8Fifteen PMP Study Group

Members of the Silicon Valley PMI Women Project Manager's Group who gather together to study for the PMP certifcation. Our goal is to finish the exam by the end of October 2004. The group was named after the date of our first meeting at the Bean Scene in Sunnyvale. Regular meeting is 9 am Sunday at Starbucks at the corner of Mathilda and El Camino in Sunnyvale. Last meeting held October 17th at Santa Clara Library.

Sunday, September 26, 2004

9-26 Study Group Meeting

There was no study group today.

Debra moved the date to take the PMP certification test to October 22nd for more study time.. That leaves at least one more Study Group session between now and then. Next Sunday, we'll finish up the PMBOK and maybe work on an assessment test.


The next meeting scheduled to be Sunday, October 3rd at 9 am. We'll finish up the PMBOK and use Kim Heldman's PMP Project Management Professional Study Guide for the last topic.


Sunday, September 19, 2004

9-19 Study Group Meeting

Raj and Debra met at Starbucks. Debra signed up to take the PMP certification test on October 1st. That leaves at least one more Study Group session between now and then. Next Sunday, we'll finish up the PMBOK and maybe work on an assessment test.

The next meeting scheduled to be Sunday, October 3rd at 9 am. We'll finish up the PMBOK and use Kim Heldman's PMP Project Management Professional Study Guide for the last topic.

Covered Today:
Heldman Chapter 9: Measuring and Controlling Project Performance
PMBOK Chapter 8.2—Quality Assurance
PMBOK Chapter 10.3—Performance Reporting
PMBOK Chapters
12.2 to 12.5—Solicitation Planning, Solicitation, Source Selection, Contract Administration

Main Learning Points
  • Difference between the Solicitation process and Source Selection process
  • Tools and Techniques of the Source Selection process
  • Purpose of the Quality Assurance process
  • Distinguish between Seller Invoices, Payment Systems and Payment Requests
  • Purpose of the Scope Verification process
  • Purpose of the Performance Reporting process
Heldman Chapter 10: Controlling Change
PMBOK Chapter 4.3—Integrated Change Control
PMBOK Chapter 5.5—Scope Change Control
PMBOK Chapter 6.5—Schedule Control
PMBOK Chapter 7.4—Cost Control
PMBOK Chapter 8.3—Quality Control
PMBOK Chapter 11.6—Risk Monitoring and Control

Main Learning Points
  • Integrated scope change Control Processes
  • Purpose of a change control system
  • Describe a CCB
  • Define configuration management
  • Name the tools and techniques of Quality Control



The Study Guide covers a chapter on Professional Responsibility that is not in the PMBOK.

To Be Covered Sunday:
Heldman Chapter 11: Closing out the Project
PMBOK Chapter 10.4 Administrative Closure
PMBOK Chapter 12.6 Contract Closeout

To Learn
  • Name the purpose of the Closing process
  • Describe product verification
  • Name primary activity of Closing process
  • Describe when Administrative Closure is performed
  • Define the purpose for lessons learned
Heldman Chapter 12: Professional Responsibility
Only in study guide. No corresponding PMBOK chapters.

To Learn
  • Define integrity
  • Name the ethical standard PMPs are required to adhere
  • Describe the areas in which PMPs must apply professional knowledge
  • Name the key activity that ensures customer satisfaction
  • Define how multinational project managers must manage relationships




Tuesday, September 14, 2004

Update about PMBOK 3rd Edition

PMP Exam to reflect PMBOK® Guide-Third Edition updates in third quarter 2005

The Project Management Professional (PMP®) Exam will remain in alignment with the PMBOK® Guide–2000 Edition until third quarter 2005. At that time, the PMP Exam will be updated and developed according to a new Role Delineation Study, and aligned to the PMBOK® Guide-Third Edition and other reference material revised since the last exam update.

