Negotiation - Focus on Interests not Positions

According to the PMBOK® Guide, 4th Edition, Negotiation is an integral part of project management and done well, increases the probability of project success.

One of the negotiation strategies is to focus on interests and issues, rather than positions. But what does that exactly mean? Here's an article that explains this concept very well using a simple example of two sisters fighting over an orange:

Negotiation Strategies

What is Product Analysis?

Product Analysis is a technique in the Define Scope process from the Planning Process Group and Project Scope Management Knowledge Area, in the PMBOK® Guide, 4th edition. Here's an article that explains Product Analysis very clearly using a simple example:

Product Analysis

PMP Exam Content Outline (Revised Aug 2011)

Here is the document that exactly captures the Aug 2011 changes to the PMP Exam. It clearly provides the domains, tasks, and knowledge and skill statements as defined by PMI's Role Delineation Study (RDS):

PMP Exam Content Outline (Revised Aug 2011)

262 PMP and CAPM Exam Sample Questions from Farndale

Here's a link to Farndale's PMP and CAPM Exam Prep Guide with 262 sample questions. Apart from the questions, it has some good insider tips as well.

Farndale's PMP® and CAPM® Preparation Guide

New PMP Exam Changes (Aug 2011)

Here's some good information on the changes in the new PMP exam (post Aug 2011):

Crosswalk Between Current and New PMP Task Classifications

Rita Mulcahy - PMP Exam Prep 7th Ed

Rita Mulcahy's PMP Exam Prep, 7th edition book is now available. The book has been updated for the PMP exam changes coming into effect from Aug 31, 2011.

PMP Exam Prep, 7th Edition by Rita Mulcahy

Depreciation Methods

While preparing some notes on project selection methods, I came across a good article on depreciation. The article gives a very clear description of the depreciation methods with examples. If you are preparing for the PMP exam, you need not look beyond the following article, on the depreciation topic:

How to Calculate Depreciation

Conflict Management in Projects

Conflicts are inevitable in the project environment. Conflicts are not always bad, and can actually be beneficial to the project if managed appropriately.

Here's a very good article on conflict management that is particularly useful for the PMP exam:

Conflict Management in Projects

Commonly Confused Terms in the PMBOK Guide

Here's a nice compilation of commonly confused terms in the PMBOK Guide (many of the items are linked back to Deep Fried Brain PMP blog):

This vs. That in PMBoK (PMI)

Difference between Tolerances and Control Limits

What is the difference between Tolerances and Control Limits? The following article provides a good explanation:

Difference between Tolerances and Control Limits

Critical Chain FAQ

Preparing for the PMP or CAPM exam and want to learn more about the Critical Chain Method? The following page provides all the information that you need and a whole lot more:

Critical Chain FAQ

PMP Exam Lesson Learned by Kalpana Garyali

Kalpana passed her PMP exam on Apr 14, 2011 and sent me a note with her lessons learned and study notes. I'm sure there's something that every PMP aspirant can learn from this elaborate and well-written piece of information. Here's what she has to say:

Hi Harwinder,

Kudos to you for the wonderful explanation and details in each and every post of yours. Thank you so much for your time and effort towards running this blog. I cleared the PMP exam on 14th Apr, 2011 . I scored Moderately proficient in Professional and Social responsibility and Proficient in all the 5 process groups.

I would like to share my lessons learnt.

PMP Exam Lesson Learned by Soumyajit Mukherjee

Soumyajit Mukherjee passed the PMP exam on Mar 29, 2011. He sent me a "thank you" note along with his lessons learned. Here's what he has to say to all PMP aspirants:

PMI PDU Category Structure Update

PMI has simplified the Professional Development Unit (PDU) Category Structure. The changes come into effect from March 1, 2011. Read more about the announcement on PMI's website:

PMI PDU Category Structure Update

Xzams - PMP Sample Exam iPhone App by Oliver Lehmann

Here's a free 30 questions PMP sample question app for the iPhone from Oliver Lehmann:

Xzams - PMP Sample

There's also a full version with 400 questions for $4.99 in the app store.

A User's Manual to the PMBOK Guide

Did you ever wish you had a simplified version of the PMBOK Guide? If you did, then this might be just what you were looking for:

A User's Manual to the PMBOK Guide

What is Negative Float?

Negative float is the amount of time by which the early date (start or finish) of an activity exceeds its late date. Learn more about it here:

Negative Float

PMP ITTO Quiz

I came across another PMP ITTO Quiz application. Though I couldn't figure out exactly how it works, I thought I should share the link and let you explore it on your own. Here's the link.

PMP ITTO Quiz

Obviously, I prefer and recommend brainBOK - PMP and CAPM ITTO Quiz over any other tool out there, I appreciate the innovativeness and originality of this other tool. Kudos to the developers.

If you want to learn more about brainBOK features, head over to brainBOK Wiki.

Data Collection Methods for Stakeholder Analysis

Here's a good article on various methods used for data collection in project management activities as Stakeholder Analysis:

Methods of Data Collection in Stakeholder Analysis

Head First PMP Exam iPhone / iPad App

Head First PMP Exams feature in almost every successful PMP exam taker's lessons learned post. If you own an iPhone or iPad, you can now take the Head First PMP exam on your mobile device:

Head First PMP Exam - O'Reilly Media, Inc.