PROJECT MANAGEMENT
CERTIFICATION CURRICULUM
M-775

Some Project Managers want professional recognition for their experience, ability and skills. Others only need practical training in tools and techniques they can apply immediately on-the-job the day after graduation.

Some companies have developed their own Project Management Certification and standards program; others rely on the Project Management Institute in the United States and similar organizations in Europe and Asia.

This curriculum was designed for experienced project managers preparing to take the PMP® Exam themselves, and to be tailored for tools & techniques training or certification to suit each organization's unique needs.

Project Management Institute (PMI®)

The Project Management Institute (PMI®) is the recognized authority in the United States, and increasingly in Europe and Asia, identifying and charting the processes and knowledge necessary to build professional project managers. They have also written the official text called "A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge" (PMBOK®).

PMP® Examination and Certification

To achieve professional recognition requires passing a tough 200-question examination in all 9 knowledge areas of project management as encompassed in PMI's A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK®). Those who pass are awarded a Project Management Professional Certificate (PMP®). Your company may have additional requirements. There are universities and consultants offering an exam preparation curriculum; Continuing Education Units (CEU's) and Professional Development Units (PDU's). The leading university affiliated program requires 22-36 days of training and the exam preparation costs are approximately $8,000 per student.

Half the Time

Instead of a typical university affiliate program that may take 22-36 training days, the Project Management Certification Curriculum will cover the same ground in just 11 days. Instead of one 2-5 day crash course, this curriculum is deliberately spread out over a time span chosen by each company to ensure learning, retention, exam readiness and application.

Hands on Learning

Instead of passive lectures or even instructors reading aloud from textbooks, which some vendors offer, the Project Management Curriculum offers a dynamic "hands-on" instructional model. Some classes teach tools and techniques with case examples, practice quizzes and game shows with points awarded to enliven the learning and make it fun. Other courses use technology driven learning with computer simulations that model a project - complete with tasks, resources, costs, decisions and crises - that you will get to manage in class with immediate feedback on results. The computer simulations compress 4-6 months of the project life cycle into 2-3 real time days. So, in every class you learn by doing with immediate feedback.

These courses were carefully designed to work together to integrate the educational content needed to meet certification requirements and take the PMP® exam. It can be modified for a specific in house certification program along with training and practice tools and techniques that can be applied back on the job.

Half the Cost

Instead of $8,000 to prepare each graduate to take the PMP® exam in one standard university curriculum, the list price for the complete Certification PMP® Exam Preparation package is under $4,400. Costs can be reduced further with volume discounts.

Project Management Certification Curriculum

PCI's Project Management Certification Curriculum brings together a corporate and university team devoted to exceptional project management training for the real world that blends the best of higher education and rigorous exam preparations with electronic tools & hands on techniques that can be applied the Monday after graduation.

The PCI Curriculum offers a proven integrated model to learn and apply:

1. Project management tools & techniques surrounding the certification curriculum
2. PMI's 5-phases and 9 knowledge areas and
3. A rigorous and successful Online PMP® practice examination

1. Simulation based programs

1. Project Management - Tools (Foundations) - (Computer Simulation Seminar) (16 PDU's) Teaches the "basics"; how to plan, resource, schedule, influence, track and report any size project in any area. Teaches a common language with basic tools, templates and techniques. (First program taken in the curriculum)
2. Project Leadership - (Computer Simulation Seminar) (28 PDU's) Teaches business, people/team leadership skills and automated tools to lead cross-functional teams to reduce cycle time and improve quality and productivity in technical projects. (Taken upon completion of the Project Management Certification Curriculum)

 

