Book description
Assess your readiness for the updated PMP Exam—and quickly identify where you need to focus and practice. This practical, streamlined guide walks you through each exam task, providing "need to know" checklists, review questions, tips, and links to further study—all designed to help bolster your preparation.
Reinforce your exam prep with a Rapid Review of these tasks:
Initiating the project
Planning the project
Executing the project
Monitoring and controlling the project
Closing the project
This book is an ideal complement to the in-depth training of the Microsoft Press Training Kit and other exam-prep resources for the PMP Exam aligned with the Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK Guide), Fifth Edition.
Table of contents
- PMP Rapid Review
- Introduction
- Preparing for the exam
-
1. Initiating the project
- Task 1.1: Perform project assessment based upon available information and meetings with the sponsor, customer, and other subject matter experts, in order to evaluate the feasibility of new products or services within the given assumptions and/or constraints.
- Task 1.2: Define the high-level scope of the project based on the business and compliance requirements, in order to meet the customer’s project expectations.
- Task 1.3: Perform key stakeholder analysis using brainstorming, interviewing, and other data-gathering techniques, in order to ensure expectation alignment and gain support for the project.
- Task 1.4: Identify and document high-level risks, assumptions, and constraints based on current environment, historical data, and/or expert judgment, in order to identify project limitations and propose an implementation approach.
- Task 1.5: Develop the project charter by further gathering and analyzing stakeholder requirements, in order to document project scope, milestones, and deliverables.
- Task 1.6: Obtain approval for the project charter from the sponsor and customer (if required), in order to formalize the authority assigned to the project manager and gain commitment and acceptance for the project.
-
Answers
- Task 1.1: Perform project assessment based upon available information and meetings with the sponsor, customer, and other subject matter experts, in order to evaluate the feasibility of new products or services within the given assumptions and/or constraints.
- Task 1.2: Define the high-level scope of the project based on the business and compliance requirements, in order to meet the customer’s project expectations.
- Task 1.3: Perform key stakeholder analysis using brainstorming, interviewing, and other data-gathering techniques, in order to ensure expectation alignment and gain support for the project.
- Task 1.4: Identify and document high-level risks, assumptions, and constraints based on current environment, historical data, and/or expert judgment, in order to identify project limitations and propose an implementation approach.
- Task 1.5: Develop the project charter by further gathering and analyzing stakeholder requirements, in order to document project scope, milestones, and deliverables.
- Task 1.6: Obtain approval for the project charter from the sponsor and customer (if required), in order to formalize the authority assigned to the project manager and gain commitment and acceptance for the project.
-
2. Planning the project
- Task 1: Assess detailed project requirements, constraints, and assumptions with stakeholders based on the project charter, lessons learned from previous projects, and the use of requirement gathering techniques (e.g., planning sessions, brainstorming, focus groups), in order to establish the project deliverables.
- Task 2: Create the work breakdown structure with the team by deconstructing the scope, in order to manage the scope of the project.
-
Task 3: Develop a budget plan based on the project scope using estimating techniques, in order to manage project cost.
- Exam need to know…
- Cost management plan
- Human resource management plan
- Scope baseline
- Project schedule
- Risk register
- Cost estimating techniques
- Reserve analysis
- Cost of quality
- Project management software
- Vendor bid analysis
- Activity cost estimates
- Basis of estimates
- Agreements
- Resource calendars
- Funding limit reconciliation
- Cost baseline
- Can you answer these questions?
- Task 4: Develop project schedule based on the project timeline, scope, and resource plan, in order to manage timely completion of the project.
- Task 5: Develop a human resource management plan by defining the roles and responsibilities of the project team members in order to create an effective project organization structure and provide guidance regarding how resources will be utilized and managed.
- Task 6: Develop a communication plan based on the project organization structure and external stakeholder requirements, in order to manage the flow of project information.
- Task 7: Develop a procurement plan based on the project scope and schedule, in order to ensure that the required project resources will be available.
- Task 8: Develop a quality management plan based on the project scope and requirements, in order to prevent the appearance of defects and reduce the cost of quality.
- Task 9: Develop the change management plan by defining how changes will be handled, in order to track and manage changes.
