Program Objectives

PM-Blazer™ is a comprehensive program that will assist individuals in their preparation for taking PMI’s certification exam based on the PMBOK 5^th edition. The 5-day PM-Blazer™ program qualifies for 35 contact hours/professional development units (PDUs). Individuals will require additional self-study time following the course in preparation for taking the exam.

Participants will learn:

• PMI’s perspective on Project Management
• PMI’s collection of processes and knowledge areas
• Related project management tools, techniques and practices
• The structure of the PMP examination
• Strategies for answering examination questions

In addition to receiving a very comprehensive participant manual in 3 volumes with over a 1000 pages, participants will also experience a 4 hour simulated exam that will help them define what topics to focus their study. .

Individual Benefits

The PMP credential:

• shows your commitment to the project management profession
• recognizes your knowledge, skills and abilities
• reflects achievement and build self confidence
• can lead to greater earnings
• can lead to career opportunities and advancement
• prepares you for greater job responsibilities
• improves skills and knowledge
• allows for greater recognition from peers

Training Methods

This program is focused on Project Management Institute’s (PMI®) ‘A Guide to The Project Management Body of Knowledge’ (PMBOK®) standards and certification process for the designation of PMP® – Project Management Professional from PMI.  Additional published material are referenced as well tutorials on best practices ensuring that participants understand PMI’s framework in the context of real world application.  This contextualization enables students to think through questions, as opposed to rote memorization.  This method has proven extremely effective in preparing participants for a success exam experience.  PM-Blazer™ is a comprehensive program that will assist individuals in their preparation for taking PMI’s certification exam.  PMI’s exam covers each section of the PMBOK guide and other reference materials.  This program covers each of these sections including an introduction to the PMBOK guide and the project management context, and project management processes.

Each section of PM-Blazer™ is presented in seminar/workshop format and includes workshop studies and a sample exam.  The participant is provided with the processes and their detailed content for each PMBOK knowledge area in a manner that is focused on preparation for the PMP certification exam.  PM-Blazer has been designed, developed and is instructed by certified PMPs.  Instructors are all experienced project management professionals, able to bring a wealth of practical information to the program.

This experience along with the participant’s own environment (& terminology) provides a clear relationship and understanding of the PMBOK guide and exam.

Audience

The program is designed for current and potential project managers, and any other key staff working in project oriented environments in various organizations and industries who are seeking their PMP credential.  We recommend that participants should be within 3 months of meeting PMI’s qualification requirements and prepared to write the exam within that time frame.

• Managers of Large & Medium Sized Branches
• Call Centre Managers & Team Leaders
• Managers of Operations & Processing Departments (e.g. Treasury Operations, Share Settlement, IPO Operations & Trade Operations)
• Managers of Administrative Support Functions (e.g. H.R. and Finance & Accounting)
• Business Analysts & I.T. Systems Analysts
• Members of Six Sigma & TQM Project Teams
• Quality & M.I.S Specialists

Content Outline

MODULE 1 – FRAMEWORK – INTRODUCTION

• Defines and explains key project management terms
• Explains the relationship of project management to other management disciplines
• Provides overview of framework approach, including the nine project management knowledge areas

MODULE 2 – FRAMEWORK – Organizational Influences and Project LIFE CYCLE

The goal is to establish that projects and project management operate in a larger organizational context than the project itself.  Topics covered include:

• Project Phases and the Project Life Cycle
• Project vs. Operational Work
• Organizational Influences and Structures
• Environmental Factors Influencing Projects
• Project Stakeholders

MODULE 3 – FRAMEWORK – PROEJCT MANAGEMENT PROCESSES

• Establishes the concept of project management as a network of interlinked processes, and
• Defines and explains the ways in which the processes are grouped and executed.  Topics covered include:

– Project Management Knowledge areas

– Project Management Processes

– Process Groups

– Process Interactions

– Customizing Process Interactions

– Mapping of Project Management Processes

MODULE 4 – PROJECT INTEGRATION MANAGEMENT

The goal of Project Integration Management is to ensure that the various elements of the project are properly coordinated.

Processes:  Develop Project Charter, Develop Project Management Plan, Direct and Manage Project Work, Monitor and Control Project Work, Perform Integrated Change Control, Close Project or Phase

MODULE 5 – PROJECT SCOPE MANAGEMENT

The purpose of Project Scope Management is the definition and control of what work is necessary for successful completion of the project, and what work is not. The required work is the project scope, as opposed to the product scope, which consists of the features and functions of the final service or product.

