In Search of:

The Project Management Professional

Updated & Presented by:
John Kos, PMP
& Milt Jones, PMP
With Credit to:
Leah Zimmerman, PMP &
Mary McNally, PMP

Having a PMP demonstrates a personal

commitment to self-improvement and
dedication to the profession

PMP Statistics
Through October 2006
Total PMI members 217,800
Total Active PMPs 202,514

Rapid Growth of PMP Certification

Project Manager is in the top 10

IT positions for salary (2004 data)
Consultants
Avg income was $128,100
PM was the #2 best paying position

Full time employees

Avg salary was $79,200
PM was #3 best paying position

PMI Project Management Salary Survey

fourth edition reports that on average, PMP

credential holders command salaries that are 17 percent

higher than their non-credentialed counterparts.

What criteria are used to hire PMs?

Good interpersonal skills

Good communication skills
Good technical skills
Good management skills
Good organizational skills
Education
Experience
Previous experience
Certifications

What criteria are used to promote PMs?

Experience
Education
Past performance
Adherence to budget, schedule and project
requirements
Expertise with tools
Good people skills

Differentiation
A Foote Partners study on the market value of
nearly 150 technical skills and certifications
revealed that:
Certifications in PM security, and systems
administration/engineering and network
operating systems certifications remain fairly
strong
The highest-paying certification is the PMP

Common Excuses for not pursuing the PMP

PM is more about people skills than methods
If my company wont support me with funding
and time to study or a bonus, then why bother?
Too expensive; too time consuming
The exam doesnt reflect real life PM skills
Requirements are too rigorous
What good is it anyway?
Good for company not individuals
Just for government projects
Plan on staying with the same company
I already know it all and my system works
Just for the book smart not practical

The PMP Certification Says

I am:
Able
Capable
Trained
Interested
Up-to-date
The PMP offers external validation beyond
experience

PMP Certification: What it is and

What it is not!
PMP Certification

Proves you have retained a certain level of knowledge about the Project
Management profession
Certifies that you have completed 35 contact hours of education
Certifies that you have the requisite level of PM-related experience

But it does not, in and of itself, certify that you are a

good project manager!
That comes from practicing the profession, constant
sharpening of your skills and moving to the next level
of competency!

PM Organizations
Learning leads to Maturity

Level 5
Maturity Evaluation Model of a Project Management
Organization/Process.
Managing
Level 4
Excellence
Level 3
Progr/Portfolio Focus is on
Level 2
Level 1
Crisis
Management
Good crisis
managers pass for
project managers.
End product
entirely dependent
of character and
experience of the
project manager.

Reactive
Management
Formal
requirements exist
but are not in
general use. Status
reporting is vague
and largely left to
the discretion of the
project manager.
Project data is not
timely enough.

Project
Management
Proactive project
management at the
individual project
level is evident.
Tools and concepts
are used, many of
which are formal
and known. Project
reporting is timely
allowing problem
resolution.

Management
Project
management
processes are
formal and
encompass
methods and
practices which are
well defined,
understood and
executed. Training
in the use of the PM
process is provided
to all core project
team members.

continuous
improvement,
training, coaching
and mentoring all
project
management staff.
Project
management is
totally integrated
into the
corporation. PM
problems that cross
organizational
boundaries are
identified and
addressed.

PMP Certification: What it is and

What it is not!
PMP Certification
When you attain the PMP, you become part of
an elite global community.
But as you maintain the PMP, you continue to:
expand your knowledge and skills and
remain at the forefront of the profession.

PMP Certification: What it is and

What it is not!
PMP Certification
It is helpful to think of the PMP not as a project
management credential, but as a project manager
credential.
.PMP credential holders perform a role, and the
PMP credential helps identify your qualifications to
perform that role.
Eric Norman, PMP, member of PMIs Certification Governance Council and volunteer leader for
PMI global standards projects (Practice Standard for Work Breakdown Structures)

What is a P/M (or PMO) worth?

Q: How to justify in terms of $$$?

A: One way is to use expected value ($$ Value of

outcome multiplied by Probability of that outcome)
Example: Project = $10 MM total economic benefit
(ref: Dec 2000 PM Network article crediting an Ibbs &
Kwack 1997 study)
Functional structure probability of success:

34.0%

Functionally dominated matrix prob success:

34.4%

Balanced matrix probability of success:

55.9%

Project-dominated matrix prob success:

70.7%

Full Project structure probability of success:

71.4%

PMO value = (.714 - .34) X $ 10 MM = $ 3,740,000

This slide ought to tell you something else important:

Increased PM authority increases the projects

chances for success!

What is a P/M (or PMO) worth..#2?

Q: Other methods of justifying PM/PMO?
A: Use the results of a survey by Crawford &
Pennypacker (PMI Symposium 2001, Future of
Project Management track). Note that these
authors dont like the traditional (Ibbs & Kwack,
1997) ROI justification.
Noted improvement with PM implementation:
Project/process execution:

50%

Financial Performance

54%

Customer satisfaction:

36%

Employee satisfaction:

30%

Just remember this axiom:

The most successful Project
Management initiatives have
repeatedly and demonstrably been
shown to be those that are most
nearly in alignment with Corporate
goals and initiatives and almost
always result from active
executive sponsorship.

