PMI - PMP Tips

Biju Balakrishnan | PMP | PPSM | AMDA | ITIL

biju.balakrishnan@accenture.com
12/18/2015

Contents
Introduction .................................................................................................................................................. 2
About PMI PMP Certification ................................................................................................................ 2
Topics ....................................................................................................................................................... 2
Initiating (Where to start?) ........................................................................................................................... 3
Planning (Planning for the exam).................................................................................................................. 3
Books ....................................................................................................................................................... 3
Should I become PMP member ........................................................................................................... 4
To take external training or not ............................................................................................................ 4
Executing (Prepare for the exam) ................................................................................................................. 4
Exam preparation Time ......................................................................................................................... 4
What should I focus more on? Which are the most important topics?........................................... 4
Important topics (Ranking as per my thoughts) ................................................................................. 5
Trainings .................................................................................................................................................. 6
Monitor and control (Practice/ mock exams) ............................................................................................... 7
Closing (Day has come) ................................................................................................................................. 8
Taking the Exam..................................................................................................................................... 8
After the exam......................................................................................................................................... 8

Introduction
I have been with Accenture for about 8 years now. I have overall 15 years of software
industry experience. Currently I am working as a technical lead for a leading insurance
client of Accenture.
I had recently (Dec 2015) completed my PMI PMP certifications. I would like to share
some of knowledge regarding the exam. I believe this document will help other keen
PMP aspirants to successfully complete the certifications

About PMI PMP Certification

The exam is real values add. The exam will help brush up and enhance many of the
project management skills. It covers many real time concepts which we face or do on
day to day project management.
The topics covered in the certification are very close to real world. From my carrier
experience in Accenture, all the projects I have worked, is following most of the
processes mentioned in PMBOK guide (PMBOK reference guide for the PMP exam)
In other words, Accenture real time project management work is closely tied up with
many of the PMP Concepts
Please do remember than currently the exam is based on PMBOK 5th edition. The
format will be changing in 2016. 25% of the topics are planned to be different from
current syllabus

Topics
I will cover sections based on the Project Process Groups as per the PMBOK

Initiating
Planning
Executing
Monitor and Control
Closing

Initiating (Where to start?)

First of all, to start with, there is good enough information at Accenture share point links
to understand the eligibility, the certification experience requirements, examination
details, fees etc. Hats off to team who had prepared this
Please refer to below web sites. This site gives very good details about all of the
information you need to start with. This has really been a great help.
https://kxsites.accenture.com/groups/ppsm/Pages/TopicPages/externalcertification.aspx
https://mylearning.accenture.com/accenture/langen/management/LMS_ActDetails.asp?UserMode=0&ActivityID=101463&returnURL=

Planning (Planning for the exam)

Most important thing is to decide on what books to read. Need to mention that dont just
rely on dumps or sample questions. It will never work. There are 200 questions and lot
of practical scenarios. Reading and understanding the contents is the key

Books
Read at least one good Book. I would recommend

Rita Mulcahys PMP Exam Prep eighth edition Updated. Applies for exams
taken after Nov 2015. This is around $99. But dont worry. Accenture is offered a
discount at PMI Store. Check for more details in the above web links
The PMP exam by Andy Crowe. I read an older version (Fourth edition), but
nearly covered all of the questions which came in the exam. This is cheaper, we
will get for below $10 online

Should I become PMP member

Decide if you want to become PMI member or not. I would recommend you to be, as the
Exam fee + Membership fee you end up paying will be less than what you pay for a
non-member exam fees
Additionally you get access to

Whole lot of material and knowledge repository in their web site accessible for
members
A full download of PMP Exam Prep: Questions, Answers & Explanations, 2013
Edition is available for members. Check these links

http://pmi.books24x7.com
http://pmi.books24x7.com/toc.aspx?bookid=55550

To take external training or not

This totally depends on individuals. Not mandatory. If you are already aware of project
management skills and is in this role for some time you can easily make it by just
reading the books

Executing (Prepare for the exam)

Exam preparation Time
I had spent around 2 months preparing for the exam. Daily 2-3 hours of study in the
night, managing along with my project work. Again, it depends how you want to
manage. One of my friend took a week off and covered everything and passed
successfully.

What should I focus more on? Which are the most important
topics?
It depends on what you are not doing on your daily project management work.
For me it was the procurement which was a difficult topic (which also covers Vendor
management/ sub-contracting portion of project to 3rd party etc.). This was a difficult to
grasp as I have very little exposure to procurement management.

PMI Framework considers scenario based in very large projects. So, unless otherwise
specified in the questions, assume that the project is real big.

