Messages posted by: ospinternational

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The PM Exam Simulator will help you test-drive the knowledge and learning that you’ve acquired from reading the PMBOK® Guide and other review materials. The result will determine your areas of strengths and weaknesses about the exam.

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The following PMP® exam sample question is taken from the Free PMP Exam Simulator at http://free.pm-exam-simulator.com - The answer is at the very bottom:

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Cultural resistance is the root cause of quality issues according to whom?

A.) Deming
B.) Malcolm Baldridge
C.) Juran
D.) Shelby

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Hint: Juran is credited for adding human dimensions to quality management.
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All our questions are updated to the latest PMBOK® Guide standard. Stop by at http://free.pm-exam-simulator.com and try the PMP Exam Simulator free for 3 days. We also offer 110 free questions at http://www.free-pm-exam-questions.com. We are a PMI Registered Education Provider.

Until next time,
Cornelius Fichtner, PMP
President, OSP International LLC
The Project Management PrepCast™ - http://www.project-management-prepcast.com
The Project Management Podcast™ - http://www.project-management-podcast.com

ANSWER AND EXPLANATION:
The correct answer is C
Explanation: Juran says the cultural resistance or resistance to change is the primary reason for quality problems.
Reference: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joseph_M._Juran

Hi Everyone,

This video:http://bit.ly/zsmAEQ is part 2 of 4 PMP Exam Overview that provides an overview of the Project Management Professional (PMP) exam. It's value to you and the process you will have to go through to become PMP® certified. We look at the prerequisites for taking the exam, the cost and the fact that once passed you will have to continue to maintain your certification by gaining PDUs.

Until next time,
Cornelius Fichtner, PMP
President, OSP International LLC
The Project Management PrepCast™ - http://www.project-management-prepcast.com
The Project Management Podcast™ - http://www.project-management-podcast.com

Remember that even though the PMP Exam is largely based on the PMI's PMBOK Guide you should not only know all of the concepts from here, but you must be able to analyze and answer the situational exam questions with a combination of practical project management knowledge and with what the PMBOK Guide says. Generally speaking, going against PMI principles is never a good option. At least not during the PMP Exam. It is also better to choose the ethical option even though they may seem to be the tougher choice.

Here is what to expect on the exam: The PMP Certification Exam consists of 200 Multiple Choice Questions, which must be answered within 4 hours. These questions are randomly generated from a question database which has many hundred questions. Out of 200 questions answered, 25 questions are pre-test questions which will not be used for scoring. These pre-test questions are randomly inserted by the computer into your exam with the idea of evaluating whether these will be used as "real" questions in future exams. This is a normal and valid way to test new questions on actual exam takers and see how they respond. But because you don't know which ones are the pre-test questions it is important to answer all the 200 questions to the best of your ability.

Since 25 out of 200 questions are not used for scoring, effectively, 175 questions are used for scoring on the exam. However, PMI does not release a "passing score", so we don't know how many questions must be answered correctly in order to pass. After the exam you will be given an examination report on which you can see the areas where you were Proficient, Moderately Proficient and Below Proficient. It also tells you whether you passed or failed.

So the problem is this: If we don't know how many questions you have to answer correctly in order to pass the exam, how can you prepare? My recommendation is that you answer as many sample questions as you possibly can before you take the exam and gain your confidence. Only by taking many mock exams can you raise your understanding. By doing this you will come to a point where you will feel ready and know that you are ready. This is the point where your studies and practice exams will have given you the level of understanding and confidence and you will answer all PMP Certification Exam questions correctly by applying both your practical experience from being a PM and the theoretical know how from reading the PMBOK Guide.

Until next time,
Cornelius Fichtner, PMP
President, OSP International LLC
The Project Management PrepCast™ - http://www.project-management-prepcast.com
The Project Management Podcast™ - http://www.project-management-podcast.com

The following PMP® exam sample question is taken from the Free PMP Exam Simulator at http://free.pm-exam-simulator.com - The answer is at the very bottom:

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You are managing a hardware design project in India with locally trained engineers but your client is based in the U.S. You are unable to meet your client face-to-face and you cannot talk to your client on the phone because of the different time zones. Instructions are sent via email but there is a communication breakdown and your team fails to understand the messages. What is causing this issue?

A.) Poor message encoding
B.) Poor message decoding
C.) Noise
D.) Medium

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Hint: We are faced with a language problem between native and non-native English speakers.
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All our questions are updated to the latest PMBOK® Guide standard. Stop by at http://free.pm-exam-simulator.com and try the PMP Exam Simulator free for 3 days. We also offer 110 free questions at http://www.free-pm-exam-questions.com. We are a PMI Registered Education Provider.

