Aside from the fact that you’ll need 35 contact hours to sit for the exam, studying for the PMP exam itself is a project unto itself. Just like most certification exams, you have three basic ways of preparing for the exam: traditional classroom based training, online courses and self study. But don’t feel limited to just one. Many people who have passed the exam have used a combination of these.

Option 1: Classroom Based Training requires the least amount of self discipline and comes in a variety of flavors. Your local Project Management Institute (PMI) chapters and PMI “Registered Education Providers” (REPs) offer workshops, boot camps and classes specifically designed to teach not only what you must know, but how you will be asked to demonstrate it. Make sure your teacher is a PMP; taking the exam is an experience unto itself, and you want to know that your instructor has “been there/done that.” Classroom Based Training can account for all or part of your thirty-five (35) contact hours required to sit for the PMP exam.

Option 2: Online courses are great for people on the go and are usually less expensive than classroom based training because of the course provider’s lower overhead. They are usually much cheaper than instructor lead classroom courses. This option requires a medium amount of self discipline in that you have the flexibility of studying within your schedule. Online course usually offer a combination of webinars that you watch, web pages that you read, and documents that you download to study.

Some have deadlines, and some do not, so though you have the freedom to complete sections on your own you’ll need a medium amount of self discipline to insure that you finish within the time allowed by you or the requirements of the course itself. Like the Classroom Based Training, online courses can account for all or part of your thirty-five (35) contact hours required to sit for the PMP exam. If this is important in your plan, be sure to confirm before you sign on the dotted line.

Option 3: Self Study is the least expensive and therefore the most common way that people study for the PMP Exam and requires the most self discipline. The good things about this method are that you’ll save money and you to prepare on your own time. That also means you’ll need to be motivated.

The biggest road blocks you’ll face using this method is that you’ll have to create your own lesson plan and schedule, and you’ll have to evaluate and buy your own materials. If you’re dedicated and focused, this is a great way to prepare. Furthermore, self-study cannot be counted towards the 35 contact hour requirement. You must use classroom or online training for that.

Regardless of which method you choose, most successful people who pass the PMP exam supplement self-study preparation with at least a classroom and/or an online course. With the advent of portable media players such as the iPod, iPhone, Blackberry and Zune, many choose a combination of online training and self-study: Downloadable videocast and/or podcast courses allowing you to take the material with you and study anywhere and anytime. It’s a very powerful, cost effective and goal oriented solution.

About the author: Cornelius Fichtner, PMP is a noted PMP expert. He has helped over 10,000 students prepare for the PMP Exam with The Project Management PrepCast at http://www.pm-prepcast.com and he guides PMI credential holders on earning PDUs with The PDU Insider at http://www.pdu-insider.com.

Just do what you do. The easiest way to earn PDUs is to leverage what you currently do. Here is the short list of PDU eligible activities that might already be part of your professional life:

1. Your day job (PDU Category 2H)

If you work as a Project Manager this is probably the easiest way to tick off up to 25% of the PDUs you’ll need at the end of the recertification cycle. If you are a practitioner of project management services for at least 1,500 hours each calendar year, you can claim up to 5 PDUs per year for a maximum total of 15 PDUs per three year period. (See http://www.pmi.org/pdf/pdc_pmphandbook.pdf#page=38)

2. Take a quiz! (PDU Category 3)

Did you know you can earn up to one third of your PDUs by taking the PMI publication quizzes? The member price is only $15 per quiz. Score a 70% or higher and you will earn from 1 to 2 PDUs depending on the individual quiz and the CCR requirement you are trying to fulfill. (See http://www.pmi.org/CareerDevelopment/Pages/PMI-Publication-Quizzes.aspx)

3. PDUs that go wherever you go (PDU Category 3)

The PDU Podcast™ delivers a variety of topics by a variety of presenters to your personal media player; whenever and wherever you want them. As a PMI Registered Education Provider (REP’s), there is no limit to how many PDU Podcast™ Category 3 PDUs you can earn. This subscription keeps you on track with fresh content delivered consistently and reliably month in and month out. (See www.pducast.com)

4. Free PDUs (PDU Category 2)

The Project Management Podcast™ is a free subscription that delivers a new podcast every so often to its subscribers. Like the PDU Podcast™, The Project Management Podcast™ has a variety of topics presented but it may take a couple of episodes to equal one PDU if the programs are shorter than the 1 hour needed per PDU. It’s important to remember also that Category 2-SDL PDUs has a limit of 15 PDUs maximum per 36 month period. (See http://www.project-management-podcast.com/pdu)

