Project Management Institute (CAPM-PMP)

Project Management is the application of knowledge, skills, tools and techniques to project activities to meet project requirement [PMBOK 1.3] There are books out there that teach about Project Management and the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK), and a few others teach how to pass CAPM/PMP. The intent of this book is to bridge the gap between knowledge of Project Management and how to use it in an exam. This book will be neutral in nature and does not cover a particular industry. As you can see from the table of contents, this book consists of several chapters. Exactly one chapter is dedicated to each Project Management Process. This will enable you to view each process as its own entity.

Audience

This book is intended for those who would like to become a Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM) or a Project Management Professional (PMP), and for those who would like to get started in Project Management. If you are already certified, congratulations! This book will help you keep current on the subject. Understanding the content of this book does not require you to be an experienced project manager. It is useful to anyone willing to study the art of project management. A brief introduction at the beginning of each chapter gives an overview of what is to be covered. If you are an experienced project manager, you may encounter concepts with which you are already familiar. Feel free to skip those sections and proceed.

Authors

Murali Narayanan (Kb3lja)

Khawar Nehal (Khawar Nehal)

John CH Yang (User:johnCHyang)

- If you contribute to this book, if you wish, please add your name here.

E Jackson

S.Sushmitha

Olumide Idowu,PMP,M.sc(User:Nigeria)

Exam Information

This exam is conducted by Project Management Institute (PMI), a "not-for profit" (as opposed to "non-profit") organization dedicated for project management practices by setting standards and providing associations for project manager,through Prometric,an internationally acclaimed testing body/organization. This book covers PMI's Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK), Third Edition published in 2004. The Fourth edition came out in December 2008. The Fifth edition was released 2012,and before the end of 2016,the sixth edition will be released too.

Prerequisite

The citations on this book are from the PMBOK 3.0 published in 2004. So it is advisable to have a copy of PMBOK 3.0 published by PMI.

Part I: Concepts and Practices

Introduction

This part gently introduces the Project Management Fundamentals. Chapter 1 deals with the Framework of Project Management building the blocks for essential project management function. Chapter 2 provides an in-depth knowledge of the Project Life Cycle

Chapter 1 Project Management Framework

After reading this part, the user should be able to

• Identify the difference between project and Operational Work.
• Understand the characteristics of the project.

Definition of Project: A project is a temporary endeavor undertaken to create a unique product, service or result [1.2.1].

Characteristics of the Project:

• Temporary
• Have definite beginning and end
• Create unique product or service
• Have objectives that indicate completion

Temporary

Temporary in the sense that the project by itself has definite beginning, definite end and is not an ongoing process. Bear in mind, temporary does not apply to the product, service or result itself. Projects are carved to last long.

For instance, construction of road is a project. The project last for a specified period of time. Once the road is laid, the project is said to be complete. The project completion should be measurable. Once this project is completed, the on-going process of maintaining the road which is not a project will put in place. The road lasts longer while the project wraps until complete.

Unique

Product or service produced by the project is different from anything else on the market and involves creating something new to this environment. Unique nature does not mean that no such project exists. Consider construction of a bridge. It is considered as a project, because either the existing bridge is torn down and a new one is constructed or a new bridge is constructed. In the first case, since the outcome is a new bridge and not routine maintenance of the bridge, it becomes project. Even though the technology of bridge construction exists, it becomes unique as they are carried at different locations with different owner, different river.

Purposeful (Objective)

Well defined set of desired end result. One of the requirements of objective is that it is measurable. This quality of the objective will enable to mark the project complete.

Have Life cycle

Progress from an idea, through planning and execution, until they are complete. Have definite beginning and ending

Have interdependencies

Have defined sequence.

Progressive Elaboration

Developing in steps and continuing by increments. Project entities are described in broad terms at the start of the project but detailed as project progress. Initially this may look failure prone as the details are not detailed, but will eventually

Example

The activity undertaken to construct a bridge is considered as project as (1) the project ends by the time the construction is complete (2) have time limit as to when the bridge should be finished (3) Not a routine maintenance work (4) Will provide an ability to cross the river.