Until next time,
Cornelius Fichtner, PMP
President, OSP International LLC
The Project Management PrepCast™ - http://www.project-management-prepcast.com
The Project Management Podcast™ - http://www.project-management-podcast.com

ANSWER AND EXPLANATION:
The correct answer is C
Explanation: This is an example of noise. The PMBOK Guide defines noise as "Anything that interferes with the transmission and understanding of the message (e.g. distance, unfamiliar technology, or lack of background information)". In this case the "noise" is the fact that your team members who are local to India do not speak English as well as your customer. This interferes with the understanding of the message.
Reference: PMBOK Guide 4th Edition, page 255

Hi Everyone,

This video: http://bit.ly/xQRKqE provides an overview of the Project Management Professional (PMP®) exam. It's value to you and the process you will have to go through to become PMP® certified. We look at the prerequisites for taking the exam, the cost and the fact that once passed you will have to continue to maintain your certification by gaining PDUs.

This is part 1 of 4.

Until next time,
Cornelius Fichtner, PMP
President, OSP International LLC
The Project Management PrepCast™ - http://www.project-management-prepcast.com
The Project Management Podcast™ - http://www.project-management-podcast.com

How would you feel if you fail the PMP Exam by just one question? Avoid this by using your exam time wisely. Here is one such strategy:

Four hours is plenty of time for you to read and re-read all questions. You should be able to go through all questions in your first pass in about two to three hours. During this first pass you will probably not know all answers to all questions. That's OK because that's what the "mark" feature is for. Use it to mark the questions you are unsure and then use the remaining time to review all those questions in detail that have stumped you at first.

Another strategy is to concentrate on the easier questions first (those that you feel you'll find the right answers for quickly) and then come back for the harder questions in your second pass. In this way, if you are confronted with a particularly puzzling question, you will simply mark it and move on to the next. Many test takers report that sometimes, a succeeding questions provides a clue or gives you the "nudge" that you need to figure out the difficult ones you have skipped.

Remember also, that some questions will appear to have two right answers. In this case you have to answer the question by trying to think like the PMBOK Guide. So if you have studied and understood the concepts from your PMBOK Guide, then there is really not much to fear before going into the exam room. And don't be surprised to come across questions that are framed in an unusual way or use terms that are unfamiliar to you. In these cases the examiners want to know that you understand the processes rather than just memorized them.

Last but not least: Remember to check, check and check again that you have answered all the questions. Make sure not a single one of them is unanswered. There is no penalty for answering a question incorrectly. So go ahead and guess on those questions where you really have no idea. Who knows... that might just be the question that lets you see "Pass" instead of "Fail" on the screen.

Until next time,
Cornelius Fichtner, PMP
President, OSP International LLC
The Project Management PrepCast™ - http://www.project-management-prepcast.com
The Project Management Podcast™ - http://www.project-management-podcast.com

The following PMP® exam sample question is taken from the Free PMP Exam Simulator at http://free.pm-exam-simulator.com - The answer is at the very bottom:

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You are performing the Plan Risk Responses process for your manufacturing project when encounter a critical risk that may have a high impact on the project completion. All of the following are valid responses to this new risk except?

A.) Allocating Contingency Reserves
B.) Developing Fallback Options
C.) Conducting Bidder Conferences
D.) Reviewing risks driven by strategies

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Hint: A Fallback Plan is used when a primary response plan proves to be inadequate.
------------------------------

All our questions are updated to the latest PMBOK® Guide standard. Stop by at http://free.pm-exam-simulator.com and try the PMP Exam Simulator free for 3 days. We also offer 110 free questions at http://www.free-pm-exam-questions.com. We are a PMI Registered Education Provider.

Until next time,
Cornelius Fichtner, PMP
President, OSP International LLC
The Project Management PrepCast™ - http://www.project-management-prepcast.com
The Project Management Podcast™ - http://www.project-management-podcast.com

ANSWER AND EXPLANATION:
The correct answer is C
Explanation: Conducting Bidder Conferences is not a strategy used in Risk Management. All other answer choices are valid risk responses.
Reference: PMBOK Guide 4th Edition, page 304

Going into the PMP exam, it is always helpful to know that the exam is designed by experts who want to know that you thoroughly understand the methods, processes and principles of project management and how you would apply them in a given situation. Most of the exam questions revolve around a given real life scenario and they are based on the PMBOK Guide. That is why the PMP exam is a test of real life project management practices, tools, techniques and principles described in the PMBOK Guide.

