Guide to the Changes in PMP 2015

PMP- 2015GUIDE TO THE CHANGES IN

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Introduction –the purpose of this manual

New Tasks: Initiating

New Tasks: Planning

New Tasks: Executing

New Tasks: Monitoring and controlling

New Tasks: Closing

Exam paper: module-wise weightage

Changes to Continuing Certification Requirements

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Table of contents

THE PURPOSE OF THIS MANUAL

If you have been preparing for the Project Management Professional Certification exam, work as project manager, or even have only passing interest in the field of Project Management, chances are you’ve likely heard of the changes PMI –the organization that administers the PMP credential- has introduced to the exam, for 2015 and beyond.

And when it comes to an exam as tough as the PMP, staying up-to-date with developments and changes is crucially important to tailor your prep accordingly.

This guide o�ers a detailed overview of the changes to the exam, categorized by process group and knowledge area, an analysis of the PMP exam paper to arrive at a breakdown of weightage, by area, and details of the changes to CCR requirements. Keep this guide at hand and within reach as you prepare so you never lose sight of the end-objective: acing the exam on your first attempt!

WHY ARE THE CHANGES BEING IMPLEMENTED?

NOTE: The changes in PMP is only to the examination content outline, and not to the PMBoK 5th edition.

Every five to seven years, the Project Management Institute (PMI)® performs a ‘Role Delineation Study (RDS)’, which is essentially a survey of project managers worldwide, to identify the nature of tasks, roles, and responsibilities they fulfil in organizations across sectors. The RDS helps the PMI arrive at an accurate picture of the status of the Project Management profession, and the skillset require to succeed as project manager.

This information is then utilized to incorporate changes at source to ensure the PMP examination will continue to assess what is relevant to practice as the profession evolves over time.

In the most recent survey, the RDS determined that the role of a PMP has evolved, thus necessitating changes to the exam.

Introduction

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NEW TASKS ADDED

There are five domains of practice for the PMP exam. While the domains remain the same, additional tasks have been added to these domains, while a few tasks have either been modified or removed. Changes have also been made to several of the knowledge areas and skills associated with certain tasks.


Tasks added: Task 2, Task 7, and Task 8

Domain 1 Initiating the Project

Tasks added: Task 13

Domain 2 Planning the Project

Tasks added: Task 6, Task 7

Domain 3 Executing the Project

Tasks added: Task 6, Task 7

Domain 4 Monitoring and Controlling the Project

Tasks added: None

Domain 5 Closing the Project

Initiating


Analytical skills

Benefit analysis techniques

Elements of a project charter

Estimation tools and techniques

Strategic management

Task 1 Perform the project assessment based on the information available, lessons learned from past projects, and holding stakeholder meetings in order to support evaluation and feasibility of new products or services within the given assumptions and/or constraints.

Task 2 Identify key deliverables that are based on business requirements that help in managing customer expectations and direct achievement of project goals.

Task 3 By using appropriate techniques and tools, perform stakeholder analysis to meet expectations and gain support for the project.

Task 4 Based on the current environment, historical data, organizational factors, and expert judgment, identify high level risks, assumptions, and constraints to propose an implementation strategy.

Task 5 By compiling and analyzing gathered information, participate in the development of the project chapter to ensure project stakeholders are in agreement on its elements.

Task 6 Attain project charter approval from the sponsor, for the purpose of formalizing the authority assigned to the project manager and gaining acceptance and commitment for the project.

Task 7 To validate the alignment of the project according to the organizational strategy and expected value, conduct benefit analysis with relevant stakeholders.

Task 8 Ensure common understanding of the key deliverables, the milestones and roles and responsibilities by informing stakeholders of the approved project charter.

KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS

Planning


Task 1 Assess and review the detailed project requirements, assumptions and constraints with stakeholders based on the project charter, learned lessons and by the use of requirement gathering techniques to establish detailed project deliverables.

Task 2 Based on the approved project scope and the use of use scope management techniques, develop a scope management plan, to define, maintain, and manage project scope.

Task 3 Based on Project scope, resources, schedule, approved project charter and other information, develop the cost management plan while using estimating techniques, to manage project costs

Task 4 Based on the approved project deliverables, scope, milestones and resources management plans, develop the project schedule to manage timely completion of the project.

Task 5 To create a project organizational structure and provide the required guidance on how resources will be assigned and managed, develop the human resource management plan by defining the roles and responsibilities of the project team members.

Task 6 Based on the stakeholders’ requirements and project organizational structure, develop the communications management plan to define and manage the flow of project information.

Task 7 The procurement management plan should be developed based on the project budget, scope, and schedule to ensure the project resources that are required are available.

Task 8 Define the quality standards and develop the Quality Management plan for the project, based on the project scope, risks, and requirements, to control the cost of quality and to prevent the occurrence of defects.

Task 9 Define how changes will be addressed and controlled by developing the change management plan to track and manage change.

Task 10 Risk Management should be planned for by developing a risk management plan that will identify, analyze, and prioritize project risk; create the risk register; and define risk response strategies to manage uncertainty and opportunity throughout the project life cycle.

Change management planning

Cost management planning, including project budgeting tools and techniques

Communications planning

Contract types and selection criteria

Estimation tools and techniques

Human Resource planning

Lean and e�ciency principles

Procurement planning

Quality management planning

Requirements gathering techniques ( e.g. Planning sessions, brainstorming, and focus groups)

Regulatory and environmental impacts assessment planning

Risk management planning

Scope management planning

Stakeholder management planning

Time management planning, including scheduling tools and techniques

Workflow diagramming techniques

Task 11 According to the applicable policies and procedures, present the project management plan to the relevant stakeholders according to applicable policies and procedures to obtain approval to proceed with project execution.