Portfolio / Program / Project

A portfolio can be a collection of programs or projects and without dependency between each other. One example or portfolio would be to improve facility services. It would be composed of a program to improve water, other to improve electricity, other to improve gas. Programs and projects are grouped to achieve strategic business objectives. Portfolio management is about management of one or more portfolios.

A program is a collection of projects, but they all share similar goals and would have benefits if coordinated together. Managing each of them alone would not allow to achieve same benefits. Program management helps in resolving issues constraints, aligning directions.

Project has a specific goal and scope.

Chapter 2 Project Life Cycle

A collection of generally sequential project phase whose name and number are determine by the control needs of the organization or organization involved in the project.

There also NO single way of defining an ideal project life cycle.

Chapter 3 Process Groups

Five process groups

1. Initiating
2. Planning
3. Executing
4. Controlling & Monitoring
5. Closing

Ten Knowledge Areas

1. Project Integration management
2. Project Scope Management
3. Project Time Management
4. Project Cost Management
5. Project Quality Management
6. Project Human Resource Management
7. Project Communications Management
8. Project Risk Management
9. Project Procurement Management
10. Project Stakeholder Management (NEW)

Part II - Initiation Phase

Project Management Process Groups.

Part III - Planning Phase

Processes in this phase are

• Develop a project plan
• Create a scope statement
• Create a WBS
• Create an activity list
• Construct a network diagram
• Develop activity duration estimates
• Identify critical path(s)
• Develop a project schedule
• Determine resource requirements
• Estimate project costs
• Establish a cost baseline
• Create a quality management plan
• Document team roles and responsibilities
• Assign project staff
• Create a communication management plan
• Create a risk management plan
• Identify project risks and triggers
• Perform qualitative and quantitative analysis
• Develop a risk response plan
• Prepare a statement of work
• Prepare a procurement document.

Chapter 7 Scope Planning

Have you ever made a trip to the grocery store just to buy a loaf of bread and milk. However when you check out you realize that you were enticed to buy meat, cookies, candy, pies, and every other item that looked tasty in store. It is easy to exceed your original intentions if you do not have a clear objective of what your plan of attack is and how you plan to prevent yourself from diverting from your original path.

The following section discusses scope management which is how to get your work completed – and make sure you only get the correct work completed. We will also discuss how as a project manager you can create a plan to control your projects scope to ensure you have a plan to keep your work in line with your customers requirements.

According to the PMBOK Project scope management is “the processes to ensure that the project includes all of the work required, and only the work required, to complete the project successfully”. The project scope statement also meets the following criteria

1. It determines what is included in the project.
2. It serves as a guide to determine what work is not needed to complete the project objectives
3. It defines what work is needed to complete the project objectives.
4. It serves as a point of reference for what is not included in the project.

All this contributes to show that a Project Scope Statement is really just a statement that tells all stakeholders for the project what work is required to complete the project. It is a great tool for a project manager to determine what work is included on the project and all the project manager to add or remove work from the project.

Scope Planning Process

Inputs

Project Charter, Preliminary project scope statement, project management plan

Outputs

Scope Management plan

The Scope Management plan is a document that plays a key role at helping the project manager avoid possible issues with future scope changes, and scope creep. The Scope Management plan consists of some of the following characteristics.

1. It can be very formal or informal
2. The document describes how scope changes will be classified and identified
3. The plan describes how the project scope will be managed
4. The plan can be as detailed as the project manager deems necessary
5. This document is considered a subsidiary piece of the overall project management plan.

Chapter 9 Create WBS

The WBS (Work Breakdown Structure) is a method of representing work packages, from the high level down to the low level. The project may be "Clean Kitchen" and is made of secondary level work packages such as "Wash Floor," "Clean Fridge," and "Wipe Countertops". "Wash Floor" might be broken down into "Prepare Materials," "Clear Floor of Objects," and "Scrub".

Work Packages should be broken down to whatever level is needed; either common sense takes over or the project scope limits the detail level. This is graphically represented by something such as:

Chapter 11 Activity Sequencing

Activity sequencing is a process for identifying dependencies between scheduled events.

