Just Get PMP

I came across an e-book on project management at ProjectManager.com. The book is titled “How to be a great Project Manager?” The book title was attractive enough for me and I straightaway started reading it. Since the book is available FREE for everyone, I thought of sharing the information here.

Review of the book

The book starts off like this: “Whether you’re a novice or an expert, you can always improve the way you manage projects.” This is what we call it as continual improvement; the core concept of ISO 9000 Quality Management System.

It’s a simple book on project management, not really rocket science. It’s not as voluminous as you would normally expect books on project management to be.

I would consider it more as a handy reference tool, touching on basic concepts of project management. After all, in our pursuit to excellence, we often lose track of the project management basics. Right?

I like the simplicity of the book. The limited concepts covered in the book are very well organized and presented in a way that’s pleasing to the eyes.

Contents of the book

The book provides several tips, tricks and techniques to put you on the right track to become a better project manager. In this book, you will learn how to:

• Set goals and achieve them
• Improve your decision-making skills
• Write great project documents
• Deliver fantastic presentations
• Manage day-to-day tasks
• Boost your personal confidence
• Improve your learning
• Get a work-life balance

Where to get the book?

If you are interested, you can download the book for free here: How to be a great Project Manager?

Conclusion

If you are preparing for the PMP credential examination, then this book may not be of any help to you in the exam preparation. But, it would be a good guide for you as a project manager. If you managed to get a copy of the book, please share your opinions on the book.

As you may know, it is a requirement to earn 60 PDUs (Professional Development Units) over a period of 3 years to maintain your PMP credential. While it may seem a huge task at the beginning, its not so difficult after all. I could easily accumulate 60 PDUs without spending too much money on it.

I managed to complete the required 60 PDUs; in fact, I have earned 7 excess PDUs which I can carry forward to my next 3-year cycle. So, how did I earn these PDUs?

The following is the breakdown of how I earned my PDUs:

• 10 PDUs Free from IIL (International Institute for Learning) for attending the Virtual Conference held as part of the International Project Management Day 2012. In fact, I could have earned 15 PDUs; but, I could not find time to watch 30 videos required for the 15 PDUs.
• 17 PDUs from PMI Chennai Chapter, by attending the regular monthly knowledge sharing sessions and the Annual General Meeting (AGM). I became a member of the PMI Chennai Chapter in February 2012; their knowledge sharing sessions are very useful to earn PDUs. I would recommend you to become a member of your local chapter. Considering one knowledge sharing session per month, you could easily earn 24 PDUs per year. So, you need not think any other source beyond this for your 60 PDUs.
• 18 PDUs for attending India's 4th annual Project Management National Conference held in Chennai. I got my company to sponsor me for this event; so, I did not spend any money for earning these 18 PDUs. But, on hindsight, I would not have regretted if I had registered for the Conference from my own pocket. You rarely get a chance to attend such huge conference right at your door steps.
• 6 PDUs Free for attending the online seminars conducted by PMI Pune-Deccan Chapter
• 16 PDUs for attending a two days course on project management. This course was sponsored by my former organization in Singapore.

PMI requires its PMP credential holders to continue their educational and professional development. So, you cannot stop after achieving your PMP credential. You still need to continue to upgrade yourself to keep the hard earned PMP credential.

Continuing Certification Requirements System
The PMP credential has to be renewed once every three years. During this three year period, a PMP credential holder is expected to accumulate 60 Professional Development Units (PDUs). Each PDU is equivalent to one hour of learning.

There are five different ways to earn your PDUs:
(1) Continuing education
(2) Self-directed learning
(3) Creating new project management knowledge
(4) Volunteer service
(5) Working as a professional in project management

International Institute for Learning
As I have written earlier, the International Project Management (IPM) Day is celebrated on the first Thursday of November every year. This year, IIL (International Institute for Learning) has put together an exciting program featuring a wide range of experts and thought leaders from the project management profession to share their knowledge through recorded video presentations.


Earn 15 PDUs for FREE
If you are interested in earning 15 PDUs to help in maintaining your PMP credential, then you can register at the IIL web site for FREE: International Project Management Day: Power of the Profession. This year's event will be available for viewing until December 31, 2012.

To claim 5 PDUs, you are required to watch a minimum of 10 presentations of your choice.
To claim 10 PDUs, you are required to watch a minimum of 20 presentations of your choice.
To claim 15 PDUs, you are required to watch a minimum of 30 presentations of your choice.

Hope you will use this opportunity to collect some useful PDUs. What other ways do you earn your PDUs? Why don't you share it with us?

Have you heard of International Project Management Day? Only today, I came across that a day is being observed to recognize the efforts and hard work of people involved in project management work. It seems that this day is being observed for the past 8 years (since 2004) and we are in the 9th year  (2012) now.

The International Project Management day (IPM day) is intended to encourage project based organizations worldwide or organizations who utilize project management methodologies to recognize and appreciate the achievements of project managers and their teams. It is noted that IPM Day always fall on the first Thursday of November every year. As such, the IPM Day will be observed on 1 November 2012.

Have you heard of IPM day before? Does your organization celebrate or recognize project managers or project management team? Please share your views.

For further information on International Project Management Day, you can visit their web site at  http://internationalpmday.org/

Rita Mulcahy, PMP, was the President and founder of RMC Project Management, Inc., and a world-renowned project management author, trainer and speaker. In this YouTube video titled "Getting started in project management - 1. An Introduction", she gives an introduction to project management. Please spend some time to listen to her absorbing speech, which would help you in your preparations for the PMP certification exam.

How did you find the video? Please share your views.