2. Project Management Certification Curriculum

1. Project Management Context, Processes and Integration (8 PDU's) Reviews the entire curriculum, objectives, student materials, tools & techniques and certification requirements. Context discusses Project Phases, Life Cycle, Stakeholders and Organizational Influence. Integration Management covers processes to ensure the all elements of the project are coordinated.
2. Scope and Time Management (8 PDU's) Scope Management teaches the processes to ensure the project includes all the work and only the work required to complete the project, it consists of initiation, scope planning and definition, scope verification and change control. Time Management teaches processes to ensure timely completion of the project. It consists of activity definition, sequencing, duration estimating, schedule development and schedule control.
3. Cost and Quality Management (8 PDU's) Cost Management teaches processes to ensure the project is completed within the approved budget. (Resource planning, cost estimating, budgeting and cost control) Quality Management teaches processes to ensure the project will satisfy the needs for which it was undertaken. (Quality planning, quality assurance and control)
4. Human Resources and Communications (8 PDU's) Human Resource Management teaches processes to optimize the use of the people on the project. (Organizational planning, staff acquisition, team development and training) Communication Management teaches processes to ensure timely and appropriate generation, collection, dissemination, storage and final disposition of project information.
5. Risk Management and Procurement (8 PDU's) Risk Management teaches processes for identifying, analyzing and responding to project risk. (Risk identification, quantification, response development and response control) Procurement Management teaches processes to acquire goods and services from outside vendors and contractors. (Procurement planning, solicitation planning, solicitation, source selection, contract administration and contract closeout)
6. Key General Management Skills and Core Subject Review (8 PDU's) Focuses on general management skills, communications, Stakeholders and socioeconomic influences. Includes a review and exercises on key terms and concepts; in-depth understanding of the PMP® exam's knowledge areas.

3. On Line PMP® Practice Examination: When ready, graduates of PMCC can take on line, a full-blown practice PMP® exam covering all 9 Knowledge areas, 5 process areas and additional areas required. (Taken in preparation for the PMP exam)

Tool Kits for Immediate Application

Every class provides either a built in electronic Tool Kit (a disk with tools and templates) that graduates can take away with them or study materials, cases, drills and practice quizzes with answers. This combination allows them to apply everything they learn in class to their next project assignment providing sponsor companies with an immediate return on their investment. The study materials are structured to provide solid preparation. So graduates can pass the PMP® exam the first time.

Those who register for the complete Project Management Certification Curriculum will also receive, at no additional cost, the PMI® official textbook, Q&A prep kit and practice exam.

Continuing Education Units (CEU's) and Executive Certificate

Any student who completes courses in the curriculum can apply for CEU's (Continuing Education Units) from Iowa State University for a small fee. They do not have to attend classes on campus to receive CEU's. Students who register for and complete the entire 8-course/11-day curriculum will receive all CEU credits and an executive certificate of completion at no extra charge.

Professional Development Units (PDU's)

Any PMP® can take any of these courses and on request may be granted PDU's.

Study Process

For those preparing for the certification examination, the Certificate Partners will work with your organization to tailor a structured process to help your participants achieve their goals. Supporting activities include facilitating study groups; take home assignments, cases and a series of quizzes and games to make the learning come alive.

Completion of this curriculum will provide all educational requirements needed to pass the PMP® Examination and provide professional skill building and career enhancement.

Iowa State University

Is an internationally recognized university located in Ames, Iowa granting Undergraduate, Graduate and Doctoral degrees. Its Graduate Engineering and Computer Science faculty have agreed to award CEU's for all courses taken under The Project Management Curriculum approach and to issue the executive certificate for those who complete the entire curriculum.

PCI Global Inc. was conceived in 1991 to blend technology with leadership skills learning to provide "hands-on" skill building. Instead of boring lectures, cases and CD-ROM's, PCI courses are built around Computer Simulations of projects, operations, sales offices, work groups or business segments. Each simulation-based course teaches the key business, project management and people/team leadership skills needed at each level. PCI provides project management training at 4 levels: (1) basic, (2) tools, (3) leadership and (4) multi-project management. Current clients for selected courses include industry leaders (the #1 and/or #2 company) in Aerospace, Banking, Computer Services, Health Care, Insurance, Pharmaceuticals, Securities and Semiconductors.

Each professional in your organization gets just the right project management training they need and want. Learning and certification preparation are hands-on, involving and fun. Your organization slashes the cost and time in half for both project management training and PMP® exam preparation. In the long term, your business earns an on-going dividend of reduced project cost and cycle time, with a growing cadre of thoroughly trained project management professionals. The Certificate Curriculum Partners make more friends and satisfied customers.

Instructors/Program Leaders

All instructors have graduate degrees, are PMP® certified, have years of experience in managing corporate projects and teaching project management to Global 500 leaders. Detailed descriptions of all courses in the PMCC follow.

Methodology and Software

No course in this curriculum will conflict with or contradict your company's methodology. Our software is compatible with any project management planning software your organization uses.