Proof of the Pudding:

Just a few examples of companies and organizations that
have implemented and encouraged PMI/PMP
accreditation programs (or are Global Corporate Council
Partners with PMI) are:

Bollinger Shipyards
SAIC
Entergy
BAE Systems
Bank of America
Booz Allen Hamilton Inc.
Boston University
Capital One
Deloitte (London, UK)
Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd. (Shenzhen, China)
IBM
ICF Consulting Group, Inc.
International Institute for Learning, Inc.

Proof of the Pudding:

Further examples of companies and organizations that have

implemented and encouraged PMI/PMP accreditation programs (or
are Global Corporate Council Partners with PMI) are:

Lockheed Martin
Microsoft (Required as part of Microsoft College)
Nokia
Oregon, State of
PriceWaterhouseCoopers
SAP (Waldorf, Germany)
Siemens (Munich, Germany)
Southern Company
Washington Government Group
Various U.S. Government and Military agencies

US Army Corps of Engineers

US Department of Defense - Defense Acquisition University
US Department of Energy - Office of Construction & Engineering Management
Office of Personnel Management
Office of Management and Budget

Requirements for PMP

Complete an application
Education requirements
Experience requirements
Agree to adhere to a code of professional conduct
Pass a multiple choice exam

About the PMP Exam

Exam was revised after an extensive job analysis study in 1997

and again after issue of PMBOK Version 3 in 2005
Exam is reviewed and revised annually to satisfy the test
specifications
200 four-option multiple choice questions submitted by PMPs,
only 175 of which are actually scored (there are 25 pretest
questions)
Required score to pass is 123 out of 175 scorable questions (or
148 out of 200 total questions), or 74% correctmay vary!
Many questions are situational

Exam Questions
Initiating the Project:

11%

Planning the Project:

23%

Executing the Project:

27%

Monitoring and Controlling the

Project:

21%

Closing the Project

9%

Professional and Social

Responsibility

9%

Total

100%

Project Initiation 11%

Knowledge Tested

Conduct project selection methods (e.g., cost benefit analysis,

selection criteria).

Define the scope of the project based on the business need, in

order to meet the customers project expectations.

Document high-level risks, assumptions and constraints.

Perform key stakeholder analysis.

Develop the project charter.

Obtain project charter approval.

Project Planning 23%

Knowledge Tested
Record detailed customer requirements, constraints, and assumptions.

Identify key project team members by defining roles and responsibilities.

Create the Work Breakdown Structure (WBS) with the team. Use it to
develop a Scope Management Plan.

Develop the change management plan.

Identify project risks by defining risk strategies and developing the risk
management plan.

Develop the Project Management Plan and obtain Plan approval from
the customer.

Conduct a kick-off meeting with all key stakeholders.

Project Execution 27%

Knowledge Tested
Maintain the Project Management Plan current.

Execute the tasks as defined in the project plan.

Ensure a common understanding by setting stakeholder expectations in

accordance with the project plan.

Implement the procurement of project resources.

Manage resource allocation proactively

Integrate change across all areas and implement approved changes.

Implement the approved actions and workarounds.

Implement the quality management plan.

Project Monitoring & Control 21%

Knowledge Tested
Measure project performance using appropriate
tools and techniques.

Manage changes to the project scope, project

schedule, and project costs.

Ensure that project deliverables conform to quality

standards established in the project quality plan.

Monitor the status of all identified risks by

identifying any new risks, taking corrective
actions, and updating the risk response plan.

Project Closing 9%

Knowledge Tested
Formalize final acceptance for the project from the
sponsor/customer.

Obtain financial, legal, and administrative closure.

Release all project resources and provide performance feedback.

Communicate lessons learned.

Distribute the final project report.

Archive project records, historical information, and documents.

Measure customer satisfaction at the end of the project.

Professional and Social

Responsibility 9%

Knowledge Tested
Ensure personal integrity and professionalism.

Contribute to the project management knowledge base by

sharing lessons learned, best practices, research, etc.

Enhance personal professional competence.

Balance stakeholders interests to achieve maximum

positive effect.

Promote interaction among team members and other

stakeholders in a professional and cooperative manner.

Cost of the Exams

PMP
$405
Cost Members
$555
Cost Nonmembers
Recertify every 3 years

CAPM
$225
$300

Cost Members
Nonmember

Applying for the PMP exam

Candidates applying for the PMP or CAPM
must satisfy the educational and experiential
requirements for one of two categories.

PMP Category I

PMP Category II

Baccalaureate or
equivalent
Min 3 years &
no more than 6 years

HS degree or equiv
Min 5 years &
no more than 8 years

PM Exp.

4500 hours

7500 hours

PM Train

35 hours

35 hours

Educa.
PM Exp.

Exam

200 questions, 4 hour

200 questions, 4 hour

Recert
Reqs

Recert every 3 years;

60 PDU reqd every 3
yrs to maintain
certification

Recert every 3 years;

60 PDU reqd every 3
yrs to maintain
certification

CAPM Category 1

CAPM Category 2

Baccalaureate

HS degree or equiv

PM Exp.