5. Watch a Movie

“Project Movie: A Practical Application of the PMBOK® Guide—Fourth Edition” delivers 15 PDUs in the form of a movie via the internet to your home. It’s available on the PMI.org at a cost of $500 to PMI members. Well, I didn’t say it was cheap. I just said it was easy. (See http://www.pmi.org/CareerDevelopment/Pages/Web-Based-Self-Study.aspx)

6. Formal Academic Training (PDU Category 1)

Formal Academic educational courses related to Project Management can earn you 10 to 15 PDUs per semester. It’s probably the easiest of all the categories, so long as you are not financially challenged. Even if you are, there may well be project management related courses being offered at the community college that are more economical than the state and private collegiate institutions. The transcript or grade report is required for confirmation. (See http://www.pmi.org/pdf/pdc_pmphandbook.pdf#page=37)

7. Turning CEU’s into PDUs (PDU Category1)

Like Formal Academic Training, Continuing Education (CE) can be submitted for PDUs. Unlike Formal Academic Training, CE’s are courses that comply with IACET standards. CEU’s (Continuing Education Units) can be converted to PDUs; generally at a ratio of 1 CEU to 10 PDUs. Your best bet is to confirm with the provider that the course you are interested in complies with the ANSI/IACET 1-2007 Standard. (See http://www.pmi.org/pdf/pdc_pmphandbook.pdf#page=36)

8. Volunteer Service to Professional or Community Organizations (PDU Category 5)

If you already attend your PMI chapter’s monthly meeting, you’re earning up to 1 PDU for the presentation. Did you know you could be earning additional PDUs for attending that same meeting by joining the registration, finance, internal marketing and/or meeting committees? Contact your local Chapter’s for more details. A maximum of 20 PDUs may be earned through professional service or by providing non-compensated professional PM Service to non-employer or non-client customer groups.

A letter or certificate from the organization acknowledging the participation is required for confirmation. (To find your local PMI chapter, go to http://www.pmi.org/GetInvolved/Pages/PMI-Chapters.aspx)

9. Knowledge Sharing (PDU Category 2)

Authoring or co-authoring an article which is published in a ‘refereed’ journal, earns you 30 PDUs for author and 20 PDUs for co-author. If published in a ‘non-refereed’ journal, you can earn 15 PDUs for author and 10 for co-author. (See http://www.pmi.org/pdf/pdc_pmphandbook.pdf#page=38)

10. Self-Study (PDU Category 2-SDL)

Discussions or coaching sessions with colleagues or clients that put to use informational materials such as CD-ROMs, articles, books, videos or instructional manuals can earn up to 15 PDUs per three year period through self directed learning. This includes personally conducting project management research or a study, coaching sessions with people in your professional network (colleagues, clients, coworkers, etc). Reading applicable studies, books, blogs, and listening to audio books would all fall under this category. Copies of publications, sample education material or program agendas are required for confirmation. (See http://www.pmi.org/pdf/pdc_pmphandbook.pdf#page=38)

So there you have it….

No matter what your budget or your learning media preference, these 10 Easy ways are waiting to help you amass the 60 PDUs for your recertification. Whichever route you take, keep consistent and remember to have some fun with it.

About the author: Cornelius Fichtner, PMP is a noted PMP expert. He has helped over 10,000 students prepare for the PMP Exam with The Project Management PrepCast at http://www.pm-prepcast.com and he guides PMI credential holders on earning PDUs with The PDU Insider at http://www.pdu-insider.com.

Getting started in project management can be tough.  When starting out, there are many questions and challenges to face, and they are different based on your particular background and situation.

People who struggle with this come from various backgrounds:

Project Newbies – You might be a recent graduate or switching careers.  If you have no experience whatsoever with working on or managing projects, it can seem almost impossible to get your foot in the door.

Technical Gurus – You have been on project teams and been “in the trenches” getting things done.  Now it seems that managing these projects is your calling, but you have to go through a paradigm shift and learn new skills to make the transition.

People Managers – You have been managing people and are good at it.  Now you want to expand your horizons and switch from the day-to-day management of functional teams to the dynamic environment of delivering unique projects.

You might be trying to break into project management, or you may be an “Accidental Project Manager” who looked up one day and asked, “What have I gotten myself into?”  A project fell in your lap somehow.  How do you get good at managing it, now that it is a thorn in your side great opportunity in your life?

The questions I get most from these groups center around expanding knowledge, gaining experience, and planning your career path.  Answers change based on individual circumstances.  Your personality attributes and background play heavily into the path forward.