- Task 10: Plan risk management by developing a risk management plan, and identifying, analyzing, and prior to rising project risks in the risk register and defining risk response strategies, in order to manage uncertainty throughout the project life cycle.
- Task 11: Present the project plan to the key stakeholders (if required), in order to obtain approval to execute the project.
- Task 12: Conduct a kick-off meeting with all stakeholders, in order to announce the start of the project, to indicate the project milestones, and share other relevant information.
-
Answers
- Task 1: Assess detailed project requirements, constraints, and assumptions with stakeholders based on the project charter, lessons learned from previous projects, and the use of requirement gathering techniques (e.g., planning sessions, brainstorming, focus groups), in order to establish the project deliverables.
- Task 2: Create the work breakdown structure with the team by deconstructing the scope, in order to manage the scope of the project.
- Task 3: Develop a budget plan based on the project scope using estimating techniques, in order to manage project cost.
- Task 4: Develop a project schedule based on the project timeline, scope, and resource plan, in order to manage timely completion of the project.
- Task 5: Develop a human resource management plan by defining the roles and responsibilities of the project team members in order to create an effective project organization structure and provide guidance regarding how resources will be utilized and managed.
- Task 6: Develop a communication plan based on the project organization structure and external stakeholder requirements, in order to manage the flow of project information.
- Task 7: Develop a procurement plan based on the project scope and schedule, in order to ensure that the required project resources will be available.
- Task 8: Develop a quality management plan based on the project scope and requirements, in order to prevent the appearance of defects and reduce the cost of quality.
- Task 9: Develop the change management plan by defining how changes will be handled, in order to track and manage changes.
- Task 10: Plan risk management by developing a risk management plan, and identifying, analyzing, and prior to rising project risks in the risk register and defining risk response strategies, in order to manage uncertainty throughout the project life cycle.
- Task 11: Present the project plan to the key stakeholders (if required), in order to obtain approval to execute the project.
- Task 12: Conduct a kick-off meeting with all stakeholders, in order to announce the start of the project, to indicate the project milestones, and share other relevant information.
-
3. Executing the project
-
Task 1: Obtain and manage project resources including outsourced deliverables by following the procurement plan, in order to ensure successful project execution.
- Exam need to know…
- Resources
- Preassignment
- Acquisition
- Virtual teams
- Staff assignments
- Resource calendars
- Cost management plan
- Procurement management plan
- Source selection criteria
- Seller proposals
- Bidder conference
- Proposal evaluation techniques
- Independent estimates
- Procurement negotiations
- Can you answer these questions?
- Task 2: Execute the tasks as defined in the project plan, in order to achieve the project deliverables within budget and schedule.
- Task 3: Implement the quality management plan using the appropriate tools and techniques, in order to ensure that work is being performed according to required quality standards.
- Task 4: Implement approved changes according to the change management plan, in order to meet project requirements.
- Task 5: Implement approved actions, and follow the risk management plan and risk register, in order to minimize the impact of negative risk events on the project.
- Task 6: Maximize team performance through leading, mentoring, training, and motivating team members.
-
Answers
- Task 1: Obtain and manage project resources including outsourced deliverables by following the procurement plan, in order to ensure successful project execution.
- Task 2: Execute the tasks as defined in the project plan, in order to achieve the project deliverables within budget and schedule.
- Task 3: Implement the quality management plan using the appropriate tools and techniques, in order to ensure that work is being performed according to required quality standards.
- Task 4: Implement approved changes according to the change management plan, in order to meet project requirements.
- Task 5: Implement approved actions, and follow the risk management plan and risk register, in order to minimize the impact of negative risk events on the project.
- Task 6: Maximize team performance through leading, mentoring, training, and motivating team members.
-
Task 1: Obtain and manage project resources including outsourced deliverables by following the procurement plan, in order to ensure successful project execution.
-
4. Monitoring and controlling the project
-
Task 1: Measure project performance using appropriate tools and techniques, in order to identify and quantify any variances, perform approved corrective actions, and communicate with relevant stakeholders.
- Exam need to know…
- Project management plan
- Schedule forecasts
- Cost forecasts
- Work performance data
- Work performance information
- Work performance reports
- Analytical techniques
- Root cause analysis
- Failure mode and effect analysis (FMEA)
- Trend analysis
- Earned value management
- Meetings
- Monitoring project procurements
- Change requests
- Project management plan updates
- Issue log
- Can you answer these questions?