PMI Community POST
http://www.pmi.org/communitypost/sept10-04/Exam_Reflects.htm


Saturday, September 11, 2004

9-11 Study Group Meeting

Raj and Debra met at Starbucks. The Study Guide went into more detail on several topics barely mentioned in the PMBOK.

The next meeting scheduled to be Sunday, September 19th at 9 am. We continue going through the PMBOK chapters using Kim Heldman's PMP Project Management Professional Study Guide.

Covered Today:
Heldman Chapter 7: Creating the Project Plan
PMBOK Chapter 6.4—Schedule Development
PMBOK Chapter 6.5—Schedule Control
PMBOK Chapter 7—Project Cost Management

Main Learning Points
  • Calculate Critical Path
  • Define Critical Path Task
  • Describe and Calculate PERT Duration Estimates
  • Name Duration Compression Techniques
  • Describe Cost Baseline
Heldman Chapter 8: Developing the Project Team
PMBOK Chapter 4.2—Project Plan Execution
PMBOK Chapter 9.3—Team Development
PMBOK Chapter 10.1—Communications Planning
PMBOK Chapter 10.12—Information Distribution

Main Learning Points
  • Project Plan Execution
  • Four Stages of Group Formation
  • Maslow's Highest Level of Motivation
  • Five Levels of Power
  • Differentiate between Senders and Receivers of Information
  • Five Styles of Conflict Resolution



To Be Covered Sunday:
Heldman Chapter 9: Measuring and Controlling Project Performance
PMBOK Chapter 8.2—Quality Assurance
PMBOK Chapter 10.3—Performance Reporting
PMBOK Chapters
12.2 to 12.5—Solicitation Planning, Solicitation, Source Selection, Contract Administration

To Learn
  • Difference between the Solicitation process and Source Selection process
  • Tools and Techniques of the Source Selection process
  • Purpose of the Quality Assurance process
  • Distinguish between Seller Invoices, Payment Systems and Payment Requests
  • Purpose of the Scope Verification process
  • Purpose of the Performance Reporting process
Heldman Chapter 10: Controlling Change
PMBOK Chapter 4.3—Integrated Change Control
PMBOK Chapter 5.5—Scope Change Control
PMBOK Chapter 6.5—Schedule Control
PMBOK Chapter 7.4—Cost Control
PMBOK Chapter 8.3—Quality Control
PMBOK Chapter 11.6—Risk Monitoring and Control

To Learn
  • Integrated scope change Control Processes
  • Purpose of a change control system
  • Describe a CCB
  • Define configuration management
  • Name the tools and techniques of Quality Control




Friday, September 10, 2004

Raj's Formulae

Raj went through the PMBOK and collected the formulae we need to know for the certification test.

Schedule Development

PERT Calculations


Uses values optimistic (O), pessimistic (P), and most likely (M) to determine project duration.
  • Mean = (P + 4M + O)/6
  • Variance = ((P – O) / 6)) 2
  • Expected Value = (O + P + (4 x M)) / 6
    • Example: 60 days most likely, 72 days pessimistic, 48 days optimistic:
    • (48 + 72 + (4 x 60)) / 6

Standard Deviations
  • Standard Deviation = (P – O) / 6
    • Example: 60 days most likely, 72 days pessimistic, 48 days optimistic:
    • (72 - 48) / 6
  • Percent Probabilities
    • 68% ± one standard deviation
    • 95% ± two standard deviations
    • 99% ± three standard deviations

Cost Control
  • PV - Planned Value
  • EV - Earned Value
  • AC - Actual Cost
  • SV – Schedule Variance
  • CV – Cost Variance
  • SPI – Schedule Performance Index
  • CPI – Cost Performance Index
  • BAC – Budget at Completion
  • BCWR – Budgeted Cost for Work remaining
  • ETC = Estimate To Complete
  • EAC = Estimate At Completion
  • VAC = Variance At Completion
Earned Value Managment