Processes:  Plan Scope Management, Collect Requirements, Define Scope, Create WBS, Validate Scope, Control Scope

MODULE 6 – PROJECT TIME MANAGEMENT

The goal of project time management is the completion of the project on or before a specific date. The processes comprised in this knowledge area usually take place at least once in every project and in one or more project life-cycle phase. In addition, although some of these processes are often viewed as one, they are defined and explained separately.

Processes:  Plan Schedule Management, Define Activities, Sequence Activities, Estimate Activity Resources, Estimate Activity Durations, Develop Schedule, Control Schedule

MODULE 7 – PROJECT COST MANAGEMENT

The purpose of project cost management is the completion of the project within budget constraints. While cost of resources is the main focus, a broader, life-cycle costing view is examined. Care should also be given to the manner in which different stakeholders measure project costs.

Processes:  Plan Cost Management, Estimate Costs, Determine Budget, Control Costs

MODULE 8 – PROJECT QUALITY MANAGEMENT

The aim of project quality management is to ensure the project will satisfy the needs for which it was undertaken. Quality is the totality of characteristics of an entity that bear on its ability to satisfy stated or implied needs. In order to fulfill these needs, they must be clearly stated through project scope management. Quality must be distinguished from grade.

Processes:  Plan Quality Management, Perform Quality Assurance, Control Quality

MODULE 9 – PROJECT HUMAN RESOURCE MANAGEMENT

The purpose of project human resource management is the effective use of all project stakeholders in achieving the ends of the project. While people skills such as leadership, team building, and motivation are applicable to both project management and an operational context, there are issues that are unique to the project environment. Human resource management techniques must be dynamic to handle the changing interpersonal relationships and project stakeholders.

Processes:  Plan Human Resource Management, Acquire Project Team, Develop Project Team, Manage Project Team 

MODULE 10 – PROJECT COMMUNICATIONS MANAGEMENT

The goal of project communications management is the accurate and timely collection, dissemination and storage of project information. It is critical that all stakeholders in the project communicate in the same project “language.” As in project human resource management, there is a broader availability of knowledge in a non-project management specific context.

Processes:  Plan Communications Management, Manage Communications, Control Communications

MODULE 11 – PROJECT RISK MANAGEMENT

The purpose of project risk management is to reduce the consequences of negative events, and increase those of positive events. This is done by a series of processes of identification, analysis, and response to risk.

Processes:  Plan Risk Management, Identify Risks, Perform Qualitative Risk Analysis, Perform Quantitative Risk Analysis, Plan Risk Responses, Control Risks

MODULE 12 – PROJECT PROCUREMENT MANAGEMENT

The object of project procurement management is to manage the purchase of goods and services from outside the performing organization.  It describes the overall acquisition and contract management elements included in project procurement.  This type of management is discussed from the point of view of the buyer when considering the buyer-seller relationship.

Processes:  Plan Procurement Management, Conduct Procurements, Control Procurements, Close Procurements

MODULE 13 – PROJECT STAKEHOLDER MANAGEMENT

The object of project stakeholder management is to manage the stakeholders involved in the project.  This has developed as a key success criteria for managing projects.  Stakeholders is a very broad term the covers those involved directly in the project (project team, sponsor, client, etc.) as well as those who are impacted by the project.  Managing them involves identify who they are, analysing and defining a management strategy.

Processes:  Identify Stakeholders, Plan Stakeholder Management, Manage Stakeholder Engagement, Control Stakeholder Engagement

MODULE 14 – WRAP-UP & SAMPLE EXAM

In the PM-Blazer Wrap-up module, participants have the opportunity to view their knowledge in a broader context of project management practices. An overview of the knowledge areas refreshes and reinforces key issues learned throughout the program.

Exam-writing skills are almost as important for success as mastery of the material. In this module, participants learn valuable strategies for exam taking, and have the opportunity to put them into practice with a simulated examination. Being familiar with the format and type of questions on the PMP exam will allow participants to walk into the exam prepared to succeed.

The sample exam replicates the PMI exam, participants are given a 4 hour time limit to complete the 200 practice exam questions presented in random order.  Once complete, the participants will have an overall score as well as a break down by knowledge area enabling them to identify the areas they need to focus additional study in preparation for the actual exam.  Rational for the right answers are provided for select questions in both the knowledge area questions as well as the 200 sample questions giving participants insight into why a particular answer is correct.  .  In order to provide an additional learning tool, the same exam and answers are provided sorted by body of knowledge. Participants can now re-take the exam and focus on the knowledge areas needing additional study.

Preparation Program ‘PM-Blazer™’ for PMI®’s Project Management
Professional (PMP®) Certification Exam – 5th Edition