- Task 2: Manage changes to the project scope, schedule, and costs by updating the project plan and communicating approved changes to the team, in order to ensure that revised project goals are met.
- Task 3: Ensure that project deliverables conform to the quality standards established in the quality management plan by using appropriate tools and techniques, e.g. testing, inspection, control charts, in order to satisfy customer requirements.
- Task 4: Update the risk register and risk response plan by identifying any new risks, assessing old risks, and determining and implementing appropriate response strategies, in order to manage the impact of risks on the project.
- Task 5: Assess corrective actions on the issue register and determine next steps for unresolved issues by using appropriate tools and techniques, in order to minimize the impact on project schedule, cost, and resources.
- Task 6: Communicate project status to stakeholders for their feedback, in order to ensure the project aligns with business needs.
-
Answers
- Task 1: Measure project performance using appropriate tools and techniques, in order to identify and quantify any variances, perform approved corrective actions, and communicate with relevant stakeholders.
- Task 2: Manage changes to the project scope, schedule, and costs by updating the project plan and communicating approved changes to the team, in order to ensure that revised project goals are met.
- Task 3: Ensure that project deliverables conform to the quality standards established on the quality management plan by using appropriate tools and techniques, e.g. testing, inspection, control charts, in order to satisfy customer requirements.
- Task 4: Update the risk register and risk response plan by identifying any new risks, assessing old risks, and determining and implementing appropriate response strategies, in order to manage the impact of risks on the project.
- Task 5: Assess corrective actions on the issue register and determine next steps for unresolved issues by using appropriate tools and techniques, in order to minimize the impact on project schedule, cost, and resources.
- Task 6: Communicate project status to stakeholders for their feedback, in order to ensure the project aligns with business needs.
-
Task 1: Measure project performance using appropriate tools and techniques, in order to identify and quantify any variances, perform approved corrective actions, and communicate with relevant stakeholders.
-
5. Closing the project
- Task 5.1: Obtain final acceptance of the project deliverables by working with the sponsor and/or customer, in order to confirm that project scope and deliverables were met.
- Task 5.2: Transfer the ownership of deliverables to the assigned stakeholders in accordance with the project plan, in order to facilitate project closure.
- Task 5.3: Obtain financial, legal, and administrative closure using generally accepted practices, in order to communicate formal project closure and ensure no further liability.
- Task 5.4: Distribute the final project report including all project closure-related information, project variances, and any issues, in order to provide the final project status to all stakeholders
- Task 5.5: Collate lessons learned through comprehensive project review, in order to create and/or update the organization’s knowledge base.
- Task 5.6: Archive project documents and material in order to retain organizational knowledge, comply with statutory requirements, and ensure availability of data for potential use in future projects and internal/external audits.
- Task 5.7: Measure customer satisfaction at the end of the project by capturing customer feedback, in order to assist in project evaluation and enhance customer relationships.
-
Answers
- Task 5.1: Obtain final acceptance of the project deliverables by working with the sponsor and/or customer, in order to confirm that project scope and deliverables were met.
- Task 5.2: Transfer the ownership of deliverables to the assigned stakeholders in accordance with the project plan, in order to facilitate project closure.
- Task 5.3: Obtain financial, legal, and administrative closure using generally accepted practices, in order to communicate formal project closure and ensure no further liability.
- Task 5.4: Distribute the final project report including all project closure-related information, project variances, and any issues, in order to provide the final project status to all stakeholders.
- Task 5.5: Collate lessons learned through comprehensive project review, in order to create and/or update the organization’s knowledge base.
- Task 5.6: Archive project documents and material in order to retain organizational knowledge, comply with statutory requirements, and ensure availability of data for potential use in future projects and internal/external audits.
- Task 5.7: Measure customer satisfaction at the end of the project by capturing customer feedback, in order to assist in project evaluation and enhance customer relationships.
- A. About the author
- Index
- About the Author
- Copyright
Product information
- Title: PMP Rapid Review
- Author(s):
- Release date: August 2013
- Publisher(s): Microsoft Press
- ISBN: 9780735668348
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