The PMP and CAPM exams today are 50% Plan-based and 50% Agile.
Find out how to get a free Certified Stable Scrum Master certificate by taking a PMP/CAPM Exam Prep course from Red Rock Research. For details email Contact@RedRockResearch.com or phone us at 801.636.0043.
The exams emphasize 3 sections:
- Process 50%
- People 42%
- Business Environment 8%
PMP: Process 50%
The Process portion of the Project Management Professional (PMP) exam emphasizes the technical aspects of managing a project. This domain tests your understanding of project management processes, tools, techniques, and methodologies to ensure project success. It covers the project lifecycle from initiation to closure, with a focus on managing scope, schedule, cost, risk, quality, and other critical project management functions. Here's an overview:
Key Topics:
- Executing the Project with Quality
- Ensuring the project is completed according to plan by executing the work defined in the project management plan.
- Maintaining quality standards by implementing continuous improvement processes and quality assurance techniques.
- Managing project changes through effective change control procedures.
- Managing Scope
- Defining and controlling what is included and excluded from the project.
- Developing a scope management plan, creating a work breakdown structure (WBS), and managing scope changes.
- Ensuring that all project deliverables meet the defined requirements.
- Schedule Management
- Creating a realistic and achievable project schedule that reflects all project activities.
- Developing a schedule management plan, using tools such as Gantt charts, network diagrams, and critical path methods (CPM).
- Monitoring and controlling the schedule to ensure timely completion of the project.
- Cost Management
- Developing a cost management plan that outlines how project costs will be planned, estimated, and controlled.
- Performing cost estimation, budgeting, and forecasting using techniques such as earned value management (EVM).
- Managing cost overruns and ensuring that the project stays within its approved budget.
- Risk Management
- Identifying potential risks and developing a risk management plan.
- Conducting risk analysis (qualitative and quantitative) to prioritize risks based on their potential impact and likelihood.
- Implementing risk responses (e.g., avoidance, mitigation, transfer) and monitoring risks throughout the project lifecycle.
- Managing Project Resources
- Developing a resource management plan, which includes planning for both human resources (team members) and physical resources (equipment, materials).
- Acquiring, developing, and managing project teams, including resolving resource conflicts and ensuring effective resource allocation.
- Managing Communications
- Creating a communication management plan to ensure timely and appropriate generation, collection, and dissemination of project information.
- Managing project communications to keep stakeholders informed of progress and changes.
- Ensuring that key project information flows effectively within the project team and among external stakeholders.
- Procurement Management
- Planning and managing procurement activities, including contracting with external vendors and suppliers.
- Creating procurement documentation such as requests for proposals (RFPs) and contracts.
- Managing relationships with vendors and ensuring that project deliverables from external parties are met.
- Stakeholder Management
- Developing a stakeholder management plan to identify, engage, and manage the expectations of stakeholders.
- Monitoring stakeholder engagement and making adjustments as needed to keep stakeholders aligned with project objectives.
- Proactively managing stakeholder issues and concerns.
- Integration Management
- Developing and managing the project management plan, which integrates all project elements (scope, schedule, cost, resources, etc.).
- Coordinating project activities to ensure that the project is delivered as a cohesive whole.
- Managing changes through a formal change control process and ensuring the project stays on track.
Core Concepts:
- Project Phases and Lifecycle: Understanding how the different phases of a project (initiation, planning, execution, monitoring and controlling, and closing) fit together and are managed.
- Process Groups: The PMP exam focuses on five process groups: Initiating, Planning, Executing, Monitoring and Controlling, and Closing. Understanding how these groups are applied in the project lifecycle is key.
- Project Artifacts: Knowing key project documents (e.g., project charter, risk register, project management plan, issue log) and their purposes is crucial for managing processes.
- Agile and Hybrid Approaches: In addition to traditional project management processes, understanding agile and hybrid methodologies and how they fit into the project management landscape is increasingly important.
Exam Preparation Tips:
- Familiarize yourself with the 49 processes outlined in the PMBOK® Guide and know the inputs, tools and techniques, and outputs for each.
- Understand the relationship between different processes, especially across knowledge areas like scope, time, cost, and risk management.
- Practice scenario-based questions that test how to apply specific processes in real-world situations.
- Understand the integration of agile or adaptive practices with traditional project management processes.
The Process domain ensures that project managers are proficient in managing all the technical and procedural aspects of a project, from initiating it to its successful completion while balancing constraints like scope, time, cost, and quality.
PMP: People 42%
The People portion of the Project Management Professional (PMP) exam emphasizes managing and leading project teams, engaging stakeholders, and fostering effective communication within a project. This section tests your skills in leadership, conflict resolution, team building, and managing project resources, as well as your ability to inspire and motivate team members. Here’s an overview:
Key Topics:
- Building a Team
- Developing team charters to define team norms and responsibilities.
- Understanding different team dynamics and selecting team members based on skills and competencies.
- Implementing appropriate team-building strategies to improve performance and collaboration.
- Leading a Team
- Acting as a servant leader by supporting, guiding, and removing obstacles for the team.
- Adapting leadership styles based on the team's needs, individual members, and project circumstances.
- Leading by example and fostering trust among team members.
- Supporting Team Performance
- Monitoring and evaluating team performance to identify improvement opportunities.
- Providing constructive feedback and addressing underperformance or conflicts within the team.