Chapter 12 Activity Resource Estimating

This process is required for finding out what types of resources are required for each scheduled activity.

Chapter 13 Activity Duration Estimating

This process tries to find out the number of work periods shall be required for each activity which has been scheduled.

Chapter 14 Schedule Development =

This process is used to analyze sequences of activities, schedule constraints, resource requirements, and activity durations to come up with a feasible project schedule.

Chapter 15 Cost Estimating

A good cost estimation includes the identification of cost components through thorough research. This enables the costs of a project to be monitored, and while the project is in progress, avoids cost overruns.

Inaccuracies in the cost estimation are inevitable. The goal is to be as realistic as possible

Typical cost components include labour, supplies, materials, equipments, and overheads.

S-Curve.

The S Curve is a tool which consists of a display of cumulative costs, labour hours or other quantities plotted against time.

The name of the S-Curve comes from the S-like shape of the curve, flatter at the beginning and end and steeper in the middle. The S-curve is useful as a cost estimation tool because it is the way most of the projects look like in the real world.

The S curve can be used as an indicator for many applications related to project management such as: target, baseline, cost, and time.

There are multiple types of S curves and they include :

The Cost versus Time S Curve. This is useful for projects that contain labour and non-labour tasks.

The Target S Curve. This is useful for the ideal progress of the project if all tasks are completed as currently scheduled.

The Value and Percentage S Curve. This is a useful for calculating the project's actual percentage completion.

The Actual S Curve. This one is useful in depicting the actual progress of the project until the present time.

Chapter 16 Cost Budgeting

This process is used to find out the quality standards and metrics which shall be used in the project and also how they can be met satisfactorily. Budgeting means allocation of funds, suppose the estimate is of 100 units, but the money which can be provided for that activity is only 70 units. then 70 units becomes our budget. moreover it is the comprehensive short-term operational plan for a business.

The bill of materials defines the complete set of materials required in order to create a product.

The BOM can be in the form of a tree with multiple levels. It can also be in a document format which is indented to the lowest level required, so that it accurately lists all parts and raw materials needed to make the specified product.

The BOM is then used by the project manager and/or purchasing department to order any supplies which are necessary for the project.

Chapter 18 Human Resource Planning

This process is carried out to find out the human resources required for the project.

Also the roles of all team members.

Reporting relationships among members.

Responsibilities of team members

And creating a staffing management plan.

Chapter 25 Plan purchases and Acquisitions

The 6 processes of procurement management:

1. Plan Purchases and Acquisitions
2. Plan Contracting
3. Request Seller Responses
4. Select Sellers
5. Contract Administration
6. Contract Closure

Types of bilateral procurement contracts

Request for Proposal (RFP): this is a request for a detailed proposal on price, how the work will be accomplished, skills and experience of the people to be included and various other details. These items of service are usually higher dollar value and tend to be for nonstandard items.

Request for Quotation (RFQ): requests a price quote per item and hour. These items are relatively low dollar value.

Invitation for Bid (IFB) or Request for Bid (RFB): requests a single price for the entire package of work. Items of service are usually high dollar value and are standard.

Part IV - Execution Phase

Part V - Monitor and Control Phase

Chapter 34 Monitor and Control Project Work

This process is used to observe the execution of the project. The objective is to identify problems and issues in a timely manner and suggest corrective action so that the project's objectives can be met.

By knowing the variances of the project from the plan, corrective action can be suggested.

This includes monitoring project parameters and comparing them to the performance baseline.

Preventing the circumvention integrated change control so that only approved changes are implemented.

Thus avoiding scope creep and gold plating.

Chapter 41 Manage Project Team

Managing a project team effectively involves a balance of communication, leadership, and organization. Here are some key steps to manage your project team successfully:

1. Define Roles and Responsibilities

• Clarify Team Structure: Clearly define each member’s role in the project and ensure everyone understands their specific responsibilities.
• Assign Ownership: Assign clear task ownership to avoid confusion and overlap of duties.

2. Set Clear Goals

• SMART Goals: Use the SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-bound) method to set project objectives.
• Milestones & Deadlines: Break the project into manageable chunks and set deadlines for each milestone.