PCI Global and PMI®

PCI Global is a charter REP (Registered Education Provider) for the Project Management Institute with 11 years of experience teaching project management to Fortune 500 companies in the USA, UK, Europe, Latin America and Asia.

 

Detailed descriptions of the six core Project Management Certification programs

1. PROJECT MANAGEMENT CONTEXT, PROCESSES AND INTEGRATION

Objective:

Context discusses Project Phases, Life Cycle, Stakeholders and Organizational Influence. Process gives an overview of the 5 core processes and process groups and interactions. Integration Management teaches the processes required to ensure that the various elements of the project are properly coordinated.

This module is part of a comprehensive curriculum designed to teach the concepts, skills and tools necessary to become a professional project manager including in depth preparation for the PMP® exam. Features detailed instruction on these two PMBOK® Knowledge areas, plus practice quizzes, drills and game shows. Answers are discussed, analyzed and explained. Participants are expected to join study groups (in company) and make a commitment to certification.

Key Learning Points:

• Overview of entire Project Management Certification Curriculum
• Certification requirements and tools for application
• Review of PMBOK® and other study materials
• Support activities - setting up study groups
• Chapter's 2 & 3 of PMBOK®

Project Integration Management - focuses on the processes required to ensure that all elements of a project are properly coordinated.

• Project Plan Development - taking the results of other planning processes and positioning them into a consistent, coherent document.
• Project Plan Execution - carrying out the project plan by executing tasks included therein.
• Integrated Change Control - coordinating changes across the entire project.

Length:     1 day
PDU Credits:         8

 

2. SCOPE AND TIME MANAGEMENT

Objective:

One-day module teaching the inputs, practical tools & techniques and outputs of project Scope and Time Management.

This module is part of a comprehensive curriculum designed to teach the concepts, skills and tools necessary to become a professional project manager including in depth preparation for the PMP® exam. Features detailed instruction on these two PMBOK® Knowledge areas, plus practice quizzes, drills and game shows. Answers are discussed, analyzed and explained. Participants are expected to join study groups (in company) and make a commitment to certification.

Key Learning Points:

Project Scope Management - processes to define and control what work is done to complete a project successfully.

• Initiation - committing organization to start (each phase of a) project.
• Scope Planning - developing a written scope statement defining work to be done - as basis for future project decisions.
• Scope Definition - subdividing major project deliverables into smaller components.
• Scope Verification - formalizing acceptances of the project scope.
• Scope Change Control - controlling changes to project scope.

Project Time Management - processes required to ensure timely completion of project.

• Activity Definition - identify activities to produce deliverables; project decomposition and work breakdown structure.
• Activity Sequencing - identify and document dependencies; create network diagram.
• Activity Duration Estimating - estimate elapsed time to complete activities.
• Schedule Development - analyze activity sequences, durations and resources required to create a project schedule.
• Schedule Control - controlling changes to project schedule.

Length:     1 day
PDU Credits:    8

 

3. COST AND QUALITY MANAGEMENT

Objective:

One-day module teaching the inputs, practical tools & techniques and outputs of project Cost and Quality Management.

This module is part of a comprehensive curriculum designed to teach the concepts, skills and tools necessary to become a professional project manager including in-depth preparation for the PMP® exam. Features detailed instruction on these two PMBOK® Knowledge areas, plus practice quizzes, drills and game shows. Answers are discussed, analyzed and explained. Participants are expected to join study groups (in company) and make a commitment to certification.

Key Learning Points:

Project Cost Management - focuses on the processes required to ensure that the project is completed within the approved budget.

• Resource Planning - determining what resources and quantities should be used to perform project activities.
• Cost Estimating - outlining the costs of the resources needed to complete project activities.
• Cost Budgeting - allocating the overall cost estimate to individual work items.
• Cost Control - controlling changes to the project budget.

Project Quality Management - processes required to ensure that the project will satisfy the needs for which it was undertaken.

• Quality Planning - identifying the quality standards, which are relevant to the project, and determining how to satisfy them.
• Quality Assurance - evaluating overall project performance to provide confidence that the project will satisfy the relevant quality standards.
• Quality Control - monitoring specific project results to determine if they comply with relevant
• Quality standards and identifying ways to eliminate causes of unsatisfactory performance.