Hard and Soft Skills

Natural aptitudes vary from person to person, but you can acquire a level of competency for nearly all project management skills through education and experience.

Hard Skills refer to competency with the tools and techniques of formal project management.  If you are analytical by nature, hard skills are relatively easy for you to acquire and master.

Soft Skills or “people skills” include competency in communication and relationships with other people.  Outgoing “people persons” have a natural aptitude to be comfortable in this arena, but can also engage in many ineffective approaches when lacking in knowledge and experience.  Do not confuse personal attributes with soft skills.  I cannot influence personal attributes and aptitudes, but I can teach soft skills.

Building Knowledge

Regardless of which group you belong to, you will need to expand your knowledge base.

Technical Gurus will likely pick up the hard skills quickly, but many of the soft skills practices of managing people effectively and politics may be somewhat new.  People Managers will find soft skill nuances in project environments and many of the hard skills will be new territory.  Project Newbies may be familiar with some of the theories in project management, but are going to need a lot of real-world knowledge, experience, and coaching to land that first job and formulate their project manager career path.

Some great sources of real-world project management education include:

• Blogs/Podcasts – Use sites like http://blogsearch.google.com to find them
• Books – Focus on the basics first, follow the cutting edge later
• Join PM Organizations – Local PMI Chapters are a great example
• Training – Focus on gaining useful knowledge, certifications come later!

Finding a Mentor and Gaining Experience

A mentor is a huge boon to you if you can find one.  You can find mentors by networking locally or online, but be sure you approach them in the right way and offer benefit to them in exchange for their wisdom.  Your goal should be to offer valuable assistance to potential mentors, with the hope (but not expectation) they will reciprocate by sharing their lessons learned.

Do not just ask to “shadow” them.  What value are you offering them?  Ask if there are tasks (mundane as they may be) that you could do for them, to free their time up.  If you are a project team member, ask if you can help compile the status report or take meeting minutes during project meetings.

Donate your time; this is in addition to your current responsibilities.  Whether volunteering for another organization or within your own company, this is a great way to gain experience.  Within your own organization you should let it be known you are interested in project management; not just through words but by your daily actions.

What You Need To Grow

Is the organization you work for now a good environment for your desired career path?

Does your company make money by delivering successful projects, and/or do they respect Project Management as a formal discipline worth investing in?  If so, you will likely see opportunities for entry-level positions in project management that provide specialization such as:

• Project Controller
• Project Coordinator
• Project Assistant
• Project Analyst
• Project Scheduler
• Junior Project Manager
• Assistant Project Manager

Other organizations may have a progression of technical or management roles through which you can pass and eventually start managing your own projects.  Whatever your situation, put yourself into the best environment possible, and plan out your career path ahead of time so you have a roadmap with goals to follow.

Oh, and when you get there, be a mentor for someone else!

About the author: Josh Nankivel, BSc PM, PMP is a noted PM expert and provides training and mentoring at http://learn.pmStudent.com/ChapterMember.

The Project Management Professional (PMP)® certification is a stepping stone for project managers to climb up the corporate ladder. It provides you with the most sought after appreciation and visibility within your organization. The certification enhances your chances of professional growth within the organization and opens up new avenues. It validates your skills as an efficient project management professional. It not only enhances your earning potential but also provides you with a competitive stand in the job market.

The PMP certification confirms that you have the skills necessary to execute projects on time and within budget. It is one of the most globally recognized and respected certification credentials in project management. The certification requires a rigorous and comprehensive preparation for the exam. The closer the exam gets, the more stress you will feel. Your best answer to this pressure is to be well prepared through weeks or even months of studying.

The PMP exam contains questions from all the knowledge areas of The PMBOK® Guide and it can be difficult for you to work through all the material yourself. You need a PMP exam preparation course. Such a course will help you to go through the material in a structured and planned way. It will also provide focused instruction dealing with the most important topic areas and points of emphasis. This will help you face the exam confidently.

Here are the 7 steps to go through as you select the course that best suits your needs:

Step 1: Decide if you want an Online or In-Person course

PMP exam preparation courses are available both online and in-person. An in-person workshop gives you the advantage of live interaction. You’ll have an in-classroom teacher and there are also the other students in the classroom to learn from.

Online classes on the other hand are convenient as you can stay at home and access all the study materials and modules at any time of the day. Some can even be downloaded to your iPod, Blackberry or other player. That way you can participate in the training as you drive to and from work every day.

