Taken from the MTI Learning blog. http://www.mtilearning.com/ Projects can run into trouble at any time and for any number of good reasons. While I spend time coaching others, traveling to speaking engagements, and talking about troubled projects, I still actively manage a few key projects of my own for my clients. I never want to be the guy on stage saying, “…back when I managed projects…..” This does not lend itself to any kind of creditability. Therefore, I actively manage projects. So one of the questions I get asked often is, “Brian, do your projects ever fall into trouble?” The answer, “Yes they do.” The difference is what I do about them and who’s advice I seek when the root cause is escaping me. It does not matter who you are, when its your own project, often the simplest of solutions is hard to see because of the level of emotional involvement you have in that particular project. Its your baby and you hate to see it in trouble. As ...
Tuesday, April 19, 2011
Monday, March 21, 2011
YOU MUST BE A PROJECT MANAGER
A man in a hot air balloon realized he was lost. He reduced altitude and spotted a woman below. He descended a bit more and shouted, “Excuse me, can you help me? I promised a friend I would meet him an hour ago, but I don’t know where I am.”
The woman below replied, “You’re in a hot air balloon hovering approximately 30 feet above the ground. You’re between 40 and 41 degrees north latitude and between 59 and 60 degrees west longitude.”
“You must be a project manager,” said the balloonist. “I am,” replied the woman, “How did you know?”
“Well,” answered the balloonist, “everything you told me is technically correct, but I’ve no idea what to make of your information, and the fact is I’m still lost. Frankly, you’ve not been much help at all. If anything, you’ve delayed my trip.”
The woman below responded, “You must be in Senior Management.”
“I am,” replied the balloonist, “but how did you know?”
“Well,” said the woman, “you don’t know where you are or where you’re going. You have risen to where you are due to a large quantity of hot air. You made a promise which you’ve no idea how to keep, and you expect people beneath you to solve your problems. The fact is you are in exactly the same position you were in before we met, but now, somehow, it’s my fault.”
Tuesday, March 15, 2011
PMP EXAM PREPARATION
There are those times in life that getting to our destination just cannot happen fast enough. We’ve all heard the plaintive question (usually asked by children sitting in the back seat of a moving automobile), “are we there yet?” You may find yourself asking the same question when it comes to being prepared to take the PMP Exam. Are we there yet?
In my humble opinion, unless you’ve completed 35 hours of instructor led training, read the ALL-IN-ONE CAPM/PMP Project Management Certification Guide written by Joseph Phillips from cover to cover (cross referencing the PMBOK guide) and have successfully completed no less than twenty (20) hours of exam simulation testing (Transcender or other tools), you are probably NOT ready to take the exam.
When it comes to exam preparation, there are no shortcuts. This is one of the reasons I don’t refer to the tips I suggest as tricks. Knowledge is king and it’s your job to thoroughly master the subject. It’s not good enough to ‘know what you don’t know”. You must “know what you know” thoroughly. You are either ready or you are not.
If you haven’t adequately prepared (see first paragraph), I advise you not to take the test. Some things in life should not be rushed. And there are things in life that cannot be rushed. Project Management Professional certification preparation falls into both categories. Time must be allowed to internalize the subject matter. You have to make it your own.
So don’t be too hard on yourself at this point. Sit back and exhale. Ah, doesn’t that feel better. Make a plan and stick to it. After all, you are the “project manager” of your life. Preparing for the PMP Exam is a project. Use the tools and techniques that you’ve been studying. Build quality control and quality assurance into your plan. Don’t forget to add reserves for the unknown unknowns. You know the drill…
"A project is a temporary endeavor undertaken to create a unique product, service or result."
Sunday, March 13, 2011
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:
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- Shuffle the cards...
- On a table top OR on the floor, practice putting the cards in order to form the chart on page 3.
- Do this over and over until you can do it quickly. At first you will have to refer back to the book.
- Practice this several times a day...soon you will know the 42 processes and their order on the chart.
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.
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"
Friday, March 11, 2011
JEOPARDY ANYONE?
If you truly know something, you should be able to express it in your own words. Putting the language of PMBOK into simple English will help you to quickly get a grasp of many of the more challenging concepts. I find using the format of the game show Jeopardy works for me. In other words, instead of expressing the definition as a statement I express it as a question. Here are a few examples dealing with one of your favorite subjects, Earned Value Management.
Estimate at Completion (EAC) At the current rate, what is the estimated cost of the project at completion? (formula: BAC / CPI = EAC)
Estimate to Complete (ETC) If the project performance continues at this rate, what is the amount of money estimated to complete the project? (formula: EAC – AC = ETC)
Variance at Completion (VAC) What is the amount of money the project varies over or under budget at completion? (formula: BAC – EAC = VAC)
I find that this technique is especially effective when it comes to understanding EVM and other formulae. Give it a try and tell me what you think.
Remember, "know what you know"…
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