Important topics (Ranking as per my thoughts)

Risk management
o How to calculate EMV
o Process around Identify risk, Perform qualitative and quantitative risk
analysis and plan risk response. All of the Accenture experience helps
here
Project framework / process. First 3 chapters
o All Inputs, outputs and tools used. Many questions on the PMI framework
o Know about type of organization. Projectized, Functional, Strong and
weak matrix
o Know about project charters, Enterprise environment factors, Organization
process assets, Work breakdown structures (WBS)
o What all do you before you close the project/ phases
Time management
o If you have been managing development projects (AD) in Accenture, you
will know most of things here.
o Important to know how to find critical paths, Lead/ lag, floats, estimation
techniques, sequencing like Finish to Start and Start to Start.
Cost management
o Mainly all EV formulas. Most important is SPI/ CPI
o Exam will test your experience in this, with real time scenarios and asking
what is wrong/ right. You will have to then apply the correct formula to get
the result
Contract Management
o Learn about the types of contract types. Fixed Price, Time & Material and
Cost Price. The question will ask about in scenarios which type is best
o Tools for contracts. Looks for key terms like bidders conference, source
selection criteria, make or buy decisions (which were new to me)
HR Management.
o Learn about forms of power like Reward power, expert power, punishment
etc. Remember that best form of power is reward and expert
o Forming/ Storming etc.
o Team building/ managing team activities, rewards and recognition. This
could be easy, as in Accenture we are expected to manage large teams.

Quality Management
o Learn about all tools. We may be not aware about Pareto chart, control
charts, design of experiments. Some of these are really not used in
software industry but in product industries.
Integration management & Scope Management
Communication/ Stakeholder/ Professional responsibility

Trainings
There are some online mylearning trainings, which you can register and attend. All are
free trainings (Zero tuition cost).
Direct, Monitor, and Control Project Work (PMBOK Guide Fifth Edition)
https://mylearning.accenture.com/Atlas/home.aspx#/activityDetails?referrer=home&activ
ityID=974885&activitySource=LMS&refresh=598
Controlling Changes and Closing a Project (PMBOK Guide Fifth Edition)
https://mylearning.accenture.com/Atlas/home.aspx#/activityDetails?referrer=home&activ
ityID=973368&activitySource=LMS&refresh=982
Project Requirements and Defining Scope (PMBOK Guide Fifth Edition)
https://mylearning.accenture.com/Atlas/home.aspx#/activityDetails?referrer=home&activ
ityID=974888&activitySource=LMS&refresh=928
Planning Project Costs (PMBOK Guide Fifth Edition)
https://mylearning.accenture.com/Atlas/home.aspx#/activityDetails?referrer=home&activ
ityID=982361&activitySource=LMS&refresh=74
Project Management Process Groups (PMBOK Guide Fifth Edition)
https://mylearning.accenture.com/Atlas/home.aspx#/activityDetails?referrer=home&activ
ityID=967573&activitySource=LMS&refresh=231
Risk Management Planning (PMBOK Guide Fifth Edition)
https://mylearning.accenture.com/Atlas/home.aspx#/activityDetails?referrer=home&activ
ityID=982370&activitySource=LMS&refresh=148

Monitor and control (Practice/ mock

exams)
Revise the things you have learned. Taking a complete second round through the book
you are reading is a very good idea.
Learn all formulas.
The exam has many questions on EVM formulas. Learn about CV, SV,
CPI, SPI, TCPI, EAC, ETC and VAC
Learn about estimation formula like (P+4M+O)/6
Communication channel formula and how to derive. N (N-1)/2
Practice at least 3 full mock exams. Do this a week before the exam. This will help on
improving your time management.
Search for HeadfirstLabs PMP Mock test in google. (This is good. Take the marathon
test in a single stretch (200 questions/ 4 hours) which will give you real time practice)
You will get some good Mock test online. Just remember the pattern of exams
questions in PMP will not be same as Mock tests. Just dont rely only on Mock test for
passing

Mock test MyLearning

https://mylearning.accenture.com/Atlas/home.aspx#/activityDetails?referrer=home&activ
ityID=982358&activitySource=LMS&refresh=258
In https://mylearning.accenture.com/ search for PMBOK Guide Fifth Edition You will
get very good courses. There are even some mock tests. Search for PMP

Closing (Day has come)

Taking the Exam
Remember that there is total 4 hours for 200 questions. This means little more than one
minute for each question.
Dont take exam timing lightly. Some blogs will talk about covering first round in 2 hours,
then taking a break for snacks and drinks, then go back and continue etc. I did the
mistake of considering this. Sometime, this doesnt work. In fact, I ran out of time for
doing my revisions on marked questions. Took me full 4 hours to complete, without any
breaks
Many of the questions are scenario based, many of them are calculative and many of
them extra-long to confuse you. The question may contain irrelevant information which
is nothing to do with the final answer. In some cases even reading and understanding
the question may take 2-3 minutes
Remember that you cant take anything other than ID inside the exam center. Not even
water.
Before the exam you will be given blank papers for taking rough notes. Noting down all
formulas and all important notes which you could forget will be a very good idea. You
can refer those during the exam which can help with a more relaxed mind to focus on
other things.

After the exam

Check with your Career counselor for fees reimbursement through training budget
Once you completed, pass on your reviews / feedback to others. Remember PMI very
much supports knowledge exchange, help others grow and building bigger project
management member network.

Wishing you best of lucks for your exams

Thanks
If you have any further clarifications/ feedback on the topic please send me an email at
biju.balakrishnan@accenture.com