- Recognizing and rewarding team contributions to maintain motivation and engagement.
- Empowering and Engaging Team Members
- Delegating tasks effectively and empowering team members to make decisions and take ownership of their work.
- Promoting a collaborative environment that encourages participation and innovation.
- Ensuring that team members have the necessary resources, training, and development opportunities.
- Managing Conflict
- Identifying sources of conflict and applying conflict resolution techniques, such as negotiation, mediation, and compromise.
- Managing interpersonal relationships and addressing issues before they escalate.
- Using emotional intelligence to navigate difficult conversations and resolve conflicts in a positive way.
- Promoting Collaboration
- Facilitating effective collaboration by encouraging open communication, knowledge sharing, and cooperation among team members.
- Ensuring that team members understand their roles and the project objectives, creating alignment within the team.
- Communicating Effectively
- Developing and implementing communication strategies that ensure timely and clear communication across stakeholders and team members.
- Selecting the right communication methods based on the project needs (e.g., in-person meetings, virtual meetings, or reports).
- Active listening and ensuring that all stakeholders’ perspectives are considered.
- Mentoring and Coaching
- Acting as a mentor to guide team members and provide career development support.
- Coaching team members to improve their skills and enhance performance in the context of the project.
- Managing Stakeholders
- Engaging with project stakeholders by understanding their needs, expectations, and concerns.
- Building strong relationships with stakeholders to ensure alignment with project goals and foster support.
- Managing stakeholder communication, particularly when dealing with competing priorities or conflicting interests.
- Creating a Shared Vision
- Aligning the team and stakeholders around a common project vision and goals.
- Inspiring team members to work toward the project objectives by communicating the importance and impact of the project.
- Keeping the team focused and motivated, even when challenges arise.
Core Concepts:
- Leadership and Motivation: Understanding different leadership styles (e.g., servant leadership, transformational leadership) and how to apply them based on team needs.
- Emotional Intelligence (EI): Recognizing and managing your emotions and those of your team members to build better relationships and handle conflicts effectively.
- Cultural Awareness and Diversity: Managing teams with diverse backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives. Creating an inclusive environment that respects differences.
- Team Development: Using models like Tuckman’s stages of team development (Forming, Storming, Norming, Performing, and Adjourning) to guide team growth.
Exam Preparation Tips:
- Familiarize yourself with leadership and communication theories.
- Practice conflict resolution techniques and team-building strategies.
- Understand the principles of emotional intelligence and how they apply to leading a team.
- Learn how to manage stakeholder expectations and maintain positive relationships.
- Be prepared to answer questions about how to handle difficult team dynamics, delegate work, and build trust within the team.
The People domain tests your ability to effectively manage and lead people in a project environment, emphasizing the human side of project management, including communication, collaboration, motivation, and conflict resolution.
PMP: Business Environment 8%
The business environment portion of the Project Management Professional (PMP) exam focuses on the external and internal factors that impact a project, as well as how a project aligns with an organization’s strategic objectives. This section typically covers topics related to organizational strategy, project benefits management, governance, and the influence of various environmental factors on project decisions. Here’s an overview:
Key Topics:
- Strategic Alignment
- Understanding how projects fit into the broader organizational goals and strategies.
- Ensuring that the project delivers value to the business by supporting strategic objectives.
- Project portfolio alignment and the selection of projects based on business needs.
- Benefits Realization
- Focuses on defining, managing, and realizing the benefits of the project.
- Includes creating a business case, benefits management plan, and ensuring that the project delivers the expected outcomes.
- Organizational Systems and Structures
- Influence of the organizational structure on project management, such as functional, matrix, or projectized structures.
- Understanding how an organization's governance and processes impact project execution and decision-making.
- External Environmental Factors
- Enterprise Environmental Factors (EEFs): These are conditions not under the direct control of the project team but influence, constrain, or direct the project. They can include market conditions, regulatory requirements, and industry standards.
- How external factors, such as market trends, regulations, legal restrictions, and economic conditions, impact project decisions.
- Internal Environmental Factors
- Organizational processes, policies, and procedures that can affect the project.
- Consideration of Organizational Process Assets (OPAs), such as templates, lessons learned, and knowledge bases that aid in project management.
- Compliance and Governance
- Ensuring the project adheres to organizational policies, regulations, and legal requirements.
- Understanding governance frameworks and the role of compliance in project management.
- Managing stakeholder expectations, including those from regulatory bodies or government agencies.
- Risk Management in Business Context
- Identifying, analyzing, and responding to risks that arise from the business environment.
- Consideration of external business risks, such as market volatility or political instability.
Core Concepts:
- Project Business Case: Why the project is being undertaken and how it contributes to the organization’s success.
- Project Benefits Management: Focused on the realization of benefits and how they are tracked throughout and after the project lifecycle.
- Stakeholder Impact: Considering the business environment’s impact on key stakeholders, especially external groups like regulators, customers, and suppliers.
Exam Preparation Tips:
- Understand the strategic purpose of projects and their alignment with organizational goals.
- Be familiar with how to manage the benefits that a project delivers, including creating a benefits management plan.
- Recognize how different organizational structures influence project authority, responsibility, and governance.
- Be aware of the broader business environment and how external factors can affect project success.
The business environment domain is essential for ensuring that project managers see the bigger picture and align their efforts with organizational and external business goals.