MullaneyVision Approach to Project Management Professionalism

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MullaneyVision Approach to Project Management Professionalism

This page is offered to the community in support of Project Management Professionalism. The Project Management Institute (PMI) offers an international standard of excellence for this business specialty; the Project Management Professional (PMP) certification is awarded to those individuals committed to the goals proclaimed by PMI, educated in the field of project management and experienced with its implementation.

In short, Project management is what ensured that the pyramids of Egypt were shaped properly. Project management is planning and communicating to make sure that everybody knows the goals and what he or she must do to accomplish them within a certain time frame and limited resources.

"PMBOK, PMI, and PMP" are trademarks, service marks or certification marks of the Project Management Institute, Inc., which is registered in the USA and other countries. This website has been heavily influenced by PMI and RMC Project resources mentioned; however, the website has not been inspected or affirmed by either of those organizations or their affiliates. If you find this helpful, you may encourage representatives of those organizations to request the summaries and suggestions included here.

Susan Van Alsburg, a leader in a community organization that benefited from MullaneyVision project management in Spring 2003, made this observation: "You've done a phenomenal job communicating and keeping everybody moving, so I thank you for that. I commend you."

The pertinent section from MullaneyVision Services is re-published here, and links to more MullaneyVision resources are also linked below.

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Project Management

Project management involves defining and arranging prorities and resources to accomplish specific goals. Excellent oral and written communication are key to being effective. Teams must balance the deliverables, dates and dollars associated with the project; project management leadership enables clarity and achievement with respect to that balance. Wherever possible, progress should be measured; anything unmeasureable is unmanageable, so the project manager must find, track and report on those measures.

Related Links

www.pmi.org, the Project Management Institute certification of Project Management Professionals (PMPs)

PM Responsibilities, a MullaneyVision checklist

www.kepner-tregoe.org, home of the famous Kepner-Tregoe Analysis (for decision making and risk management)

www.goldratt.org, consulting resources for Dr. Eli Goldratt's Theory of Constraints

www.unisys.com/about__unisys, a look at the company that said "At Sperry, we know how to listen."

www.pmconnection.com, Connecting the Project Management World

Communication
Communication must be consistent, concise and credible. All interested parties must be identified specifically or by their roles. They must have access to the documents and other resources needed for their work. Formats should be editable when development is a shared effort, and revisions should be archived.

Measurement
Developers are known to report that they are about 90% complete (maybe 90% of the time!). A project manager must determine objective and consistent means by which to measure progress. With metrics defined clearly and appropriately, a project manager will track completion of goals more accurately.

Leadership
Leadership should be established by demonstration of how project management will empower everybody's contributions. Furthermore, the project manager's reputation should be earned by consistent delivery on commitments and by an ever-increasing knowledge of the industry, its players and its issues.

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Project Management Professional (PMP)

The PMP exam is offered throughout the year. Several companies offer services to help project managers prepare to take it. (See links below).

Related Links

www.pmi.org, the Project Management Institute certification of Project Management Professionals (PMPs)

www.pmimilehi.org, the PMI Mile Hi Chapter (Denver CO)

www.rmcproject.com, RMC Project Management, including training materials by Rita Mulcahy, PMP

www.prometric.com, the agency that proctors the test in USA and Canada

mullaneyvision.net/pmp/pmp-study.html, notes for study group

mullaneyvision.net/pmp/pmp-prep.xls, template spreadsheet for managing study

mullaneyvision.net/pmp/pmp-ritasheet.html, HTML printable answer sheet for Rita Mulchahy's practice tests

www.projectricity.com, News/Links includes files related to PMI presentation.

Instruction
Courses are offered by a variety of organizations; some packages include taking the test itself. Course length ranges from 3-5 days. Most material that I have seen is organized to address the nine knowledge areas from the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK):

Project Integration Management

Project Scope Management

Project Time Management

Project Cost Management

Project Quality Management

Project Human Resource Management

Project Communications Management

Project Risk Management

Project Procurement Management

The exam emphasizes (nearly 75%) on the planning, execution and control phases of a project. The remainder of the questions cover professional responsibility and the initializing/closing phases of a project.

Study
Here are the areas that I have chosen to prioritize for my own study plans:

Definitions of Knowledge Areas (color-coded)

Knowledge Area summary notes from class

Knowledge Area Processes in order (from PMBOK)

Process Inputs (from PMBOK)

Process Tools and Techniques (from PMBOK)

Process Outputs (from PMBOK)

PMI placemat (front)

PMI placemat (back)

Glossary (from PMBOK)

PMP Standards

Abbreviations and Acronyms

Also, the following items will be important resources for my study sessions (independently and with the group):

Flash cards (made by self)

Practice presentations

PMBOK

HOT TOPICS and other resources in PMP Exam Prep

PMP Exam Prep by Rita Mulcahy, PMP

CD/Sample Tests (by Rita Mulcahy)

Notes from class

Study sessions with other PMP candidates

Other books offered throug PMI

Logistics
If your instruction course does not include the exam (or if you care to attempt the exam without a formal course, however ill-advised that may be), you should plan on studying 40-80 hours across a 4-6 week time period. If you are already a PMI member with an ID number, the application for the test can be made online (much easier than filling out all the paper forms). Once you submit the application, if you are approved, you will receive a number and instructions for making arrangements to take the test (during a 4-hour period, Monday-Friday). Since the test is online, there are opportunities to mark questions as uncertain, so that you can have the program revisit uncertain or unanswered questions before making your final submission). Within a few moments, you will see a paragraph explaining the results of your effort.