3. Effective Communication

• Regular Meetings: Hold weekly or bi-weekly meetings to discuss progress, blockers, and updates.
• Collaboration Tools: Use tools like Slack, Microsoft Teams, or Trello to facilitate real-time communication and tracking.
• Feedback Loop: Foster a feedback-rich environment where team members can raise issues or suggestions.

4. Monitor Progress

• Project Management Software: Tools like Asana, Monday, or Jira can help you keep track of deadlines and task progress.
• Key Performance Indicators (KPIs): Monitor team performance using KPIs such as task completion rates, quality of work, and adherence to deadlines.

5. Motivate & Support

• Recognize Achievement: Celebrate milestones and recognize individual contributions to keep morale high.
• Provide Resources: Ensure your team has access to the tools, training, and resources needed to perform their tasks efficiently.

6. Conflict Resolution

• Address Issues Early: If conflicts arise, address them immediately and mediate a solution that benefits the entire team.
• Encourage Open Dialogue: Foster an environment where team members feel comfortable expressing concerns.

7. Adapt & Adjust

• Stay Agile: Be ready to pivot or adjust strategies based on feedback, new developments, or unexpected challenges.
• Post-Mortem Analysis: After the project is complete, review successes and failures with the team to learn and improve for future projects.

8. Risk Management

• Identify Potential Risks: List out potential risks that could derail the project and plan contingencies for each.
• Monitor Risks: Track risks as the project progresses and take early actions to mitigate them.

Chapter 42 Performance Reporting

Project management performance reporting is crucial for tracking the progress of a project and keeping stakeholders informed. Here’s how you can handle performance reporting for your team :

1. Identify Key Metrics

• Cost Performance: Track budget adherence, including how much has been spent vs. what was planned.
• Schedule Performance: Measure whether tasks and milestones are being completed on time.
• Quality Metrics: Monitor the quality of deliverables and whether they meet predefined standards.
• Resource Utilization: Keep an eye on how resources (both personnel and tools) are being used.
• Risk Management: Track active and resolved risks, and how effectively they are being mitigated.

2. Types of Performance Reports

• Status Reports: Regular (weekly, bi-weekly) updates that summarize the progress, issues, risks, and next steps.
• Progress Reports: Compare the actual progress to the project baseline (planned vs. actual), often highlighting the overall project health.
• Resource Reports: Focus on team performance and how well resources are being used (e.g., time allocation, workload distribution).
• Risk Reports: Summarize active risks and their mitigation efforts.
• Variance Reports: Track deviations from the plan, such as budget or schedule variances, using metrics like Cost Performance Index (CPI) and Schedule Performance Index (SPI).

3. Data Collection

• Real-Time Tracking: Use project management software like Asana, Jira, or Trello to capture real-time data on tasks, deadlines, and deliverables.
• Surveys/Feedback: Collect feedback from your team about roadblocks, workload, and progress.
• KPI Dashboards: Implement dashboards for real-time monitoring of key performance indicators (KPIs).

4. Reporting Tools

• Project Management Software: Tools like Monday, Wrike, or Smartsheet can automate report generation based on task completion, time tracking, and resource use.
• Gantt Charts: These can visually track the project’s timeline and ensure tasks are on schedule.
• Earned Value Management (EVM): EVM can provide an in-depth look at project performance by analyzing planned value (PV), earned value (EV), and actual cost (AC).

5. Tailor Reports for Stakeholders

• Executive-Level Reporting: Keep it high-level. Focus on overall project health, risks, budget status, and schedule adherence.
• Team-Level Reporting: Be more detailed. Include task completion rates, blockers, resource availability, and next steps.
• Client Reporting: Provide a balanced overview of progress, risks, and deliverables that have been met, while also highlighting any changes or delays.

6. Communication and Delivery

• Consistency: Ensure reports are delivered regularly (e.g., weekly, bi-weekly) based on the project schedule.
• Clear & Concise: Keep the reports easy to understand. Use graphs, visuals, and bullet points for quick interpretation.
• Action-Oriented: Include key takeaways, such as what needs attention, upcoming deadlines, or any decisions that need to be made.