Task 12 Hold the ‘kick o�’ meeting, communicate the start of the project, the key milestones and other relevant information to engage and inform the stakeholders and gain commitment.

Task 13 By analyzing the needs, interests and potential impact, develop the stakeholder management plan to e�ectively manage stakeholders’ expectations and engage in project decisions.



Executing

Task 1 By following the Human Resource and Procurement Management Plans, manage and acquire project resources to meet the requirements of the project.

Task 2 Based on the Project Management Plan, manage task execution by developing and leading the project team to achieve project deliverables.

Task 3 Using the appropriate techniques and tools, implement the quality management plan order to ensure that work is performed according to required standards

Task 4 By following the change management plan, implement approved changes and corrective actions to meet project requirements

Task 5 Following the Risk Management plan, implement approved actions to minimize the impact of the risks and take advantage of opportunities on the project.

Task 6 Following the Communication Plan, manage the flow of information by following the communications plan to keep stakeholders informed and engaged.

Task 7 Following the Stakeholder Management Plan, maintain stakeholder relationships by following the stakeholder management plan to receive continued support and manage expectations


Continuous improvement processes

Contract management techniques

Elements of a statement of work

Interdependencies among project elements

Project budgeting tools and techniques

Quality standard tools

Vendor management techniques


Monitoring and controlling

Task 1 Using appropriate techniques and tools, measure project performance to identify and quantify any variances and corrective actions

Task 2 Following the Change Management Plan, manage changes to the project to ensure project goals remain aligned with business needs

Task 3 By using appropriate techniques and tools, verify that project deliverables conform to the quality standards established in the quality management plan to meet project requirements and business needs

Task 4 Monitor and assess risk by determining whether exposure has changed and evaluating the e�ectiveness of response strategies in order to manage the impact of risks and opportunities on the project.

Task 5 Review the issue log, update if necessary, and finalize corrective actions by using appropriate tools and techniques to minimize the impact on the project

Task 6 Capture, analyze and manage the lessons learned, with the use of the lessons learned management techniques to enable continuous improvement

Task 7 According to the Procurement plan, monitor procurement activities to verify compliance with project objectives.


Performance measurements and tracking techniques (e.g. EV, CPM, PERT, Trend Analysis)

Process analysis techniques (e.g. LEAN, Kanban , Six Sigma)

Project control limits (e.g. Thresholds, tolerance)

Project finance principles

Project monitoring tools and techniques

Project quality best practices and standards (e.g. ISO, BS, CMMI, IEEE)

Quality measurement tools (e.g. Statistical sampling, control charts, flow charting, inspection, assessment)

Risk identification and analysis techniques

Risk response techniques

Quality validation and verification techniques


Closing

Task 1 From relevant stakeholders, obtain final acceptance of the project deliverables to confirm that the project scope and deliverables were achieved

Task 2 In accordance with the project plan, transfer the ownership of deliverables to the assigned stakeholders to facilitate project closure.

Task 3 Using generally accepted policies and practices, obtain financial, legal, and administrative closure to communicate formal project closure and ensure transfer of liability

Task 4 According to the Communications Management plan, prepare and share the final project report, to document and convey project performance and assist in project evaluation.

Task 5 Conduct a comprehensive project review and collate and document lessons learned throughout the project to update the organization’s knowledge base.

Task 6 Using generally accepted policies and practices, archive project documents and materials to comply with statutory requirements and for potential use in future projects and audits.

Task 7 Using appropriate techniques and tools, and based on the stakeholder Management plan, obtain feedback from relevant stakeholders to evaluate their satisfaction


Archiving practices and statutes

Compliance (statute/ organization)

Contract closure requirements

Close out procedures

Feedback techniques

Performance measurement techniques (KPI and key success factors)

Project review techniques

Transition planning technique


Exam Format Breakdown


The percentage of questions from the various process groups on the new-look PMP exam will di�er slightly from the current version. Details are as follows.

24%

13%

25%

7%

31%

Intitiatin

g

Planning

Executing

Closing

Monitorin

g

and controllin

g

24%

31%

24% 25% 25%

7% 8%

30%

Intitiatin

g

Planning

Executing

Closing

Monitorin

g

and controllin

g

GRAPHIC ILLUSTRATING THE CHANGES TO WEIGHTAGE

Total – 100%

NEW % of Items on Test

OLD % of Items on Test

13%13%

Changes to Continuing Certification Requirements


E�ective 1st December, 2015, PMI's CCR programme will be aligned with the skills depicted in the PMI Talent Triangle. The framework for the CCR program remains the same. However, classification of PDUs earned from two categories has undergone a change.

EDUCATION

60 PDUs required in this category: This change is to place emphasis on evolving employer demanded skills.

These PDUs will be aligned with the PMI Talent Triangle

Minimum no. of PDUs must be earned in Technical Project Management, Leadership, and Strategic and Business Management categories.

GIVING BACK

The maximum no of earned PDUs in this category has decreased.

The activities remain the same, i.e., Volunteering, Creating Knowledge and Working as a Professional.

The total number of PDUs to be earned in Working as a Professional has decreased.

Mark your Calendar


The percentage of questions from the various process groups on the new-look PMP exam will di�er slightly from the current version. Details are as follows.

In a nutshellAs a PMP candidate, you will only need to keep in mind the date of the exam change and the updates to the exam outline. Education and experience eligibility will not change. All the other elements of application and testing involved in certification will remain the same. If you wish to take the exam under the current version of the PMP exam, you will have to appear before the 1st of November.

1st November, 2015: The last day to take the test under the current version of the PMP exam

11 January 2016: The revised version of the exam will come into play and the new CCR policy will become applicable for all PMP certified professionals – old and new.

Documents

Guide to the Changes in PMP 2015