advice is to follow exactly the definitions in the certification brochure on PMI's web site. If you're still not clear there is a contact email you can send questions to, and you'll get "official" answers. Saving Changes...
George JucanManaging Partner| Organizational Perfomance Enablers NetworkWoodbridge, Ontario, Canada
One more comment: if you don't know "what else is there to execute for a PM if all the team members are doing the real work?" you may want to think again about becoming a PM. It seems odd to want to achieve a role that you perceive as doing nothing, but that is just me. Saving Changes...
Well....I suppose me being in a small company and project team of 4 people, it was not very hard to keep track of a project and we succeeded every time!!
May be it is just my organization skills or the control that I excercised, but I was never stressed about it and yes believe it or not, at times I did feel that the team members were doing bulk of the work and I was just supervising them. It was a change from my role of a contributer and I was used to working my ass off, so I honestly felt that way.
This ofcourse may change with the complexity of a project, but you can only fool yourself if you think Project management is rocket science and you - the most important PM in the world is working on the most challenging project that there is, but whatever makes you feel better I guess.
So btw, do you agree (according to your definiton of PM activities) that a "Real PM" would need atleast 9 years of experience before one can initiate the PMP process?
Oh and just curious but do you have your PMP yet? Saving Changes...
For my schedulings and estimations I add %15 project management overhead time but it is me. Pete I see your point as a project manager in a small company myself. When you are the person who is doing execution and managing the project it is hard to distinguish what a project manager does or should do. The way I see it project management is to complete the project in the projected time and budget. It is not just making phone calls and adjusting the schedule. So whatever it is that you do to say that I completed this project as I said I would is project management. And lastly on your calculations I guess the assumption is a project manager runs one project at a time which may not be the case. Saving Changes...
George JucanManaging Partner| Organizational Perfomance Enablers NetworkWoodbridge, Ontario, Canada
Yes Pete, I am a PMP for 2 years now, PMI member, 16 years IT experience growing through the ranks (developer, analyst, architect, project manager). Regarding the time needed to be entitled to register for the PMP certification, please remember that this is not an entry level certification to get into project management (look at CAPM or others if that’s your intent). The PMP is a mastery level recognition for people that practice project management for a number of years already. Myself, I took seriously the description posted on PMI site and followed the guidelines – including waiting enough time to have unquestionable PM experience to include in the application.
To conclude my postings on this topic, my advice was to be truthful and follow the guidebook that clearly describes the type of experience you should include. And remember that there is an Ethics Code that you will have to sign and abide to as well.
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I am completing my PMP Application now. I am using an excel spreadsheet to document the hours per project and group the hours in the Process groups. My question is can some one tell me if I am doing this correctly. I have the necessary hours to take the exam, but I want to make sure that the application is completed correctly. Please Advise...
Sample below:
Developed a project scope statement and WBS. Monitored project schedule, resources, project funding requirements and resource leveling. Utilized expert judgment to identify critical path to create
Buffers where needed. Presented weekly status reports to management. Developed risk management plan and documented issue response. Created project staff assignments, and managed project team. Implemented configuration management and change management. Planned phased delivery of product deliverable to control risks and manage change. Gathered and documented final lessons learned and updated knowledge base.
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Tim McLarenPMP Application Consultant| FPMcertify.comCalgary, Alberta, Canada
@Diane's sample seems fine, and it's great that she is posting it to further the discussion. But this sample has a very generic "copied out of PMBOK" feel to it. Two things to keep in mind: 1) This is like reading a resume that doesn't go into any specifics about the context or purpose of what you did in your experience. The PMI reviewer might suspect you haven't actually done any of this and either send your application back and/or flag it for deeper scrutiny or audit. 2) If audited, your project experience contacts will have to verify that you did this. Will they agree that all of the above is accurate or even understand what you are talking about (if they aren't PMPs themselves)? I look forward to hearing from anyone who has other views on this. It's a topic that we're spending a lot of time helping PMP candidates with these days. Saving Changes...
Ashish Kumar DwivediProject Manager | Altiquence Communication Gurugram Delhi NCR , India
Hi
I have around 10 years exp in telecom deployment project ...during that i worked as site engineer , support engineer , project coordinator ,PM and now in supports.. But projects those i worked on are not so big and not standardized as per PMI standard . in this way its very hard to describe my work in given word limit ....
And one thing i want to know that i have to focus on my job role or complete project work...
Plz share sample's related to telecom deployment ... Saving Changes...
