PM Blazer™ Virtual – PMP® or CAPM® Exam Prep

Initiative & Project Management

IP600 | Length: 36 hours | Credits: 36 contact hours/PDUs

Program Objectives

PM Blazer™ is a comprehensive program that will assist individuals in their preparation for taking PMI®’s PMP® or CAPM® certification exam based on the PMBOK® Guide 5th edition. The PM Blazer™ – Virtual program qualifies for 36 contact hours (PDUs) and is held over three weeks (three days per week in four hour increments). Individuals will require additional self-study time following and dispersed between the weeks in preparation for taking the exam. All course materials are shipped to course participants in advance and referenced throughout the virtual training.

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
  • Which knowledge area they are strong in and where they need to focus their study

In addition to receiving a very comprehensive participant manual in 3 volumes with over a 1000 pages, participants will also receive a full practice exam with 200 questions designed to simulate the experience a 4 hour exam that will help them define what topics to focus their study.  Students are supplied with a supplemental PMP® Study guide that includes two additional full practice exams.

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
  • Prepares you for greater job responsibilities
  • Improves skills and knowledge
  • Allows for greater recognition from peers
  • Has the potential to lead to greater earnings as well as career opportunities and advancement

Training Methods

This program is focused on Project Management Institute’s (PMI®) ‘A Guide to The Project Management Body of Knowledge’ (PMBOK® Guide) 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 just 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 virtual seminar/workshop format and includes workshop studies and an end of section sample quiz to help solidify the learnings. This also provides the student with 10 scores, one for each of the 10 knowledge areas the participant is provided with the processes and their detailed content for each PMBOK® Guide 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 PMP®s. 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 (and 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® or CAPM® credential. We recommend that participants should be within three months of meeting PMI®’s qualification requirements and prepared to write the exam within that time frame.

  • Managers of large and medium sized branches
  • Call centre managers and team leaders
  • Managers of operations and processing departments (e.g. Treasury Operations, Share Settlement, IPO Operations, and Trade Operations)
  • Managers of administrative support functions (e.g. H.R. and Finance & Accounting)
  • Business Analysts and IT Systems Analysts
  • Members of Six Sigma and TQM project teams
  • Quality and M.I.S Specialists 

Content Outline

MODULE 1 – 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 – 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 – PROJECT MANAGEMENT PROCESSES

  • Establishes the concept of project management as a network of interlinked processes
  • 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, and Mapping 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 within time constraints. 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.
  • 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 human resources in achieving the ends of the project. People skills such as leadership, team building, and motivation are key for the project manager to be effective in the dynamic world of project management and while applicable in 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 with 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 application of knowledge and skill in a non-project management specific context.
  • Processes: Plan Communications Management, Manage Communications, Control Communications.

MODULE 11 – PROJECT RISK MANAGEMENT

  • Effective risk management is one of the most determinate factors in success of a project. By reducing the consequences of negative events, and increasing positive events, the PM greatly increases the likelihood of success. Through identification, analysis, and response to risk we are able to bring an element of control to the uncontrollable.
  • 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. This module describes the overall acquisition and contract management elements included in project procurement.
  • 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. Stakeholder 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 AND SAMPLE EXAM
Participants will 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. With a practice exam at the end of modules 4-13, students will have had the opportunity to develop those important skills. Each student’s scores will be reviewed and a personal action plan developed enabling participants to walk into the exam prepared for success.

Good practice is key to a good performance, participants are given 3 full 200 question sample exams (one paper based, 2 electronic) to complete as self-study on top of the end of module exams. 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. 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.  Follow-up study support is provided through an online Q&A discussion group with our instructors giving students the opportunity to review any questions or concepts that they are struggling with. Students are welcomed and encouraged to sign up for this additional support, regardless of how long ago they attended the course.

 

PMP, CAPM, PMI, PMBOK are registered marks of the Project Management Institute, Inc.