  • SV = EV-PV (old BCWP-BCWS)
  • CV = EV-AC (old BCWP-ACWP)
  • SPI = EV/PV (old BCWP/BCWS)
  • CPI = EV/AC (old BCWP/ACWP )
  • BCWR = BAC-EV
  • EAC = AC + BCWR or EAC = AC + (BCWR/CPI)
  • EAC = AC + BCWR or EAC = AC + (BCWR/CPI)
  • ETC = EAC - AC
  • VAC = BAC – EAC
Three approaches to calculating EAC

  • EAC = AC + ETC
  • EAC = AC + BAC - EV
  • EAC = (AC + (BAC – EV) / CPI)

Circular Communication Network

  • (number of participants (number of participants less one)) / 2
  • (n x (n - 1)) / 2
    • Example: six participants
    • (6 x (6 - 1)) / 2


Monday, September 06, 2004

9-6 Study Group Meeting

Raj and Debra met at Starbucks. Raj starts her new job tomorrow!! We found that the Study Guide went into more detail on Quality Management theories/theorists: Philip B. Crosby, Joseph M. Juran, W. Edwards Deming and the Kaizen Approach. Raj to share her collection of PMBOK. formulas.

The next meeting scheduled to be Saturday, September 11th at 8 pm. We continue going through the PMBOK chapters using Kim Heldman's PMP Project Management Professional Study Guide.

Covered Today:
Heldman Chapter 6: Establishing Project Planning Controls
PMBOK Chapter 8—Project Quality Management
PMBOK Chapter 11—Project Risk Management
PMBOK Chapter 12—Project Procurement Management

Main Learning Points
  • Quality Planning
  • Quality Requirements
  • Risk Identification
  • Qualitative Risk Analysis
  • Risk response plan
  • Procurement Planning
  • Contract Types and Their Usage


To Be Covered Saturday:
Heldman Chapter 7: Creating the Project Plan
PMBOK Chapter 6.4—Schedule Development
PMBOK Chapter 6.5—Schedule Control
PMBOK Chapter 7—Project Cost Management

To Learn
  • Calculate Critical Path
  • Define Critical Path Task
  • Describe and Calculate PERT Duration Estimates
  • Name Duration Compression Techniques
  • Describe Cost Baseline
Heldman Chapter 8: Developing the Project Team
PMBOK Chapter 4.2—Project Plan Execution
PMBOK Chapter 9.3—Team Development
PMBOK Chapter 10.1—Communications Planning
PMBOK Chapter 10.2—Information Distribution

To Learn
  • Project Plan Execution
  • Four Stages of Group Formation
  • Maslow's Highest Level of Motivation
  • Five Levels of Power
  • Differentiate between Senders and Receivers of Information
  • Five Styles of Conflict Resolution




Thursday, September 02, 2004

9-1 Study Group Meeting

Raj and Debra met at Starbucks. Raj had the great news that she starts her new job on Tuesday!! She has an incentive built into her offer letter to encourage her to take the certification test sooner than later. We both agreed we'd shoot for the end of October to take the test.

We decided to continue meeting on Sunday mornings.
The next meeting scheduled to be Sunday, September 5th at 9 am. We'll go through the PMBOK chapters using Kim Heldman's PMP Project Management Professional Study Guide. That means the chapters won't be in sequence.

Covered Today:
Heldman Chapter 5: Resource Planning and Estimating
PMBOK Chapter 6Project Time Management
PMBOK Chapter 9Project Human Management

Main Learning Points
  • Activity Sequencing tools and techniques
  • PDM versus ADM
  • Activity Duration Estimating tools and techniques
  • Cost Estimating tools and techniques
  • Analogous estimating versus Bottom-up estimating



To Be Covered Sunday:
Heldman Chapter 6: Establishing Project Planning Controls
PMBOK Chapter 8—Project Quality Management
PMBOK Chapter 11—Project Risk Management
PMBOK Chapter 12—Project Procurement Management

To Learn
  • Quality Planning
  • Quality Requirements
  • Risk Identification
  • Qualitative Risk Analysis
  • Risk response plan
  • Procurement Planning
  • Contract types and their usage



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