jasperglox791-blog

[jasperglox791-blog]

Is Computer Training Worth [$] To You?

More and more people using the exam are realizing that the PMP exam is a lot more than answering ITTO form of questions.

There is another strain of questions, which can be giving a lot of grief to PMP aspirants. These are rather long, and situational questions. Such questions provide you with lots of background information, and assess your PM Skills with the given problem. Actually, these questions are really looking to test you on your Problem Solving skills - which is a vital should have for project managers.

The problem question could have many Correct, or seemingly correct answers, which are traps, and if you're not prepared, you may be caught off guard. You need to be very proactive, and consider carefully, before answering these questions.

Let's analyze a Mock PMP Question here:

You operate on the project to create state from the art diving equipment that can take you safely to depths of 300 feet in deep ocean. The projcet is on schedule, and budget allocations and spending is continuing depending on normal. However, lately there has been a rumour the blueprint for that new design just isn't original, and you also, the Project Manager have just been sued by a competitor for copyright infringement. To say which you are worried is surely an understatement. Such problems wasn't discussed through the risk planning activities, and were therefore, never added to the risk register. To deal with all the situation, it's going to now cost the project a great deal of time and money. What is the BEST response with this situation’

A. Don't take any action, just realize that there is a problem that the team would not arrange for.

B. Stop all project activities and approach senior management for tips on this concern immediately.

C. Add danger to the risk register and start gathering information about its probability and impact.

D. Use the management reserve to hide the expense in the problem.

What's the way to go? Quick, don't think to much time, and are available up with the answer.

Understanding the Problem at Hand:

Now, let's analyze your options, and identify the top answer... it is exactly what was asked in this mock PMP question...

Your are facing a difficulty, that has been not anticipated, or planned for. There is nothing inside Risk Register, and it really is a critical problem, that you simply have never thought of. It has big implications...

There is pressure on the reputation with the company, legal liability, and will also cost lots of time & money on the company. Thus, you have to carefully look at the options, after which choose the way to go.

Analyzing The Options Given:

One with the common pitfalls for PMP exam aspirants is always that they take into account the BEST situation which they would do, and after that hunt for it within the answers. But this can be not the very best idea. You should always look to the BEST option with the given 4 choices. The answer you select needs to be the Best of these 4 choices, whether or not the chosen answer just isn't what you would do in a real situation.

An important tip for such questions would be to NOT mix the choices given along with your actual experience, but strive to get rid of the wrong choices, and pick the Best in the 4 choices... even if it seems illogical or most improbable one.

Choice A tells you to perform not do anything whatsoever. After all, legal things will take nearly a year, so you've just been notified. Such choices are checking in the event you wait to the problem to actually materialize, and/or grow bigger, before you decide to would take any action. This isn't a great choice to choose. After all, you're a Proactive Project Manager. You will anticipate problems, and can develop risk mitigation strategies, Contingency plans, and when they occur, you may be prepared while using impact analysis, plan of action, and have a team member responsible capable to do something, and stay for the lookout for it...

Choice B seems the best place. It says which you should go for the senior management, tell them from the impending problems, and request their guidance or advice immediately. After all, by using these dire consequences, it seems like wiser to keep them updated, and request their support. It actually is smart, but there are 2 difficulty with this choice:

a. It says that Stop all project activities. It is fine to seek advice, but why stop other activities? Stopping other activities will further jeopardize the remainder activities with the project.

b. Solving all project problems is the job. That's why you were appointed the Project Manager within the first place. If you go for the management, and expect these to solve your problems, you're not doing your job well. Of course, should you come on top of solutions to solve the issue at hand, and seek their approval on a real big change, then it can be in accordance with all the Integrated Change Control Process. You could then be utilising the escalation process, calling an unexpected emergency meeting from the Change Control Board etc., and advice them with the problem, and probable solutions, helping them make a knowledgeable decision.

Choice C seems perfect. It admits that you goofed up earlier, and missed identifying this Risk in the Risk Register. It then does damage repair, with the help of this risk on the risk register, and subsequently begin gathering more information about the probability and impact with the problem accessible.

However, do be aware that we have been not within the planning stages now... Such sort of the situation is better done throughout the planning stages. Now the challenge has happened, and the matter in very close at hand... it is time to execute the plan, not begin planning now.

Adding on the risk register is ok, but gathering details about its probability is futile now... the problem has already happened. As a PM, you first of all job is to fix the problem. Just because it had not been noticed/tracked/thought of earlier does not mean that we can't start and fasten it first.

Choice D seems improbable. How can you use the management reserve without management approval. There is no mention of seeking management approval. Should you use it, or utilize the contingency reserve?

Only Change is Constant. Even while using best of planning, things should go wrong. That's why we setup a Contingency Reserve - for the known unknowns... like Inflation. We know it'll happen, but we don't understand the %, or when it will be sharp or less... It depends on the market forces. Therefore, for the items that you are able to forsee, we produce a contingency reserve and utilize it at unexpected things happen.

And for issues that are unknown, uncommon, we setup a Management Reserve. This amount rests with all the Management (Sponsor, senior management etc.). The Project Manager understands this fund, but sometimes not put it to use without getting approval through the management. Further, it must be only used for the Unknown Unknowns - things are unknown, and have not been planned for.

Be careful about employing this fund. You can't point out that an individual changed their requirement, and I hadn't planned correctly, therefore I'll utilize Management Reserve. This was a forseeable thing, and you should don't use anything but your own funds, or tap the Contingency Reserve, however, not the Management Reserve.

With the issue available, you've got not planned because of it, you hadn't anticipated it, and then you are caught off-guard. Go to management, inform them about this, and utilize the management reserve (once you have their permission of course)... They may not happy in regards to the situation. But were not here to generate everyone happy, but to provide a project successfully.

A problem has happened, or perhaps is happening, and also the first job like a PM is always to solve problems before they arise (preventive action - best course), or after they arise (reactive action - not the top, but better late than never... in the end, expense of building a change increases over the years).

Thus, looking at your choices, it's best to decide on Option D.

Hope this can help you in answering evil, detailed and situational questions within the PMP exam.