Project Management Professional (PMP) Exam Prep

Pre-Readings:

• PMBOK 7th Edition:
  • Chapter 1 (Introduction)
  • Chapter 2 (The Project Environment)
• PMP Exam Content Outline (Overview)
• Agile Practice Guide:
  • Chapter 1 (Introduction to Agile)

Study Focus:

• Understand the structure of the PMP exam and the three domains: People, Process, and Business Environment.
• Familiarize yourself with key changes in PMBOK 7th Edition (shift to principles and performance domains).
• Get an overview of the Agile Practice Guide and its integration into the PMP exam.

Key Topics:

• PMI Code of Ethics
• Agile vs. Predictive project management
• Exam structure and question types

Pre-Readings:

• PMBOK 7th Edition:
  • Chapter 3 (Project Management Principles) – Focus on Leadership
• Agile Practice Guide:
  • Chapter 4 (Implementing Agile: Roles and Responsibilities)
• Process Groups: A Practice Guide:
  • Section on Initiating and Planning Process Groups (Focus on team setup and resource allocation)

Study Focus:

• Focus on how to manage teams, conflict resolution, and building a high-performing team.
• Understand the role of servant leadership in agile project management.
• Explore the concept of empowering team members and stakeholders.

Key Topics:

• Leadership styles (e.g., Servant Leadership in Agile)
• Conflict management
• Building team performance

Pre-Readings:

• PMBOK 7th Edition:
  • Chapter 9 (Team Performance Domain)
• Agile Practice Guide:
  • Chapter 2 (Agile Project Management Framework)
• Process Groups: A Practice Guide:
  • Sections on Planning and Executing Process Groups

Study Focus:

• Focus on collaboration, team empowerment, and stakeholder management.
• Learn how to promote team performance through emotional intelligence and mentoring.
• Study how to build a shared understanding among team members and stakeholders.

Key Topics:

• Mentorship and team development
• Emotional intelligence
• Stakeholder engagement

Pre-Readings:

• PMBOK 7th Edition:
  • Chapter 7 (Planning Performance Domain)
• Agile Practice Guide:
  • Chapter 5 (Agile Planning)
• Process Groups: A Practice Guide:
  • Sections on Initiating and Planning Process Groups

Study Focus:

• Understand how to initiate a project, define project scope, and manage stakeholders.
• Study the processes for planning scope, schedule, budget, and resources in both predictive and agile contexts.
• Learn how to build a Work Breakdown Structure (WBS).

Key Topics:

• Project charter and stakeholder register
• Scope and schedule planning
• Resource and budget planning

Pre-Readings:

• PMBOK 7th Edition:
  • Chapter 8 (Delivery Performance Domain)
• Agile Practice Guide:
  • Chapter 3 (Agile Delivery)
• Process Groups: A Practice Guide:
  • Sections on Executing Process Groups

Study Focus:

• Focus on project execution, ensuring deliverables are met, and managing stakeholder engagement.
• Learn how to manage resources, communications, and risks.
• Study agile-specific execution techniques like managing backlogs and iterations.

Key Topics:

• Resource management during execution
• Managing communication and stakeholder expectations
• Delivering project outcomes (Agile and Predictive approaches)

Pre-Readings:

• PMBOK 7th Edition:
  • Chapter 10 (Measurement Performance Domain)
• Process Groups: A Practice Guide:
  • Sections on Monitoring and Controlling Process Groups, and Closing Process Groups

Study Focus:

• Study how to monitor project performance, control project scope, and implement change management.
• Learn how to measure project performance using key performance indicators (KPIs), earned value management (EVM), and variance analysis.
• Understand how to properly close a project, transfer deliverables, and document lessons learned.

Key Topics:

• Risk and issue management
• Change control processes
• Project closure and handover

Pre-Readings:

• PMBOK 7th Edition:
  • Chapter 11 (Uncertainty Performance Domain)
• Agile Practice Guide:
  • Chapter 6 (Agile Business Practices)
• Process Groups: A Practice Guide:
  • Business Environment considerations

Study Focus:

• Learn about aligning projects with business goals and managing compliance with regulatory requirements.
• Study how external factors, such as market conditions and regulations, influence project success.
• Understand how projects can contribute to achieving organizational strategy.

Key Topics:

• Compliance and regulatory management
• Business strategy alignment
• External business influences

Pre-Readings:

• Agile Practice Guide:
  • Chapters 2 and 3 (Agile Project Management Framework, Agile Approaches)
• PMBOK 7th Edition:
  • Chapters 12-13 (Tailoring Considerations for Agile and Hybrid Projects)

Study Focus:

• Study key agile frameworks such as Scrum, Kanban, and Lean.
• Focus on the roles and responsibilities within agile teams (e.g., Scrum Master, Product Owner).
• Learn how to manage iterative delivery, sprint planning, and backlog management.

Key Topics:

• Agile methodologies and roles
• Backlog management and iterative delivery
• Scrum and Kanban practices

Pre-Readings:

• Agile Practice Guide:
  • Chapter 5 (Agile Execution and Metrics)
• PMBOK 7th Edition:
  • Chapter 13 (Agile and Hybrid Tailoring Continued)

Study Focus:

• Focus on managing agile sprints, tracking progress using burn-down charts, and continuous improvement (Kaizen).
• Study the importance of daily stand-ups, sprint reviews, and retrospectives in agile execution.
• Learn how to balance change management in an agile environment.

Key Topics:

• Sprint planning and retrospectives
• Continuous improvement and iteration management
• Agile metrics (e.g., velocity, burn-down charts)

Pre-Readings:

• Review key chapters from:
  • PMBOK 7th Edition: Chapters 1-13
  • Agile Practice Guide: Chapters 1-6
  • Process Groups: A Practice Guide: Entire guide
• Complete a Full-Length Practice Exam (175 scored questions, 5 unscored).

Study Focus:

• Comprehensive review of key concepts across all domains (People, Process, Business Environment).
• Focus on exam strategies: process of elimination, identifying key phrases (e.g., “first,” “next,” “best”), and understanding PMI’s best practices.
• Time management strategies for the exam: pacing, flagging difficult questions, and reviewing answers.

Key Topics:

• Exam strategy and time management
• Situational and applied knowledge questions
• Review of core concepts from all domains