Minimum 3 Years

Minimum 3 years

PM Exp.

1500 hours

2500 hours

PM Train

23 hours

23 hours

Educa

Exam

150 questions, 3 hour

200 questions, 4 hour

Recert
Reqs

Cert for 5 yrs; No

Recertif; No PDU
Reqts

Cert for 5 yrs; No

Recertif; No PDU
Reqts

Project Management Process

Areas
Experience areas can be organized into one or
more of the following process areas:
Initiating
Planning
Executing
Controlling
Closing

Eligibility Letter
Comes within 3 weeks
Contact Thomson/Prometric to schedule date to sit
for the exam
Good for 12 months

How to Prepare for the Exam

Read the PMBOK (at least twice) and pay especial attention to the Glossary

Buy some PM reference and study books and/or materials, e.g.,

Project Management: A Systems Approach to Planning, Scheduling, and Controlling (9th edition,
2005) by Harold Kerzner
PMP Exam Practice Test and Study Guide (5th edition, 2005) by J. LeRoy Ward
PMP Exam Prep (5th edition, 2005) by Rita Mulcahy
PMIs Q & As for the PMBOK Guide Third Edition
PMI exam prep review kit

Buy PMI-recommended Social and Professional Responsibility books:

Blake, Terence; Walker, Danielle; and Walker, Thomas: Doing Business Internationally: The Guide
to Cross-Cultural Success. McGraw-Hill Professional Book Group, 2002, ISBN 0071378324.
Ferraro, Gary, The Cultural Dimension of International Business. Prentice Hall, 5th Edition, 2005,
ISBN: 0131927671 .
Rosen, Robert (Editor); Digh, Patricia; Singer, Marshall; and Phillips, Carl: Global Literacies:
Lessons on Business Leadership and National Cultures. Simon & Schuster, 2000,
ISBN: 0684859025

Take as many practice exams as you can get your hands on (some are available through
the internet)

Take a refresher class

The Test
Computer Based
In the United States, Canada, and some of Europe
Black lettering on white background ..ughh!!
Timed (15 minutes demonstration, plus 4 hours for exam)
Multiple Choice (4 possible answers)
Only one is best answer
No none of the above or a & c
Simple calculator provided on computer
Cant bring a lot with you non programmable calculator is
acceptable!
You can take a break at certain times during test

The Test
You can go back to questions that are giving you trouble so
skip over them (mark them for Review Later) and answer
the ones you know the answer to first. Sometimes a subsequent
question or answer can jog your memory! Two ways to review
later:

Take your best guess and mark for later review (best) or

Leave blank and call up unanswered questions later.

You get your score immediately after completing the test.

You have to get about 148 (74%) correct, depending on which

test questions you get from the large test question database
(actually, you need 123 (70%) correct of the 175 scorable
questions on each test). Note that PMI lowered passing score to
61% in late 2005 but this is liable to change. PMI apparently
wants to maintain a 70% first-time taker passing rate.

Certification documentation will be sent to you within 3 to 4

weeks.

Tips/Suggestions

Do all the sample exams that you can find! Shoot to score 90% or
better on them.

STUDY! Allow 40 to 80 hours to read the PMBOK and other study

material. Hint:
Form a self-study group and take advantage of the groups synergy to
take sample tests together.

Remember it is a pass-fail exam. You have to get 74% right and

no one but you ever knows your score! So dont worry about not
knowing everything about everything!

RELAX! Taking the test is stressful! But you have 240 minutes to
answer 200 questions. (And an additional 15 minutes at beginning
for a demonstration of the testing software is also allocated.)
Most people that we have interviewed finish the test in two and a
half hours so you have plenty of time.

Exam Review Classes

PMI Baltimore Chapter Training
Cost $495; Cost Seniors $335
Advantage: Meet other PMs and form self-study groups
PMI Baltimore sponsored:
Current class started November 11th through December 16th, 2006 at
Hunt Valley campus, CCBC
February 3rd through March 3rd, 2007 at the Hunt Valley Campus,
April 21st through May 19th 2007 at the Hunt Valley Campus.

5 Saturdays
Satisfies the 35 hours of education

Explore other community college offerings

Continuing Certification
Requirements Program
60 PDUs every three years
PDU = one PDU is earned for every 1 hour spent
in a planned, structured learning experience or
activity

Continuing Certification Reqs Program

5 Categories:
Formal Academic Education
Professional Activities or Self Directed Learning
Registered Education Providers; Other Providers
Volunteer Service to Professional or Community
Organizations
PDU requirements can be obtained through the
use of all, some, and only one category
combinations.

Continuing Certification Reqs Program

Complete the Continuing Certification

Requirements Activity Reporting Form
Mail
Fax
Online
Check for PDU transcripts online

Application for Renewal

Sent after the 60 PDUs are submitted
Completion is required for renewal
12 months after the cycle expiration to renew

Transferring PDUs
Up to 20 excess PDUs earned during the
final year of the current CCR cycle may be
applied to the next CCR cycle.

Summary

What are you waiting for?

QUESTIONS ??????????????