How to Prepare for PMP exams?

PMP exams can be tricky to prepare for. It is highly competitive as thousands of candidates appear for it each year. Preparing can be difficult, with a vast syllabus and conflicting opinions from peers. Material for preparation can be found easily, but knowing what sources to trust and what is outdated or irrelevant is the hard part. Here are a few tips on which books to use and how they may benefit you.

Rita Mulcahy: 

This is one of the most trusted books in PMP preparation. It is rigorous, extensive and covers everything there is to cover in the syllabi. The book is exhaustive in its supply of information. It will help you get acquainted with the exam pattern and with the style of questions usually asked. It contains extremely helpful material on project management.

Cons:

• The book takes far too much time and effort to grasp. There are other alternatives in the market which are simpler to read. The book is meant for nuanced readers, and not for beginners.

• The book is scanty in its coverage of ITTOs, making it insufficient in its approach.

Andy Crowe: 

This is a more desirable alternative to the previous option. It covers the syllabus relatively well, and used simple lucid language. The merit of this book lies in its ability to explain complex concepts easily. It does not use technical jargon which confuses new readers. It illustrates management concepts effectively and helps readers understand the ideas communicated by the book with ease.

Cons:

• It covers just the bare minimum of the syllabus. If your aim is to just pass the exam, then this book is ideal. It is not exhaustive in its content. 

Head First: 

This is a respected book because it employs visual aid to help learners. It contains a lot of illustrations, diagrams and other visual representations which not only keep the reader interested and engaged, but communicate essential matter in a succinct form. Some learners have a photographic memory, making them better adept at remembering images rather than words. For learners such as these, this book is ideal as it is one of the few in the market which uses visual aid so generously and so effectively.

Cons:

• Visual aid can be reductive at times. It is not without its flaws, in the sense that visual aids often communicate facts only partially. Also, not every piece of information can be diagrammatically represented. 

Kim Heldman: 

This is considered one of the authorities in the field of PMP preparation. The book strikes the perfect balance between theory and praxis. It is a hit with students owing to its lucid language, systematically arranged content and its effective understanding of the exam requirement.

Cons:

• It is suitable only for beginners. If you want to peruse secondary reading material, then this may seem a tad inadequate. 

Different books cater to different needs. Understand how you wish to prepare and make an informed decision.

Skillogic Knowledge Solutions is providing PMP certification training in India both classroom and online training. If you are planning to clear PMP exam in first attempt then visit Skillogic. For more details about courses call on: 901-989-9000

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Everything You Need To Know About DevOps

DevOps is a concept that inspires better interaction between development and operations. It is a circle of ideas that, that has propelled in to a movement. This idea is not new and it has been spreading rapidly round the whole technical community. DevOps illustrates a section of the information technology team of an organization that creates and maintains its support system. Here is how DevOps can be usually described as.

What Is DevOps?

DevOps is term that has emerged from the impact of the two major trends that are related to each other i.e. “agile system administration” and “partnership between the development and operations staffs”. This description of DevOps is about a standard infrastructure of the organization which has been able to clearly analyze the different issues that are covered by DevOps. Therefore, DevOps is one such concept that requires variation to understand completely.

Definition In Depth

So, now let’s discuss the definition of DevOps in depth. As, the study around DevOps involves a lot of factors, thus for different people it has different meanings. There are a number of concepts that people use to describe DevOps, like it is “association between the developer and operations,” or it’s “treating your code as infrastructure,” or its “using automation,” and many other elements. Agile development is usually concerned about four different “levels”, but here we have also added a fifth one, named as the tooling level. Let us discuss all these levels:

• Agile Values – These are the high level ideologies and core values that illuminates agile.
• Agile Principles – For supporting these principles usually some strategic approaches are planned. A dozens of more agile principles are mentioned in the Agile Manifesto.
• Agile Methods – Agile methods are the more distinctive agile process execution of the principles
• Agile Practices – Agile practices are highly distinctive smart methods that are used as a combination with agile implementations. 
• Agile Tools – Agile tools are distinctive technical execution of the agile practices that are employed by teams to ease up their work accordingly.

History of DevOps

The origin of DevOps can be accounted from the elevating requirement for newer innovations from the side of technology work. The DevOps movement has been inherited from the Enterprise System Movement (ESM) and Agile System Movement. In the mid-2000s, ESM originated which gave a momentum to the organizations to come up with new methodologies of running systems. During this phase, a shift from large vendors like IBM, HP, CA to more smaller and open source vendor stuffs like Hyperic, Spiceworks, Zenoss and many others took place.