Look for PMP Exam in your favorite search engine to find the most popular courses.

Step 2: Compare the Price to your Budget

Money matters to all of us and your available budget limits your options. Compare prices carefully. Many factors go into the pricing of courses such as duration of instruction and materials.

Generally speaking, online courses are less expensive than in-person ones. But don’t think that a low price is reflection of quality. Complete, high-quality online courses are available for as little as $100, while in-person classes have a teacher whose salary needs to be paid. So expect to pay a lot more.

Ask your employer if they offer a scholarship option and also get in touch with your local PMI Chapter to learn if there are reduced rates for members on the courses the chapter offers.

Step 3: Select PMI Registered Education Providers only

One of the most important determining criteria is that the course must be offered to you by a PMI® Registered Education Provider (R.E.P.). Courses are offered by a variety of companies and the R.E.P. certification and logo ensures that the course follows PMI established quality criteria.

Step 4: Check that the Principal Instructor is PMP certified

You will greatly benefit from the course if the principal instructor is PMP certified. It ensures that the trainer has the experience of preparing for and taking the exam himself or herself. In this way, your instructor will be more able to help you clear all the road blocks in preparation for the PMP exam.

Step 5: Ensure that the course is based on the most current PMBOK® Guide

You also need to make sure that the course follows the latest edition of A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK Guide)®. The exam is based largely on the current version of this standard.

Step 6: Ensure that you’ll receive 35 Contact Hours with End of Course Assessment

One of the pre-requisites of the PMI certification is that all applicants must show at least 35 Contact Hours of project management education. Without this you will not be able to take the exam. Make sure that the courses you consider offer a certificate of completion that shows at least 35 contact hours.

PMI requires that all online course providers test your knowledge at the end of the course through an “end of course assessment”. Therefore, if you select an online class and you are not tested before you receive your certificate, your certificate is worthless.

Step 7: Review these Criteria for each Course and Provider

Of the courses that you consider, take the following into consideration as well:

• What is the number of past students?
• Do you receive free sample questions with the course?
• Do you receive PMP Exam tips & tricks?
• Does this provider offer any other PMP preparation materials that might be helpful to you?
• Is there an online forum where you can ask exam questions?
• What kind of technical support is available?
• And most importantly: Read the testimonials from past students and see what they have to say about the course. A good provider will offer an unmonitored, public way for students to give feedback on the materials.

By applying these 7 steps to your selection process you are a going through a structured way in your PMP Exam course selection and you’ll ensure that you purchase the right online course, which best suits your needs. Once purchased, then the real work begins: Going through the materials and studying for about 8-12 weeks until you are ready.

About the author: Cornelius Fichtner, PMP is a noted PMP expert. He has helped over 9,000 students prepare for the PMP Exam with The Project Management PrepCast at http://www.pm-prepcast.com.

The PMP exam is a computer based exam with 200 multiple choice questions. This means that each question has exactly one correct answer. The exam will give you exactly four hours to answer these questions. If you prepared well, this should be a breeze. Most find four hours to be more than sufficient for the exam. (It took me 3 hours and 58 minutes because I wasn’t feeling well on that day.) Out of these 200 questions, 25 questions are pretest questions. These are randomly places through out the exam and are used for research purposes. These questions will not count towards your final score. But even though you will only be evaluated on the basis of 175 questions you still must answer all 200 because you won’t know which are the 25 pretest questions.

PMI does not release the actual score that is required for you to pass the exam. All they tell us is that “The passing score for all PMI credential examinations is determined by sound psychometric analysis.” So nobody but PMI knows how many questions you have to answer correctly in order to pass.

This is important: Remember that there is no negative marking on the exam. This means that you are not penalized for questions that you answered incorrectly. There is just “correct” or “wrong” for the scoring. This means that if you leave a question unanswered your answer is “wrong”. So remember not to leave any question unanswered. You need to answer them all.

After you click on finish and submit the exam, you will see on-screen whether you passed or failed. This takes about 10 seconds but feels like an eternity. You will also receive a printed examination report that tells you how you did in the various process groups.

To feel confident that you can do it, you must have undergone enough preparations and must have taken practice exams several times based on the lessons learned from the study materials of your choice.

Until Next Time,
Cornelius Fichtner, PMP
The PM PrepCast - http://www.project-management-prepcast.com/

The Project Management Institute (PMI)® offers 5 credentials in project management. Are you confused about which is the right one for you? Well, then here I am to help you find an answer.