It does not mean however, that you are required to memorize the content of the whole PMBOK Guide.

Instead, in order to succeed on the exam, you will need to have a lot of hands-on experience in project management and be able to relate it to the theory in the PMBOK Guide. That's why a minimum of 4,500 hours of experience (7,500 if you don't have a bachelor's degree) is a prerequisite to take the exam. Your real life experience of managing projects in your industry will make everything much easier. Many situations in the questions will be familiar to you because you have lived through them.

So here is my recommendation: Study the PMBOK Guide 2-3 times. Note that I say "study" and not simply "read". Begin applying the principles described on your day to day projects and also relate them back to your previous projects. That way you will see how these principles work. Doing it this way will make you a better project manager and help you pass the exam, as opposed to just mindless memorization

Until next time,
Cornelius Fichtner, PMP
President, OSP International LLC
The Project Management PrepCast™ - http://www.project-management-prepcast.com
The Project Management Podcast™ - http://www.project-management-podcast.com

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Redeeming this great deal is easy! First watch this video here:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8tG81gp6AuQ to learn how to use the coupon and then go to our website at www.pm-prepcast.com where you begin by clicking on “Order” at the top. (Please note that our coupons are only available for new purchases and cannot be applied as a refund if you purchased earlier. Please read the Discount Coupon Policy on this page: http://www.project-management-prepcast.com/index.php/product/product

Sign up for our free newsletter to get the latest coupon codes, amazing deals and promos for our featured products each month! Our coupon codes can also be seen from our site so look out for it and don’t let the opportunity pass you. Order now as this is only a one time limited offer that you cannot get anywhere else!

Until next time,
Cornelius Fichtner, PMP
President, OSP International LLC
The Project Management PrepCast™ - http://www.project-management-prepcast.com
The Project Management Podcast™ - http://www.project-management-podcast.com

As the saying goes: “Anything that can go wrong will go wrong”. Keep this in mind when preparing for the PMP Certification. It simply means that you should not solely depend on what others say about their experiences in taking the exams. Everyone's experience is different.

What you must remember at all cost is that you have prepared well for the exam and that you can do this! When you walk through the doors into the exam room, the most important thing for you is to pass the exam. You can partially achieve this by preparing yourself physically and mentally for the event. After the exam everyone has a story to tell. For example, one of my students wasn't allowed to change any clothing and the other one wasn't allowed to use the bathroom. These examples are of course extreme but they might happen to you.

So what if something similar happens to you? Take a deep breath. Listen to this "odd rule" that the testing center staff is informing you of. And then follow it. Don't jeopardize your chances. Play along and do the best you can. Adjust yourself mentally to the situation and work with it.

Remember: What really matters is that you relax, concentrate and pass the PMP exam.

Until next time,
Cornelius Fichtner, PMP
President, OSP International LLC
The Project Management PrepCast™ - http://www.project-management-prepcast.com
The Project Management Podcast™ - http://www.project-management-podcast.com

The following PMP® exam sample question is taken from the Free PMP Exam Simulator at http://free.pm-exam-simulator.com - The answer is at the very bottom:

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You are managing a complex hardware design project. Deadlines are aggressive and the project team is stressed. You schedule a team meeting to motivate the team and to share some newly-approved design changes. During the meeting you realize that the attendees are either not paying attention to you or they do not seem to understand what you are trying to communicate. What is a potential reason?

A.) You are not focusing on Non-Verbal Communication.
B.) You are not focusing on Paralingual Communication.
C.) You are not focusing on Effective Listening.
D.) All of the above.

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Hint: You are not communicating effectively.
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All our questions are updated to the latest PMBOK® Guide standard. Stop by at http://free.pm-exam-simulator.com and try the PMP Exam Simulator free for 3 days. We also offer 110 free questions at http://www.free-pm-exam-questions.com. We are a PMI Registered Education Provider.

Until next time,
Cornelius Fichtner, PMP
President, OSP International LLC
The Project Management PrepCast™ - http://www.project-management-prepcast.com
The Project Management Podcast™ - http://www.project-management-podcast.com

ANSWER AND EXPLANATION:
The correct answer is D
Explanation: Non-Verbal Communication involves body language and gestures. Paralingual Communication involves variation of tone and pitch. Effective Listening involves monitoring non-verbal and physical communication and providing feedback to indicate that whether the message has been clearly understood. All three are necessary elements of effective communication.
Reference: Head First PMP 2nd Edition, page 510

The Project Management exam is the hottest certifications exam today. It is the most challenging project management certification exams to prepare for. This is because most of those thinking about taking this exam are at the stage of their career when they are already working full time and then they try to find the time to study for their certification.