In 2009, Andrew Shafer of US and Patrick Debois of Belgium, collaborated and came up with the concept of DevOps and also coined this name. The concept of DevOps fully came into light when Patrick Debois held the first DevOps Days event in Ghent. This concept spread rapidly throughout the world and was talked about in venues like Velocity and DevOps Days in US.

The progressing tool chain and automation techniques supported by better provisioning and monitoring tools, the necessity for agile methods and the collaboration of development and operations along with the breakdown of the big execution of ITIL/ ITSM lead to the formation of three layers of agile movement i.e. principles, practices and process. Therefore, DevOps emerged from this chain of events. 

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Best PMP Exam Books

In the month of January, 2013, the knowledge guide of the latest edition of PM body has been published. As the tenth knowledge area Project Stakeholder Management is increasing the knowledge areas from nine to ten than the fourth edition. It documents increasing total points of 42 to 47. It affects to the project management professionals to pass PMP certifications. The review material reflects the changes to pass successfully.

About PMP Exam: 

PMP exam is a process to get certificate for the professionals who have passed the exam successfully. PMI’s Project Management Professional credential is the most recognized credential for project managers. After having this credential, professionals should continue certification requirement program. PMP was at top list while comparing the highest paying certification in the technology industry, mentioned in an article.

Discussion of Some Top PMP Books: 

Some companies like Skillogic offer PMP certification course for those people who want more references or who want to study on their own. Resources of these books are easily accessible and come at very affordable price rate.

Based on date of publishing, PMBOK 5th edition alignment, structure, customer accuracy and reviews, some books are mentioned here: 

• Guide for the Busy Project Manager, 5th edition: 

For about 30 years Diane Altwies, PMP, was a project manager in the insurance and financial service. Being a project manager he has developed a course in some universities about PM and certificate programs. The book has 433 pages and was published on the second July of 2013. The price of the book is $56.95 and it is also downloadable.

• Guide PMP Project Management Professional Study, 4rth edition: 

The author Joseph Phillips is a PM consultant and also an educator and CompTIA trainer. He has developed train-the-trainer course for institutions, universities and major corporations. The book has 784 pages and was published on twenty third of July, 2013. It has two editions and it costs around $30.45.

• Guide for PMP: 

Project Management Professional Exam Study, 7th edition: Project Management JumpStart has written by Kim Heldman, PMP, beside this best selling exam guide. She is the manager of IT projects for about twenty years. Her book was published on the first day of July, 2013. It has 696 pages and costs $ 36.74. It doesn't only cover the whole topic area but covers processes, key terms, PM concepts and PMP and CAPM exams.

• PMP Exam Prep Questions, Answers, & Explanations: 

To help students be prepared for the PMP certification, Christopher Scordo, PMP has written this book. This book of PMP Exam Prep was published in the month of November, 2009. Fifth edition of the book is updated with the recent PMBOK Guide 31st of July, 2013. It has 422 pages and it costs about $39.24.

• PMP EXAM Simplified, 5th edition: 

AME owner Aileen Ellis, PMP, PgMP has published the book on seventeenth of July, 2013. It has 430 pages and costs around $51.53. 

These are without a doubt some of the best books an PMP Certification aspirant should own.

Skillogic is top PMP training centre in India. If you are looking for classroom or online training skillogic is best option.

For classroom training visit:

Chennai: http://in.skillogic.com/pmp-training/pmp-certification-chennai/

Mumbai: http://in.skillogic.com/pmp-training/pmp-certification-mumbai

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The detailed comparison between Lean and Agile

To create a different approach on Lean and Agile, Lean Six Sigma Green Belt, PMI-certified Project Manager and a Certified Scrum Master, has been described a summery. As per the summary, Lean is obsessed with waste while Agile is obsessed with the users. Lean manages process while uncertainty is managed by Agile. Lean delivers value while Agile delivers working product. There are many more other aspects to look for similarly.

Obsession with Agile and Lean

Agile is something about people which states people interaction and involves the end user who are favored over other types of interactions. Though you are doing a lot of Agile practices, but you are not doing Agile if you get end user involved.

Lean is something about waste. So many people are doing it, but they are not at all looking for new products.

How Agile and Lean manage

Knowing the fact that you don't have any idea of the software until you have built it, smart people have developed as a software development methodology. Agile principles were developed by integrating uncertainty into the product development process. Customers can even give feedback to the team in a certain timeline.

To understand a process you have to experience it, by this thought some genius people have created Lean to manage processes.

What Agile and Lean deliver?

Agile is software that values over documentation. The goal is work the end user does for their feedback. The Agile Manifesto doesn't say that has no documentation is required, but the working software is more valuable than documentation.

The idea of Lean is to deliver the most value. It fully describes and reaches customer requirement or other steps doesn’t add value in some way.