PMI has a global presence with members in over 170 countries. It is the largest association dedicated to project management in the world. PMI is actively engaged in setting professional standards for project mangers which helps them set themselves apart from the rest of the crowd. PMI credentials greatly enhance your employability.

PMI certifications give you the most sought after appreciation and visibility within your organization. It is an important investment for your career because the certificate may increase your job stability, expand your earning potential and provide a competitive stand in the job market.

To be eligible for any PMI credential, you must meet certain educational and project management experience requirements. They are different for each credential and are spelled out in detail in the Credential Handbooks. You’ll find a link to each of the 5 handbooks on the PMI website www.pmi.org under “Career Development > About PMI’s Credentials”.

Go ahead… take a look at one or two of these handbooks. You will soon realize that there is one question that isn’t answered in there. The question is “Where do I want to be in 5 years from today?” So instead of immediately reading up on the credentials you may first want to find out where your passion in project management lies, select the appropriate career path and then set your eyes on the appropriate credential.

Here is a PMI credential overview including highlights of the eligibility requirements. Please refer to the individual Credential Handbook for the complete requirements:

Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM)®

If you are a junior project management practitioner and have demonstrated your skills as a project team member then the Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM) is the best option. You will get the fundamental knowledge of processes and terminology that will help you effectively manage projects. For the CAPM certification all you need is a high school diploma and either 1,500 hrs of professional experience on a project team or 23 hours of project management training.

PMI Scheduling Professional (PMI-SP)®

If your role involves developing and working on the project schedule then PMI Scheduling Professional is appropriate for you. Your knowledge and expertise in developing and maintaining the project schedule will be enhanced with the PMI Scheduling Professional. If you hold a bachelor’s degree then you will need a minimum of 3500 hrs of project scheduling. With high school diploma you will require a minimum of 5000 hrs of work experience in project scheduling.

PMI Risk Management Professional (PMI-RMP)®

If you demonstrate knowledge and skills in the risk management of a project then PMI Risk Management Professional (PMI-RMP) will suit you best. With a PMI-RMP credential you will develop an expertise in identifying project risks and in mitigating threats and capitalizing on the opportunities.  If you have a bachelor’s degree then you will need 3000 hrs of work experience in project risk management, but with a high school diploma 4500 hrs are mandatory.

Project Management Professional (PMP)®

If you perform your project management duties under general supervision, lead the team and direct all project tasks then you should go for the Project Management Professional (PMP) credential. You will develop an in-depth understanding and skills to lead and direct project teams to deliver results within the constraints of budget, time and scope. The certification requires 3 years of professional experience with at least 4500 hours spent leading and directing project tasks. With a high school diploma five years of professional experience is required with at least 7500 hours spent in leading and directing project tasks.

Currently, the PMP Exam is the most sought after project management credential in the world.

Program Management Professional (PgMP)®

Do you handle multiple projects directed towards a strategic business objective? Do you manage programs that contain complex activities that span functions, organizations, geographic regions and cultures? In that case the Program Management Professional (PgMP) is the credential that you should opt for. It will help you gain an insight of multiple projects aligned with organizational objectives.

The eligibility criteria for the PgMP credential is a bachelor’s degree with 4 years of project and program management experience. If you hold a high school diploma then you will need four years of project management experience along with 7 years of program management experience.

PMI credentials often lead to career opportunities and advancement. You will be recognized as a competent professional in project management processes for which you will be deeply appreciated by your employers. PMI serves as an unbiased endorsement of your project management knowledge and experience at a global level.

Once you earn a PMI credential (other than CAPM), you also need to fulfill the requirements of the Continuing Certification Requirements (CCR) program. You need to participate in professional development activities on a regular basis to adhere to the CCR program.

So, go ahead and become a certified CAPM, PMI-RMP, PMI-SP, PMP or PgMP. It is a step ahead towards enhancing your career and increasing your professional growth. Put yourself in the limelight and maximize your earning potential without any further delay!

About the author: Cornelius Fichtner, PMP is a noted PMP expert. He has helped over 9,000 students prepare for the PMP Exam with The Project Management PrepCast at http://www.pm-prepcast.com.

After several intense and hard weeks of study and preparations, you are now ready to take on the PMP Exam. And the mental preparation in the last 24 hours before you actually take it are just as important as the weeks of study before. You want to be well prepared, both physically and mentally, to tackle the questions and pass the exam.

And so, going into the eve of the exam, it is important that you can feel relaxed and do not worry. This will help you prepare mentally for the challenges of the next day. One of the most important techniques here is to take one, possibly even two days off from work. This way, you can focus only on your exam and not worry about any work related deadlines as well. Keep your focus!

