This is the suggested study plan. The course is broken down into three logical phases. The first phase focuses on understanding the basic definitions and the workflow of a project. The second phase comprises of in-depth study of the knowledge areas. The third phase focuses on exam preparation. Each module comprises of classroom / online training and culminates with a module test. The total hours required for the completion of all the 34 modules is 40 hours.
Understanding the concepts
Module#1 Understanding the basic definitions (Basic definitions)
Module#2 Understanding the project management workflow (PM workflow)
Module#3 Understanding the structure of PMBOK (PMBOK structure)
Initiation
Module#4 Developing project charter
Module#5 Stakeholder management
Planning
Module#6 Developing project management plan
Module#7 Collecting requirements and defining scope
Module#8 Developing a work breakdown structure (WBS)
Module#9 Activity lists and activity sequences
Module#10 Preparing schedule
Module#11 Execution
Module#12 Monitoring and controlling
Module#13 Closing
Understanding the knowledge areas
Module#14 Integration management
Module#15 Time management
Module#16 Cost management
Module#17 Scope management
Module#18 Quality management
Module#19 Human resource management
Module#20 Communications management
Module#21 Risk management
Module#22 Procurement management
Exam focus
Module#23 Tips and techniques
Module#24 Test – Integration management
Module#25 Test – Time management
Module#26 Test – Cost management
Module#27 Scope management
Module#28 Test – Quality management
Module#29 Test – Human resource management
Module#30 Test – Communications management
Module#31 Test – Risk management
Module#32 Test – Procurement management
Module#34 Test – Simulation
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Watch this video. This video will explain to you the structure of the PMdistilled program. After watching the video, please continue reading…
Is project management applicable only in official projects?. ‘No’. Project management is all about achieving your goals, on time, within budget through proactive steps, and one become a professional project manager, when they can do this consistently. It can be used by;
- A student to plan his study
- A teacher to develop the course material
- A house wife to organize a party or to furnish her house
- An organization to start a new plant for production or for launching a new marketing campaign
- A writer to complete a book within time and budget
- A mountaineer to conquer a mountain
- A back packer to complete his world tour
- For NASA to launch a space craft
This list can be endless. It is all about stretching the money to the maximum, and delivering results on time., consistently.
What should one do to master the ropes of professional project management quickly?
Here are those smart steps;
- Understand professional project management based on a globally accepted standard (Project Management Body of Knowledge by PMI, USA is a globally accepted project management body of knowledge). There are other standards like PRINCE2 (by the British), the Australian standard, The Japanese standard etc. Out of these, the PMBOK, is the most popular.
- Have a globally accepted project management credential against your name. PMP certification by PMI is a good starting point. You will get the complete information about PMP certification by reading the PMP handbook by PMI.
- Just a globally accepted credential against your name will not make you a great project manager. Develop the passion to demonstrate the knowledge you have. That will take you a long way. Very often my PMP students ask me this question ‘ After PMP, what next? ‘. My answer is ‘Demonstrate the knowledge at the workplace’.
With these quick steps, one can start managing projects confidently. Conversion of the knowledge gained into skills, and perfecting those skills based on practice is a life long affair. Unfortunately, the truth is ‘There are no quick fix solutions to greatness!’. Becoming a great project manager is a journey, which continues throughout our professional lives, and a sound knowledge of the best practices and a globally accepted credential against your name, will support you throughout this journey.
The PMdistilled way to prepare for your PMP certification and excellence in PM career
After coaching around 3000+ project managers world wide, we have crystallized this sure strategy for passing the PMP credential exam on the first go, and at the same time gain an in-depth understanding of professional project management as per PMBOK. This three phased strategy comprises of;
- Phase-1 Understand project management as per PMBOK (not as per what you do in your office
- Phase-2 Prepare for the exam and gain the credential
- Phase-3 Demonstrate the knowledge gained, at your work
This on-line guide is designed to provide the reader with an easy and quick way to;
- Master the structure of the project management body of knowledge
- To provide a platform for doubt clarification (post your queries as comments, and the author will address them)
How to get the best out of this on-line guide?
- Read this page (introduction) completely. This will give you a very quick overview of the body of knowledge.
- Just mouse over the buttons provided at the top of this page. Each button represent one process group, and they are named initiation, planning, execution, monitoring&CTRL and closing. When you mouse over these buttons, it will give you a drop down of the processes associated with that process group.
- Slowly explore further, and at some point in time, you will realize that you have a fair idea of the structure of PMBOK (Project management body of knowledge by PMI, USA).
- Do not try to by heart. Try to understand. That is easy.
Anatomy of PMBOK
Professional project management is an exciting career option of the future. Many think that project management is all about checking emails on blackberry phones, and taking action based on those emails, that is just coordination (fire fighting). Professional project management, is proactive in nature, and revolves around PDCA (Plan,Do,Check and Act). There is an absolute shortage of competent professional project managers (If the failure rates are an indication).
The project management body of knowledge (PMBOK), by PMI, USA is globally accepted as the basis for professional project management. It is a collection of globally accepted project management best practices. Rest of our discussions will be based on this project management body of knowledge only. The project management body of knowledge comprises of 42 processes grouped into 9 knowledge areas and 5 process groups.
The nine knowledge areas are;
- Integration management
- Scope management
- Time management
- Cost management
- Quality management
- Human resource management
- Communication management
- Risk management
- Procurement management
The five process groups comprises of;
- Initiation
- Planning
- Execution
- Monitoring and controlling
- Closing
Every process among the 42 processes, is mapped to one knowledge area and a process group. If you take the process ‘Create project charter’, it is linked to ‘Project integration management’ knowledge area, and to ‘Initiation’ process group.
Here is a sample mapping;
| Initiating process group | Planning process group | Execution process group | Monitoring & Controlling process group | Closing process group | |
| Project integration management knowledge area | Develop project charter | ||||
| Project scope management | |||||
| Project time management | |||||
| Project cost management | |||||
| Project quality management | |||||
| Project human resource management | |||||
| Project communications management | Identify stakeholders | ||||
| Project risk management | |||||
| Project procurement management |
The process “develop project charter” belongs to “initiation” process group and the “project integration management” knowledge area. Each of the 42 processes belongs to one knowledge area and one process group. For a complete mapping refer to the table on page 43 of PMBOK 4th edition.
