# Preparation ## Study Plan - [AR's Course on Udemy](https://www.udemy.com/course/pmp-certification-exam-prep-course-pmbok-6th-edition/learn/lecture/23959460?start=0#lecture-article) - Watch first 7 sections, then the video associated with this: - [[ricardo_vargas_simplified_practice-guide_flow_color_EN.pdf]] - [PMBOK® Guide 6th Ed Processes Explained with Ricardo Vargas! - YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GC7pN8Mjot8) - [Preview Version - PMP Exam Prep Study Notes 2025.docx - Google Docs](https://docs.google.com/document/d/1IIZoUdSdI6-TlYHxs9umzETnAlTCEs7h/edit?tab=t.0) - David McLachlan videos (PMBOK 7, Waterfall, Agile – free) - Agile - X, ### PM Mindset #flashcard 1. Always **discuss, investigate, analyze, ask** before deciding on a solution 2. Never settle for delays or extra costs. However, extra costs precede delays 3. Be a servant leader! (**encourage, care, nurture, listen and never create friction in the team)** 4. Value is gold 5. Root cause analysis and MVP or demo are your weapons 6. Any change will go through a change request process (**for predictive).** There is no change request process (**for agile)** 7. Your team members are the experts, not you! Make every decision with them 8. The PM makes the decisions and handles the issues (**no running to sponsors, management or HR). Note: The exam will mention project sponsor many times. ONLY go to the sponsor when there is a problem with the budget (example, money is running out) BUT going to the sponsor should be the last resort** 9. Everyone directly or indirectly involved is a stakeholder and must be added to the register (stakeholder register) and how they impact the project 10. No matter if the project is completed or terminated, the closing phase must occur **(predictive)** 11. In a predictive project, your plan is your map. Constantly refer back to it 12. Predictive project keywords: **change control board (CCB), change control process** 13. Agile project keywords: **sprint, iteration, scrum, daily standup, backlog, Kanban, product increment, product owner/manager** 14. When you or your team have no clue on what’s going on, a **subject matter expert (SME)** is what you need. **Or, you can refer to past projects in the lessons learned register** 15. When transitioning from predictive to agile, introduce agile concepts slowly (**pilot project, inception deck)** 16. Agile projects are self organizing - **meaning teams are in charge however the PM can still step in to manage and resolve conflicts** 17. An agile project will always need consistent feedback from the customer 18. Never immediately reject a request or an opportunity - **especially from a client** <!--ID: 1753886610322--> ### Traditional PM Mindset 1. Identification and analysis of stakeholders is something that is done throughout the project, not just as the beginning 2. Always follow a plan and never allow changes to the plan without an approved change request 3. Any stakeholder that wants to change any component of the project management plan will need to submit a change request 4. All change requests will need to be reviewed and assessed 5. Never take action without first creating a plan 6. Consult with the project team before making decisions as they will have a more practical approach 7. Your final decision should always benefit the objectives of the project 8. Try to use tools that are inclusive such as whiteboard and marker 9. All scope changed should be assessed on how it will impact all other parts of the project including schedule, cost, quality, resources, communications 10. When conducting estimates use a bottom-up approach 11. Your main job is to be an integrator of the many different components within a project. Do not concentrate on one area over others. 12. Update the lesson learned register throughout the entire project 13. When closing the project ensure all bills are paid off and resources are released 14. Projects that are terminated early still needs to be closed formally through the close project or phase process 15. The best people to break down the work is the project team 16. The best people to determine when a particular may happen is the project team 17. Quality requirements should be defined early in the project and checked often 18. The customers are the best people to check a deliverable for scope and quality being met 19. Before resolving a conflicts, understand the source of the conflict 20. Conflicts between team members should always be resolved from the benefits of the projects objectives 21. Before communications are sent to stakeholders, ensure to analyze their needs 22. Utilize the skill of emotional intelligence 23. Identify risk as early as possible 24. A negative risk is known as a threat, while a positive risk is known as an opportunity 25. When selecting a contract to use on a project with potential sellers, always use a contract that is mutual beneficial to both the seller and the buyer 26. Engage stakeholders often and regularly ### Agile PM Mindset 1. Be a servant leader at all time 2. Engage the product owner to document the features and to prioritize them in the backlog 3. Only the PO can prioritize the features in the product backlog 4. Use a co-location 5. Face-to-face communications with a whiteboard 6. Provide agile teams with lots of wall space 7. Information should be radiated through the use of large charts and graphs 8. Any problems that occur should be resolved by the project team 9. Provide a safe environment for disagreements 10. Try to limit the work-in-progress (use [[Kanban]] boards) 11. Consistently communicate and re-communicate