Application of Agile and Lean 

People who are practicing Agile can apply principles to those problems they have encountered. Working software is the way to measure your progress.

People who are practicing Lean can apply heuristics or "rule of thumb". In Lean a heuristic approach is eliminating waste. There are many processes which include issues like gold plating and excess movement along with many others. You can also make more efficient process to lessen down this method.

In an impure state Agile-as-religion occurs. While Agile transformations journeys are long and messy politics may occur. When the organization sticks to the principles and practices, Agile can be implemented successfully.

Without regarding the situation when guru has applied Lean heuristics, “Lean for Lean’s sake” has been raised.

Agile and Lean Practices

While practicing Agile and Lean, you have to understand the whole process and the work well.

• You need to look at the value in customer’s eyes
• To share knowledge you should encourage the use of A3 style reports.
• You should make customers involved directly with the product team.

There is a fundamental difference between Lean and Agile. Lean focuses on eliminating things those are not adding value and concentrating more on what absolutely important in this moment. It concentrates on eliminating inefficient way of working. While Agile team picks and chooses best technical and management practices which are best suited for efficient and effective work.

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Changes Upcoming to the PMP® Examination

Recent announcements, which states of modifications to the very upcoming PMP exam have been made by the Project Management Institute®. This article will make sure that the very same topic is explained here on a whole.

Changes that one can expect:

The PMI has decided that in the five domains they would add eight very new set of tasks. These would have three new tasks to Initiating while one new task to Planning. Also there would be two new tasks to executing while Monitoring and Controlling would also have two new tasks. Closing will not have any new task at all.

Reason for the changes:

PMI conducts these tests every year. With each passing year the results forces them to change the standards of the exam that can prove the quality of the PMP candidates suitable for the position of project managers in today’s generation. This way they maintain the standard of the people selected.

Since when would the change imply?

From the beginning of November 2015 these change are supposed to come into action. Bt it may be put on a hold too considering the shock among the people applying for the course.

Incorporating the Changes Into Curriculum:

The analysing process will go on in the first place. A summary would be created by the PMA then and a very specialized "Delta" training will be provided to the relief of their students. The students will be improved and updated immediately so that they can be well prepared of the particular changes. The courses will slowly be taught to them in the upcoming times. The training materials will also go through an up gradation and change for the betterment. Next set of good training will also be provided to the students so that they may by any ways do not keep lacking behind.

Should these changes be worried about?

Students must be well aware of the fact that these changes will be implemented if they are appearing for the exam after November 2nd. But they definitely need not worry at all. These changes keeps on taking place and the institute is well aware that how should they control these situations. They are well equipped in handling these too. Some of the training companies may go through the best effort of provoking the students in joining them stating the changes in the system to be the reason. One must know that the changes are regular on basis and by no means should one be afraid or scared of these at all. They will keep on updating the training process too.

Conclusion:

The changes that PMI generally brings to their curriculum are so because they want to create a group of leaders who can be called of that particular time. These people are selected because of their quality to adapt to various situations and changes. This particular change is nothing but one such example that how extra ordinary students are formed of the course.

This article will definitely manage to help one in knowing about the changes in the curriculum and how to deal with them efficiently.

Skillogic is providing PMP certification training in India. Classroom training is available in Bangalore, Chennai, Mumbai, Delhi, Hyderabad. For scheduled training click below links based on your priority city.

PMP in Bangalore: http://in.skillogic.com/pmp-training/pmp-certification-bangalore

PMP in Chennai: http://in.skillogic.com/pmp-training/pmp-certification-chennai

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A Brief History of PRINCE2

It is a sad truth of our times that the public sector is known for its inefficiency. Very rarely are the projects they undertake delivered on time. Staying within budget and executing the right scope is also a great issue. However, some tools have been introduced to make this easier. Project management tools like PROPMPTII, PRINCE and PRINCE2 have all been innovative tools that have greatly increased the efficiency of project management.

1975: PROMPT II: Project Resource Organisation Management and Planning Techniques

Simpact Systems Ltd., came up with a world class system for project management in 1975. It was a bold response to the present computer projects which were inadequate in computing the time estimated for completion and the original budget. Such was the case, that actual execution was twice, thrice or even ten times the original estimate. PROMPTII came into the scenes by setting down guidelines for stage flow on the basis of the following factors:

• The Feasibility Study: to make key decisions on whether the project should or can be taken and if it will be effective when complete.
• The Initial Stage: to decide on how the project organisation is set up
• Stage of Specification: to work on development as per user specifications
• Stage of Design: to plan out the logical stage by stage process and to figure out to the physical design of the system being developed
• Stage of Development: to actually build and test the system
• Stage of Installation: to see if the client accepts the working system
• Stage of Operation: to fine tune the system for the work

PRINCE in 1989:
10 years after PROMPTII, PRINCE was developed and it became the UK standard for all government information systems projects. Their key features were:

• A well defined management structure
• A guideline for control procedures
• A focus on the deliverables for the customer

What made this method different was the idea of “assuring progress” via:

• Business Assurance Coordinator(BAC)
• Technical Assurance Co-ordinator(TAC)
• User Assurance Co-ordinator(UAC)

PRINCE was however criticised for being too complicated, inflexible and applicable to only large projects. This led to the new version.

