Project Management and the PMP approach

Eric Guetre, P.Eng., PMP

19 June 2010

My own journey to BC

Challenges for ITEs

• Language barriers• Education equivalency • Obtaining references• Lack of local network

Opportunities for ITEs

• Fresh start in new country• Leverage your international

experience

Source: http://career.huawei.com

Function 6

Management paths

...

...Project managers

Func

tiona

l man

ager

sGeneralmanager

ProjectA

ProjectB

ProjectC

ProjectF

Function 1

Function 2

Function 3

Functional vs. Project management

Functional management• Specialization• Training & skills

development• People & career

management

Project management• Results oriented• Deliver a product,

service, or improvement

• Project & team focus

So you want to be a project manager?

Successful project managers

1. Aptitude2. Experience3. Domain knowledge4. Training

i. Corporate trainingii. PMP certification iii. Advanced degree in Mgmt

Corporate Training

+ Free+ Applicable to work+ Networking with colleagues+ Career advancement‒Maybe not recognized

Advanced degree in Mgmt

+ Widely recognized+ Business skills+ Networking+ Career advancement‒Expensive‒Time commitment

PMP certification

+ Global standard+ Comprehensive+ Career advancement+ Affordable+ Networking

Source: http://www.pmi.org/CareerDevelopment/Pages/AboutCredentialsPMP.aspx

ITEs:4-year degree4,500 hrs leading projects35 hrs proj mgmt trainingMultiple choice exam

My own path to PMP

• 8 years in product development leadership positions

• >100 hrs in corporate management training• About 60 hours to study PMBOK and do on-

line practice questions• Took full 4 hours to do the exam!

Project Management Phases

Project Management Knowledge Areas

Integration ManagementScope ManagementTime ManagementCost Management

Quality ManagementHuman Resource ManagementCommunications Management

Risk ManagementProcurement Management

Tips of passing the PMP exam

• Practice with example questions (online or study guide)

• Attempt PMP exam very soon after your PMP prep course and after studying

• Read questions carefully... There always seems to be two reasonable answers per questions

PMI’s audit process before certification

• Random• Work references• Proof of training

Example: Product Development

Definition

Design

Integration

Ramp-upPhase I Phase II Phase III Phase IV

Product Development vs. PMI’s Standard

Definition

Design

Integration

Ramp-upPhase I Phase II Phase III Phase IV

Example: Aviation Repair & Overhaul

Aviation Repair & Overhaul vs. PMI’s Standard

How to leverage your PMP knowledge

• Project Management Book Of Knowledge (PMBOK) is a good reference

• Wide variety of techniques for all phases of project management

• Professional way to tackle a project

• Helps to cross-over into other industries

Project Management tips & tricks

• Don’t over-promise• Clarify requirements• Control changes• Understand your organization• Communicate well & frequently: up, down

and laterally• Never assume

Advantages of PMP certification for ITEsChallenges for ITEs How a PMP can helpLanguage Learn global project

management nomenclatureEducation Globally recognized

certificationReferences Must have references (random

audits by PMI)Networking -During training course

-By being active in local PMI chapter

You became a PMP... now what?• PMP certification renewed every three years• Need to earn 60 PDUs in that timeframe• Earn PDUs by:– Authoring a book or article on Project Management– Self-directed learning– Attend PM events at your local PMI chapter– Volunteer at your local PMI chapter– Project Management training– Presenting on a project management topic– Etc...

• PDUs can be managed on-line

PMP shortfalls

• Thinking that being a PMP is more important than Aptitude, Experience, and Domain Knowledge

• Valuing PMP techniques over of common sense

References

• Useful references:– Project Management Body of Knowledge,

4th Edition– The PDMA Handbook of New Product

Development, 2nd Edition• Relevant organizations:– PMI, www.pmi.org – PDMA, www.pdma.org

Questions?