THE NAME GAME (or memorizing all 42 processes)

There are many ways to memorize the 42 processes. The way I memorized the 42 processes was by playing a game with my son.  Here's how it works:

1. Write each Process Group and Knowledge Area on an index card so that you have 14 index cards.  You should have them memorized by now.
2. From Page 3 of the New Horizons workbook (the white book used in class). Write all processes that appear in a single cell onto one index card for each cell.  For example, "Develop Project Management Plan" will be on one card.   and "Collect Requirements, DefineScope, and Create WBS" will be on another card, and "Define Activities, Sequence Activities, Estimate Activity Resources, Estimate Activity Durations, Develop Schedule" will all be on another card. 
3. Do this for all cells so that you end up with 26 cards (covering the 42 processes). For now don't worry that you have more than one process on a card.
4. Shuffle the cards...
5. On a table top OR on the floor, practice putting the cards in order to form the chart on page 3.
6. Do this over and over until you can do it quickly. At first you will have to refer back to the book.
7. Practice this several times a day...soon you will know the 42 processes and their order on the chart.

If you play this game with a youngster, I bet they will memorize the processes before you do.

Hint: When you are done, the "Planning Process Group" will have 20 processes in it. One card for each of the nine cells.  The "Monitoring & Controlling Process Group" will have 10 processes in it. One card in eight of the nine available cells. The "Executing Process Group" will have 8 processes in it.  One card in five of the nine available cells. 



Now for the secret...are you ready?  Memorize the chart working from left to right (by knowledge area).  I know, I know...I taught you that the processes flowed from top to bottom and this is true BUT for memorization purposes work from left to right.  Trust me it works.  I didn't mention this in class because I felt it would be too confusing. After 5 days of PMBOK training , I feared that your heads would explode from information overload. 



Some may argue that it's not important to memorize these processes.  I totally disagree.  Remember the goal is to pass the test and knowing the processes in order will help significantly. 

"Know what you know"