Length:     1 day
PDU Credits:    8

4. HUMAN RESOURCES AND COMMUNICATIONS

Objective:

One-day module teaching the inputs, practical tools & techniques and outputs of project Human Resources and Communications.

This module is part of a comprehensive curriculum designed to teach the concepts, skills and tools necessary to become a professional project manager including in-depth preparation for the PMP® exam. Features detailed instruction on these two PMBOK® knowledge areas, plus practice quizzes, drills and game shows. Answers are discussed, analyzed and explained. Participants are expected to join study groups (in company) and make a commitment to certification.

Key Learning Points:

Project Human Resource Management - focuses on the processes required to make the most effective use of the people involved with the project.

• Organizational Planning - identifying, documenting and assigning project roles, responsibilities and reporting relationships.
• Staff Acquisition - getting the human resources needed assigned to and working on the project.
• Team Development - developing individual and group skills to enhance project performance.

Project Communications Management - processes required to ensure timely and appropriate generation, collection, dissemination, storage and ultimate disposition of project information.

Communications Planning - determining the information and communications needs of the stakeholders.

• Information Distribution - making needed information available to project stakeholders in a timely manner.
• Performance Reporting - collecting and disseminating performance information.
• Administrative Closure - generating, gathering and disseminating information to formalize phase or project completion.

Length:     1 day
PDU Credits:    8

 

RISK MANAGEMENT AND PROCUREMENT

Objective:

One-day module teaching the inputs, practical tools & techniques and outputs of project Risk Management and Procurement.

This module is part of a comprehensive curriculum designed to teach the concepts, skills and tools necessary to become a professional project manager including in-depth preparation for the PMP® exam. Features detailed instruction on these two PMBOK® Knowledge areas, plus practice quizzes, drills and game shows. Answers are discussed, analyzed and explained. Participants are expected to join study groups (in company) and make a commitment to certification.

Key Learning Points:

Project Risk Management - Concerned with the systematic process of identifying, analyzing and responding to project risk. Risk Management Planning - deciding how to approach and plan the risk management activities for a project.

Risk Identification - determining which risk might affect the project and documenting their characteristics.

Qualitative Risk Analysis - performing a qualitative analysis of risks and conditions to prioritize their effects on project objectives.

• Quantitative Risk Analysis - measuring the probability and consequences or risks and estimating their implications for project objectives.
• ·Risk Response Planning - developing procedures and techniques to enhance opportunities and reduce threats to the project's objectives.
• Risk Monitoring and Control - monitoring residual risks, identifying new risks, executing risk reduction plans and evaluating their effectiveness throughout the project life cycle.

Project Procurement Management - processes required to gain goods and services from outside the performing organization.

• Procurement Planning - determining what to procure and when.
• Solicitation Planning - documenting product requirements and identifying potential sources.
• Solicitation - obtaining quotations, bids, offers or proposals as appropriate.
• Contract Administration - managing the relationship with the seller.
• Contract Closeout - completion and settlement of the contract, including resolution of any open items.

Length:     1 day
PDU Credits:    8

 

KEY GENERAL MANAGEMENT SKILLS AND CORE SUBJECT REVIEW

Objective:

Focuses on general management skills, communications, Stakeholders and socioeconomic influences.

Also includes reviews and exercises on key terms and concepts; provides a thorough understanding of the complex areas of the PMI® exam, including testing techniques, tips, practice quizzes, detailed feedback on each question and a game show format to make test preparation challenging and fun.

This module is part of a comprehensive curriculum designed to teach the concepts, skills and tools necessary to become a professional project manager including in-depth preparation for the PMP® exam. Features detailed instruction on these two PMBOK® Knowledge areas, plus practice quizzes, drills and game shows. Answers are discussed, analyzed and explained. Participants are expected to join study groups (in company) and make a commitment to certification.

Key Learning Points:

• Understand key project management inputs, processes, tools & techniques and outputs
• Provide a thorough understanding of some of the more complex areas of the PMP® exam such as earned value, schedule calculation and risk management
• Reference materials for preparing for the actual exam
• Testing techniques and tips
• Game show - teams compete for points answering practice test questions
• Multi-part practice test
• Understanding the use of the sample test to pinpoint areas needing further focus
• Feedback on practice test
• How to analyze test questions when you don't know the answer
• Requirements to maintain PMP® Certification - Professional Development Units (PDU's)

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