And obviously, you also want to make sure that you get a good night’s sleep. Go to bed early and avoiding things that could give you stress. Wake up early in the morning, do some light exercise just to get you warmed up and ensure that you get a good breakfast. Let my own experience be a lesson for you: avoid any food that’s unfamiliar or exotic for you. You don’t want to get an upset stomach during the exam like I had.

Remember, a positive attitude will help carry the day for you and help you achieve your goal of passing your PMP exam.

Until Next Time,
Cornelius Fichtner, PMP
The PM PrepCast - http://www.project-management-prepcast.com/

One important recommendation I have for those taking the PMP Exam is that to manage the time allotted to answer each question on the exam. Call it budgeting, call it time management, call it whatever you want; but do it! You need to walk into the examination room with a clear plan on how many questions you will answer per hour, when you plan on taking a break, and what you will do if time seems to be running out.

Remember that the exam is composed of 200 questions that you must answer within 4 hours. That’s 1.2 minutes per question. Once you begin, the clock starts and will not stop even when you take a break. So plan your approach – say for the first 2 hours, answer all easy questions first and mark those difficult ones for later. Be sure to read all the questions carefully and understand them before  you answer. Then take a 10 minute break before going back to the harder questions for the rest of the allotted time. By doing this you will be able to finish the whole exam on time.

But that’s just one of many possible approaches and you should define your own. And by having a plan and implementing it you will relieve a lot of the exam pressure. So plan well, and budget your time wisely to succeed.

Until Next Time,
Cornelius Fichtner, PMP
The PM PrepCast - http://www.project-management-prepcast.com/

For most Indians, PMO means the prime minister’s office. But, Indian companies are slowly waking up to another PMO, project management office, that allows them to closely monitor the execution of their projects, often hit by time and cost overruns.

Companies having a PMO in place have had a higher successes rate in completing a project on time. Project teams have a PMO have found that it ensures consistency and uniformity in project delivery, which helps them meet performance criteria, according to a survey by Project Management Institute (PMI) and KPMG.

While progress reports are the primary tools for project monitoring, companies say independent project reviews and oversight are effective measures for monitoring and control.

While companies like L&T, Punj Llyod, Essar Group, HCC, BHEL, Infosys, Wipro and Mahindra Satyam have put in PMOs, others are warming up to the concept. A key problem: like an ISO-9000 certification, companies are unable to quantify the benefit of project management, said Raj Kalady, country director, Project Management Institute. “But companies become competitive, and benefit from higher HR morale,” he said.

PMI is a global association of project managers, which tries to advance the practice, science and profession of project management. PMI is trying to promote the concept among companies, academia and government bodies.

Besides lack of awareness, a key factor which has been hampering the growth of this profession, is the inadequate supply of talent. There are only a handful of institutions in the country, mostly in the West, that offer full-time courses in project management, and PMI has been working with these institutions to improve their focus.

Raajeev Batra, executive director, advisory services, KPMG, said that companies need to create a structure for risk management and controls. Take contractors, for instance. Batra said they have good risk management at the bidding stage (they know what they are getting into, and know how to absorb and mitigate the risks). But their risk managing capacities, when it comes to delivering or handing over the projects, remain weak.

via Business Standard

A project manager is the head of a project. He is involved in all activities that a project undertakes. There are several disciplines involved in a project, and the thought for today is to expect the project manager to know everything, like play god, omniscient?

If a project manager is expected to run the project, and be accountable for the outcomes, I do not believe that there is anything wrong with the expectation stated above. He may not be an expert in many fields, and that’s a good reason to have experts for each of the areas like a human resources manager, quality expert and so on.

If we stretch this thought a little bit, can we ask a project manager to know multiple technologies. Well, that depends on the project manager’s aspirations. If he wants to enlarge his reach in getting fresh and challenging projects, he would push himself into learning new technologies. And, at a project manager’s level, learning a new technology does not mean mastering, but to understand it to apply it in the work performed.

At Spark IT 2010, Sundar Varadaraj, director – Technology and Innovation Center, Dell, said that a project manager is required to be a jack of all trades.

Excerpt :

There are basically five types of projects namely end-to-end green field, application support and maintenance, project with no start and end, enterprise project-with one end of the part and the embedded project-OS intensive.

“Project/portfolio managers need to look at selection/bonding/teaming of their army of product engineers, ego-less management, engage clients in small talk, generate genuine interest in colleagues, gift the clients and colleges on occasions and many more,” he added.