PRINCE2 in 1996: 

This was an upgrade from the previous edition of PRINCE. The BAC, TAC and UAC were removed from the official version. It was made more adaptable and companies who used PRINCE now could use easily the parts of PRINCE that worked best for them. Where the original was used for specifically IS and IT type projects, the new revision was more generic and hence usable for any project.

PRINCE2 in 2009:
In 2009, PRINCE was revamped again to make the method simpler and easier to customise. This new version is based on seven new principles, which include

1. Continued Justification of Business 
2. Defining Different Roles and Responsibilities 
3. Learning from Various Experiences
4. Managing by Exception 
5. Managing Processes by Stages
6. Tailoring to Suit Different Environments 
7. Focusing on Different Products

This new revamped method was devised to give project managers better tools to handle projects more efficiently.

Skillogic Knowledge Solutions is one of the top training centre in India for PRINCE2 Certification. Classroom training available in Bangalore, Chennai, Hyderabad, Delhi, Mumbai and Pune.

Photos of Skillogic PMP Bangalore Training Centre (March 2016)

Skillogic Knowledge Solutions is successfully conducting PMP Training classes in Bangalore. Monthly 2 batches. If you are in Bangalore and looking for PMP classroom training then visit Skillogic. 

Photos of PMP Training in March 2016

Training Centre: Marathahalli, Bangalore / Bengaluru

PMP Certification: The Project Management Professional (PMP)® is the most important industry-recognized certification for project managers. You can find PMP professionals leading projects in nearly every country and, unlike other certifications that focus on a particular geography or domain, the PMP® is truly global. As a PMP, you can work in virtually any industry, with any methodology and in any location. (as per pmi.org)

Skillogic will guide you to clear PMP in First Attempt. The advantages of Skillogic pmp training is you will get access to e-learning for free of cost.

PgMP Certification Training in Bangalore

In the course of the last few years PgMP has risen to be one of the leading courses for senior professionals to opt for. This contributes to their skill development and their all over capability in the process and project development in their company. The course also opens new and better opportunities for them that allow them to settle upon a better position that they were in, either in their present company, or a new one.

An overview of the PgMP Certification Training in Bangalore:

With the constant requirement of competent Program management professionals in Bangalore, more and more professionals are opting for this internationally recognised professionals program. We provide candidates with a wholesome guidance in the field of PGMP and push them towards the successful completion of the course with an all rounded knowledge and experience in the subject. The Certification course is basically a 3 day program that is aimed at providing professionals a firsthand training in gaining enough competence to oversee and handle multiple projects at once, managing industry programs professionally, and finally achieving needful business goals.

The Course comes with a hypothetical blue print, following which one shall be able to gain enough competence to establish a new level of success for their company and bring it the benefits it deserves. The other aim of our training program is to prepare you for the final certification examination, so that you can successfully overcome it with flying colours. Thanks to our 24x7 expert support by experienced mentors, grabbing that much deserved certificate should be a piece of cake.

Measure of training:

Whether you are in Bangalore or not, enrolling to this course should not be difficult. You can attend the PgMP certification course and exam prep either through class based training or by the way of online classes. In both cases you will be trained and guided by some of the best experts in the field of Program management. These experts come with years of experience in the practical field and have served a number of companies in the past and present.

The course material remains the same for both modes of classes. There is no difference between the both except the fact that with one you have to come to the classes and with the other the classes come to you. Both the methods of learning are equally competent and bring about the same efficient result.

Passing the PgMP Exam:

Now that you know how this course helps you become a Program Management Professional and also prep you for the exam, you now need to concentrate on what you need to do to pass this examination.

To get through the final certification exam, you first need to meet the professionals and educational requirements. After that you will have to pass the panel review, followed by a multiple choice examination and a MRA, also known as the Multi Rater Assessment. It is important that you give some vigorous efforts into preparing for these examinations. These are professional exams and can be quite tough.

Skillogic Knowledge Solutions is one of the training institute providing project management courses in Bangalore. If you are looking for PgMP training in Bangalore / Bengaluru visit Skillogic. The Other Project Management courses at Skillogic are PMP & PRINCE2.