If you think that the PMP Certification exam is your average college test where you can cram yet still get high marks, then think again. The PMP Exam is anything but easy. It is an experience-based exam in a 200-question, four-hour computerized format. When you are studying for the exam, you could answer the sample questions easily enough in the comfort of your own room with no ticking clocks, no distractions and no security cameras pointing at you. However, during the actual examination, you will find yourself in a radically different setting.

Think of it as the battleground and you as the soldier. And any good soldier would create a battle plan before the exam. He knows that planning can spell the difference between passing and failing. You have to formulate strategies in terms of how to answer and review the questions, how to ease the tension from your body and how to replenish your energy. Your battle plan will serve as your guide during the exam and will help you focus on the task ahead of you. With a battle plan, you will be able to breeze through your exams knowing that you have everything under control and and can maximize the time allotted for you to finish the exam within the allowable period.

Until next time,
Cornelius Fichtner, PMP
President, OSP International LLC
The Project Management PrepCast™ - http://www.project-management-prepcast.com
The Project Management Podcast™ - http://www.project-management-podcast.com

The following PMP® exam sample question is taken from the Free PMP Exam Simulator at http://free.pm-exam-simulator.com - The answer is at the very bottom:

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You just took over the management of an industrial construction project, which is in the execution phase. You determine that your team is communicating directly with their client company's peers. According to the Communication Management Plan, all client interaction should be performed through the project manager. What is the potential reason for your team's behavior?

A.) The Communication Management Plan is not comprehensive.
B.) The Project Management Plan has not been shared with the team.
C.) The previous project manager is not a PMP.
D.) The Communication Management Plan was later updated.

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Hint: The Project Management Plan contains the Communication Management Plan.
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All our questions are updated to the latest PMBOK® Guide standard. Stop by at http://free.pm-exam-simulator.com and try the PMP Exam Simulator free for 3 days. We also offer 110 free questions at http://www.free-pm-exam-questions.com. We are a PMI Registered Education Provider.

Until next time,
Cornelius Fichtner, PMP
President, OSP International LLC
The Project Management PrepCast™ - http://www.project-management-prepcast.com
The Project Management Podcast™ - http://www.project-management-podcast.com

ANSWER AND EXPLANATION:
The correct answer is B
Explanation: Answer choice ‘A’ is incorrect since the scenario indicates that the Communication Management Plan is intact and it outlines that the project manager is responsible for all the interactions with the client organization. Answer choice ‘D’ is also incorrect since there is a conflict between the Communication Management Plan and the team's behavior. Answer choice ‘C’ is incorrect since we can't conclude from the scenario whether the last project manager was a PMP or not. The Project Management Plan contains the Communication Management Plan and this information was neither shared with the team nor was it enforced.
Reference: PMBOK Guide 4th Edition, page 251

Don't try and take the PMP exam immediately after your PMP exam prep class. Similarly, don't wait for months either. The right moment is usually between 2-5 weeks after you finish your class. A good PMP Exam preparation course provider will tell you to do more reading and practice exam questions. They should also direct you to training products specifically designed for the purpose. Additional, on-line or software based training products with training materials that provide you with your 35 contact hours of project management training plus the exam preparation materials that get you ready to pass the exam can even be considered.

Relax. PMI does not want you to fail the exam. But they also don't make it easy. PMI primarily wants to ensure that you have grasped the best practices captured in the PMBOK Guide so they fine tune their exam to ensure an acceptable pass ratio.

There are still a few formulas to be learned (mainly in the cost management area). Some students report that they saw no formula based questions at all on their exams and others say that they were really, really glad that they had studied the formulas so in-depth. You should therefore learn the formulas and their applications, and then, before the actual exam starts, write them down on the scratch pad that will be provided in the exam room. You want to do this before beginning the exam so you won't have to dredge them from memory in the midst of an anxiety attack.

Don't hesitate to go back and change the answer to a previous question. You will encounter the situation where answering one question provides you with further insight into a previous question.

Study hard, read a lot and practice many simulated exams until you ace every one will help you pass your PMP Exam.

Until next time,
Cornelius Fichtner, PMP
President, OSP International LLC
The Project Management PrepCastTM - http://www.project-management-prepcast.com
The Project Management PodcastTM - http://www.project-management-podcast.com