There is no doubt that projects will continue to grow in scope and complexity, that is why organizations utilize techniques and tools of project management in order to drive efficiencies and increase bottom line. It is also no secret that successful project managers are well known to any company’s top management and stand a better chance of being considered for promotion. With a “recognized” Project Management Professional (PMP) program, more and more project managers are interested in earning a PMP certification and are preparing hard to sit for their PMP certification exam.
As a project manager you are of course aware of the 5 performance domains of the PMP certification exam:
- Initiating the project
- Planning the project
- Executing the project
- Monitoring and controlling the project
- Closing the project
Preparing to Execute the Project
The domain 3 is associated with 6 tasks. The PMP certification test will have 47 questions from the Executing the Project Domain. These are:
- 10 Questions – Committing the project resources according to the project plan in order to make sure that every activity is performed
- 9 Questions – Implementing the project plan by consenting to the execution of project tasks and activities in order to produce the project’s deliverables.
- 11 Questions – Managing the progress/performance of by makings sure that all activities are successfully executed according to plan to achieve project goals.
- 9 Questions – Communicating project performance by producing project reports in order to provide accurate and timely project status and give stakeholder’s decision support information.
- 8 Questions – Implementing quality assurance measures by carrying out project control activities in order to meet project goals.
Performance Domain 3 – PMP Certification Test Essentials
Under the Performance Domain 3 of the PMP Examination Content Outline, there are 6 tasks that you will need to master. Listed below is a basically what each task expects you to master as a professional project manager who wishes to earn a PMP certification.
Task 1
You should basically be able to identify and describe how to obtain and successfully manage the resources allocated to the project that you will be undertaking – this will include managing outsourced deliverables by sticking to the procurement plan, to make sure the project is executed successfully.
A project’s execution stage is where you and your team essentially do the work in order to produce the project’s deliverable. The deliverables for a client’s project will include every product and or service that you and the project team are carrying out for the customer, sponsor or client – this will also include every project management document that you will put together.
Task 2
You should be able to execute the tasks according to how it has been defined in the project plan so that you can achieve project deliverables with set budget and schedule.
If or when you discover a problem, you cannot just decide to make changes. What if the changes are too expensive or require a longer timeframe? You should be able to look at how it will affect the triple constraint, which are:
- Time
- Cost
- Scope
You will need to know how the triple constraint will impact the quality of the project.
Task 3
Be able to put into operation the quality management plan utilizing the right tools and technique to make sure that the project work is carried out in accordance with the vital quality standards.
Most times changes are recognized by looking at quality control and performance data. Regular quality control and performance measurements are evaluated on a routine basis all the project execution phase. Project managers gather reports on these measurements in order to help them figure out where the problem is and make suggest changes to fix the problem.
Task 4
Put into action approved changes in accordance with the change management plan to meet the project’s requirements.
As a project manager it is important that you understand the necessary steps that need to be taken in order to achieve each deliverable – this very much depends on the kind of project that you will be undertaking. For example, telecommunications and engineering project will actually focus on making use of materials, resources and equipment in order to build each project deliverable, while projects that involve computer software may need the development and implementation of software code plan to produce every project deliverable. All the activities needed to construct each project deliverable will be specified clearly in the document containing the project requirements and project plan.
Task 5
Employ approved actions by following the project’s risk management plan to reduce the impact of project’s risks. There are projects that come with more than a fair share of undeniable risks. The construction industry for example, is one that is associated with a lot of risks. In the exam, you will need to be able to identify and implement strategies to reduce a project’s negative risk impact.
Task 6
Be able to maximize the project’s team performance using leading, mentoring, motivating and training team members. As a project manager, your major goal is to direct the work; however you will have to do a whole lot more than only deliver the results. Your job will also entail keeping track your team’s performance. There is no doubt that the “Executing the Project” aspect of the PMP test is not exactly the easiest aspect of the exam, that it why it is important that you prepare very well – doing this will ensure that you get to write the exam once and not go through the rigorous process of re-sitting for test all over again.
Generally, The PMP certification program is specially designed for professionals who seek to further their understanding and knowledge of the skills needed to effectively complete projects. Therefore, the 47 questions from the Executing the Project Domain will test your ability to be able to identify, implement and carryout activities to execute a project on time and within budget and eliminate the possibly of a project’s negative risk impact. In a project’s execution phase clients are basically interested in having projects delivered in time and within budget, and as a PMP certified project manager you will be considered the one to make this happen.