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	MullaneyVision Approach to Project Management Professionalism This page is offered to the community in support of Project Management Professionalism. The Project Management Institute (PMI) offers an international standard of excellence for this business specialty; the Project Management Professional (PMP) certification is awarded to those individuals committed to the goals proclaimed by PMI, educated in the field of project management and experienced with its implementation. In short, Project management is what ensured that the pyramids of Egypt were shaped properly. Project management is planning and communicating to make sure that everybody knows the goals and what he or she must do to accomplish them within a certain time frame and limited resources. "PMBOK, PMI, and PMP" are trademarks, service marks or certification marks of the Project Management Institute, Inc., which is registered in the USA and other countries. This website has been heavily influenced by PMI and RMC Project resources mentioned; however, the website has not been inspected or affirmed by either of those organizations or their affiliates. If you find this helpful, you may encourage representatives of those organizations to request the summaries and suggestions included here. Susan Van Alsburg, a leader in a community organization that benefited from MullaneyVision project management in Spring 2003, made this observation: "You've done a phenomenal job communicating and keeping everybody moving, so I thank you for that. I commend you." The pertinent section from MullaneyVision Services is re-published here, and links to more MullaneyVision resources are also linked below.
focus here \| return to top of this page
Project Management Project management involves defining and arranging prorities and resources to accomplish specific goals. Excellent oral and written communication are key to being effective. Teams must balance the deliverables, dates and dollars associated with the project; project management leadership enables clarity and achievement with respect to that balance. Wherever possible, progress should be measured; anything unmeasureable is unmanageable, so the project manager must find, track and report on those measures.
Related Links www.pmi.org, the Project Management Institute certification of Project Management Professionals (PMPs) PM Responsibilities, a MullaneyVision checklist www.kepner-tregoe.org, home of the famous Kepner-Tregoe Analysis (for decision making and risk management) www.goldratt.org, consulting resources for Dr. Eli Goldratt's Theory of Constraints www.unisys.com/about__unisys, a look at the company that said "At Sperry, we know how to listen." www.pmconnection.com, Connecting the Project Management World	Communication Communication must be consistent, concise and credible. All interested parties must be identified specifically or by their roles. They must have access to the documents and other resources needed for their work. Formats should be editable when development is a shared effort, and revisions should be archived. Measurement Developers are known to report that they are about 90% complete (maybe 90% of the time!). A project manager must determine objective and consistent means by which to measure progress. With metrics defined clearly and appropriately, a project manager will track completion of goals more accurately. Leadership Leadership should be established by demonstration of how project management will empower everybody's contributions. Furthermore, the project manager's reputation should be earned by consistent delivery on commitments and by an ever-increasing knowledge of the industry, its players and its issues.
focus here \| return to top of this page
Project Management Professional (PMP) The PMP exam is offered throughout the year. Several companies offer services to help project managers prepare to take it. (See links below).
Related Links www.pmi.org, the Project Management Institute certification of Project Management Professionals (PMPs) www.pmimilehi.org, the PMI Mile Hi Chapter (Denver CO) www.rmcproject.com, RMC Project Management, including training materials by Rita Mulcahy, PMP www.prometric.com, the agency that proctors the test in USA and Canada mullaneyvision.net/pmp/pmp-study.html, notes for study group mullaneyvision.net/pmp/pmp-prep.xls, template spreadsheet for managing study mullaneyvision.net/pmp/pmp-ritasheet.html, HTML printable answer sheet for Rita Mulchahy's practice tests www.projectricity.com, News/Links includes files related to PMI presentation.	Instruction Courses are offered by a variety of organizations; some packages include taking the test itself. Course length ranges from 3-5 days. Most material that I have seen is organized to address the nine knowledge areas from the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK): Project Integration Management Project Scope Management Project Time Management Project Cost Management Project Quality Management Project Human Resource Management Project Communications Management Project Risk Management Project Procurement Management The exam emphasizes (nearly 75%) on the planning, execution and control phases of a project. The remainder of the questions cover professional responsibility and the initializing/closing phases of a project. Study Here are the areas that I have chosen to prioritize for my own study plans: Definitions of Knowledge Areas (color-coded) Knowledge Area summary notes from class Knowledge Area Processes in order (from PMBOK) Process Inputs (from PMBOK) Process Tools and Techniques (from PMBOK) Process Outputs (from PMBOK) PMI placemat (front) PMI placemat (back) Glossary (from PMBOK) PMP Standards Abbreviations and Acronyms Also, the following items will be important resources for my study sessions (independently and with the group): Flash cards (made by self) Practice presentations PMBOK HOT TOPICS and other resources in PMP Exam Prep PMP Exam Prep by Rita Mulcahy, PMP CD/Sample Tests (by Rita Mulcahy) Notes from class Study sessions with other PMP candidates Other books offered throug PMI Logistics If your instruction course does not include the exam (or if you care to attempt the exam without a formal course, however ill-advised that may be), you should plan on studying 40-80 hours across a 4-6 week time period. If you are already a PMI member with an ID number, the application for the test can be made online (much easier than filling out all the paper forms). Once you submit the application, if you are approved, you will receive a number and instructions for making arrangements to take the test (during a 4-hour period, Monday-Friday). Since the test is online, there are opportunities to mark questions as uncertain, so that you can have the program revisit uncertain or unanswered questions before making your final submission). Within a few moments, you will see a paragraph explaining the results of your effort.