project vision 12. Understand the needs of your team members and find out what may motivate them 13. Make sure people understand what failure and success will look like 14. Be a central figure to the team, not a dictator 15. Have good ethical values 16. Review the methods work was completed by doing a restrospectve 17. Utilize feedback loops ## Practice Questions / Exams - [PMI Study Hall PMP Essentials (Subscription)](https://www.pmi.org/shop/us/p-/digital-product/pmi-study-hall-pmp-essentials-(subscription)/dp013) - Videos: - [100 WATERFALL PMP Questions and Answers - EXCELLENT Preparation for the Exam!](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xIH-u81XCxM) - [200 AGILE PMP Questions and Answers - the BEST Preparation for the Exam!](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tNIHysh2ZW4&t=4206s) - [150 PMBOK 7 Scenario-Based PMP Exam Questions and Answers](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zht0-j03NfQ) ## Exam Day Prep - [PMP Most Important Video Before Actual PMP Exam ! PMP Exam Day Strategies (2024)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ItnUXEGX584) - [TIME MANAGEMENT for PMP Exam | How to manage TIME in your PMP Exam? New PMP Certification Exam Prep](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2bw2HKqT7DE) # Resources - Reddit Posts: - [The lazy man’s step by step guide to passing the PMP (AT/AT/AT) : r/pmp](https://www.reddit.com/r/pmp/comments/147jmhh/the_lazy_mans_step_by_step_guide_to_passing_the/) - [PMP Passed AT/AT/AT - Detailed Experience & Resources with Links : r/pmp](https://www.reddit.com/r/pmp/comments/1bf1hyf/pmp_passed_atatat_detailed_experience_resources/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web2x&context=3) # Notes from Practice Exam Questions I Got Wrong - The scope statement has deliverables as well as exclusions. It is output as part of the "Define Scope" process. - Once a change is approved, you move to "Direct and Manager Project Work" - Attribute sample is a measurement that is usually pass / fail or good / bad - The tool of 'Financing' is used in "Determine Budget" - Process tailoring is done to amend the agile methodology to better fit the project environment - There is no such thing as Create Scope Baseline - Quality metrics are used to measure project deliverables - Qualitative Risk Analysis -> Probability and Impact - Quantitative Risk Analysis -> Value - Crashing -> adding resources - Fast tracking -> working on activities in parallel - If a change is already rejected, it stays rejected - Conduct Procurement is when you select a seller, Control Procurement is ensuring things are done and paid. - Cost-plus-fixed-fee contract is where the buyer pays all the work expenses and then pays a fixed price for the work. - The Benefits Management Plan is a type of business document that describes how and when the benefits of the project will be delivered, and process that should be in place to measure those benefits. It is review during Closing. - The [[Five Cs of Communication]]: Correct grammar and spelling, concise expression and elimination of excess words, clear purpose and expression directed to the needs of the reader, coherent logical flow of ideas, controlling flow of words and ideas - The change management plan explains the change process, but the Configuration Management Plan show which items in the project are baselined and need to go through the change management process - You must define the activities and durations *before* you can create a project budget - The Project Manager Talent Triangle includes: Technical Project Management skills, leadership, and business management - Resource smoothing is when we use available float to adjust a task without affecting the overall schedule - Resource leveling is moving tasks further out, in sequence instead of parallel. - The rules for control charts are: - 7+ points about/below center - 5+ points in one direction - Any point outside limits - If deliverables are not accepted, you must raise a change request - A Resource Assignment Matrix is the best approach for showing resource and work assignment - A technical risk would be centered around scope, requirements, technical processes, etc. - Documenting lessons learned can come after contracts have been reviewed. - Deming's PDCA cycle can be utilized to better understand the impact of the change - Remove unethical members from the project immediately - ITERATIONS - Directive orientation is characterized by a focus on results, a willingness to take charge, and a preference for clear and concise communication. - Building rapport and relationships is aligned with affiliation orientation, motivating team members is aligned with achievement orientation, and influencing and controlling team members is aligned with power orientation. - Expectancy theory proposes that employees are motivated when they are given assignments they feel confident they can achieve, when they value the compensation you offer and when they believe you will compensate them as promised. - The aim of need achievement theory is to explain why certain individuals are more motivated to achieve than others. - Maslow's hierarchy of needs is a theory of motivation which states that five categories of human needs dictate an individual's behavior. Those needs are physiological needs, safety needs, love and belonging needs, esteem needs, and self-actualization needs. - The contingency theory emphasizes the importance of both the leader's personality and the situation in which that leader operates. - An authority issue should only be resolved by the steering committee