7. Performance Metrics & Visuals

• Burn-Down Charts: For tracking work completed against time remaining in the project.
• Performance Dashboards: Real-time dashboards provide visual data that make it easier to assess project health at a glance.
• Variance Graphs: Show cost and schedule variances to visualize how far off-track the project might be.

8. Continuous Improvement

• Lessons Learned: Include a section for reflection on what’s working well and what needs adjustment.
• Action Items: Make sure reports conclude with clear next steps, so team members know what’s expected.

Chapter 43 Manage Stakeholders management

Managing stakeholders effectively is crucial for the success of any project. It involves identifying, analyzing, and engaging with all individuals or groups that have an interest in or are affected by the project. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to manage stakeholders :

1. Identify Stakeholders

• List Stakeholders: Create a comprehensive list of all stakeholders, including team members, clients, vendors, management, and regulatory bodies.
• Stakeholder Categories: Classify stakeholders based on their influence and interest in the project (e.g., high-power/high-interest, low-power/low-interest).

2. Analyze Stakeholders

• Stakeholder Analysis Matrix: Use a matrix to assess each stakeholder’s influence, interest, and impact on the project. This helps prioritize who to focus on.
• Understand Needs and Expectations: Gather information about what each stakeholder expects from the project and how they define success.

3. Develop a Stakeholder Engagement Plan

• Engagement Strategies: Define how you will engage with each stakeholder based on their analysis (e.g., regular updates for high-power stakeholders, occasional updates for low-power stakeholders).
• Communication Methods: Choose appropriate communication methods for each stakeholder group, such as emails, meetings, or reports.

4. Communicate Effectively

• Regular Updates: Keep stakeholders informed about project progress, challenges, and changes. Consistent communication builds trust and keeps everyone aligned.
• Tailored Messages: Customize messages for different stakeholders based on their interests and concerns. Use language that resonates with them.

5. Involve Stakeholders in Decision-Making

• Feedback Mechanisms: Establish channels for stakeholders to provide input or feedback, such as surveys or discussion forums.
• Engagement in Key Decisions: Involve important stakeholders in critical decisions, especially those that affect them directly.

6. Manage Expectations

• Set Realistic Goals: Be transparent about what the project can achieve and the associated timelines.
• Address Concerns Promptly: If a stakeholder raises a concern, address it quickly to prevent misunderstandings or conflicts.

7. Monitor Stakeholder Engagement

• Track Engagement Levels: Regularly assess how engaged stakeholders are and adjust strategies as needed.
• Identify Changes: Be aware of any changes in stakeholder status or interest, and modify your engagement plan accordingly.

8. Build Relationships

• Trust Building: Foster strong relationships through open communication, reliability, and delivering on commitments.
• Networking: Attend industry events, workshops, or networking functions to build connections with stakeholders outside the project.

9. Document Everything

• Stakeholder Register: Maintain a document detailing all stakeholders, their roles, interests, and engagement strategies.
• Meeting Minutes: Keep records of meetings and communications for accountability and future reference.

10. Review and Adjust

• Continuous Improvement: Regularly review the effectiveness of your stakeholder management strategies and make adjustments as necessary.
• Lessons Learned: After project completion, evaluate what worked well and what didn’t in terms of stakeholder engagement for future projects.

11. Conflict Resolution

• Address Issues Early: Identify potential conflicts before they escalate and work towards finding a resolution that satisfies all parties.
• Mediation Techniques: Use conflict resolution techniques such as active listening, empathy, and finding common ground.

12. Celebrate Success

• Acknowledge Contributions: Recognize and celebrate stakeholder contributions to the project to strengthen relationships and encourage ongoing support.

By following these steps, you can effectively manage stakeholders, leading to smoother project execution and a higher chance of meeting project goals.

Part VI - Closing Phase

Part VII - Professional Responsibility

Chapter 48 Individual Integrity

Ensuring individual integrity and professionalism by adhering to legal requirements and ethical standards to protect the community and all stakeholders .

References

• Project Management Institute
• Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK), Third Edition, ISBN 193069945X