PMcrunch

I recently read a foreign post where somebody asked if project management was good preparation for the job of CEO. There were a variety of comments most of which I find somewhat discouraging saying that, [tag-tec]project management[/tag-tec] was inadequate preparation for a CEO position and that CEO positions involve a lot of different skills. While arguably these things are true, I think that we can take a positive take on that question and ask “What would differentiate a project manager who might on the CEO track from one who is not?”

[Read more →]

In the realm of project management certification, there is a transition occurring in the exam for the project management professional (PMP) certification exam. On January 1, 2009, the 4th edition of the PMBOK was officially published. Many people wonder, especially at this point in time, whether they should take the 3rd edition exam or wait to take the 4th edition exam.

[Read more →]

Candidates for the PMP exam usually have some level of project management experience career; indeed, it is required in order to qualify to take the PMP exam. However there are many structures, terms and concepts that are part of the PMP exam that PMP candidates need to master. These are the things that you will learn and this is the growth you will experience that takes you beyond your project management experience base. Let’s take a look at some keys for a project plan to pass the PMP exam.

[Read more →]

It can be very helpful for PMP candidates to have a PMP Mentor, or someone who is PMP certified and can assist on a moment’s notice when the student is stuck. A PMP mentor can provide a high level of comfort and assurance that a candidate is on the right path to passing the PMP certification exam.

[Read more →]

Here is a quick compilation of non-affiliated (I hope) advice on preparing for the PMP. Advice on PMP prep abounds on the web, and I have tried to separate out the commercial pieces to provide information as unbiased as possible.

[Read more →]

Project reporting is very important because it enables us to keep our stake holders informed as to the project progress, decisions, achievements, and issues. However, often reporting is done around a certain specific format that you as a project manager, or your stakeholders, may find to fall short of the information needed – or worse, provide a lot of extraneous information that does not add value. It is important to capture the essence of project objectives and map them to the reporting routine.

[Read more →]

Edmund Hillary, of Auckland , New Zealand, , died on January 11,2008. On 29 May 1953 at the age of 33, he and Sherpa mountaineer Tenzing Norgay were the first humans to climb Mount Everest. This hit me especially because I have always had a great interest and enthusiasm for the outdoors, and I just finished reading a great book about the climbing of Mount Everest. What makes Hillary’s death even more interesting for PMcrunch is that he was in practice actually a great project manager!

[Read more →]

We all know the definition of a project is an undertaking that produces a product by a target date and within an agreed cost. This triple constraint (product, time and cost) is what the project manager must plan for and track progress against. But are the three dimensions equal in priority?

The answer is no – some projects are cost constrained; some have an immovable end date while others may place a priority on the product quality. Understanding the priorities on your project (and agreeing with your project sponsor on the priorities) is critical.

[Read more →]

There are various types of training available for the PMP and CAPM exams. This provides some good examples of some of the various types of learning products and services available for PMP exam prep or CAPM exam prep, and pros and cons of each.

[Read more →]