PMP Project Management Professional Exam Study Guide ^{4th Ed.}

The full coverage you need for the PMP Exam

Get the preparation you need for the challenging Project Management Professional (PMP) certification exam in this comprehensive study guide. In addition to coverage of all exam objectives, you'll find practical advice including "How This Applies to Your Current Project" and "Real World Scenario" sidebars, as well as coverage for the Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM^®) exam, and much more.

Full coverage of all exam objectives in a systematic approach, so you can be confident you're getting the instruction you need for the exam.

Practical hands-on exercises to reinforce critical skills

Real-world scenarios that put what you've learned in the context of actual job roles

Challenging review questions in each chapter to prepare you for exam day

Exam Essentials, a key feature in each chapter that identifies critical areas you must become proficient in before taking the exam

A handy tear card that maps every official exam objective to the corresponding chapter in the book, so you can track your exam prep objective by objective

• Introduction
• Assessment Test
• Chapter 1: What Is a Project?
  • Is It a Project?
    • Projects versus Operations
    • Stakeholders
    • Project Characteristics
  • What Is Project Management?
    • Programs
    • Portfolios
    • Project Management Offices
  • Defining Skills Every Good Project Manager Needs
    • Communication Skills
    • Organizational and Planning Skills
    • Budgeting Skills
    • Conflict Management Skills
    • Negotiation and Influencing Skills
    • Leadership Skills
    • Team-Building and Motivating Skills
  • Understanding Organizational Structures
    • Functional Organizations
    • Projectized Organizations
    • Matrix Organizations
  • Understanding Project Life Cycles and Project Management Processes
    • Project Phases and Project Life Cycles
    • Project Management Process Groups
  • Exploring the Project Management Knowledge Areas
    • Project Integration Management
    • Project Scope Management
    • Project Time Management
    • Project Cost Management
    • Project Quality Management
    • Project Human Resource Management
    • Project Communications Management
    • Project Risk Management
    • Project Procurement Management
  • Understanding How This Applies to Your Next Project
  • Summary
  • Exam Essentials
  • Key Terms
  • Review Questions
  • Answers to Review Questions
• Chapter 2: Creating the Project Charter and Preliminary Scope Statement
  • Understanding How Projects Come About
    • Needs and Demands
    • Feasibility Studies
  • Kicking Off the Project Charter
    • Project Statement of Work
    • Enterprise Environmental Factors
    • Organizational Process Assets
  • Using Tools and Techniques for Charter Development
    • Selecting and Prioritizing Projects
    • Using Project Selection Methods
    • Project Management Methodology and Information Systems
    • Expert Judgment
  • Formalizing and Publishing the Project Charter
    • Key Stakeholders
    • Pulling the Project Charter Together
    • Project Charter Sign-Off
  • Developing a Preliminary Project Scope Statement
    • Preliminary Scope Statement Inputs and Techniques
    • The Preliminary Scope Statement Document
  • Introducing the Kitchen Heaven Project Case Study
  • Understanding How This Applies to Your Next Project
  • Summary
  • Exam Essentials
  • Key Terms
  • Review Questions
  • Answers to Review Questions
• Chapter 3: Developing the Project Scope Statement
  • Developing the Project Management Plan
    • Developing Inputs
    • Documenting the Project Management Plan
  • Scoping Out the Project
    • Understanding the Scope Planning Inputs
    • Using Scope Planning Tools and Techniques
    • Documenting the Scope Management Plan
  • Formulating Scope Definition
    • Product Analysis
    • Alternatives Identification
    • Stakeholder Analysis
  • Writing the Project Scope Statement
    • Understanding the Scope Statement Components
    • Approving and Publishing the Project Scope Statement
    • Updating the Project Scope Management Plan
  • Understanding How This Applies to Your Next Project
  • Summary
  • Exam Essentials
  • Key Terms
  • Review Questions
  • Answers to Review Questions
• Chapter 4: Creating the WBS and Communicating the Plan
  • Creating the Work Breakdown Structure
    • Gathering the WBS Inputs
    • Decomposing the Deliverables
    • Constructing the WBS
    • Creating WBS Process Outputs
  • Communicating the Plan
    • Communications Planning Inputs
    • Tools and Techniques for Communications Planning
    • Communications Management Plan
  • Identifying Quality Standards
    • Quality Inputs
    • Tools and Techniques for Quality Planning
    • Quality Planning Outputs
  • Understanding How This Applies to Your Next Project
  • Summary
  • Exam Essentials
  • Key Terms
  • Review Questions
  • Answers to Review Questions
• Chapter 5: Risk Planning
  • Planning for Risks
  • Planning Your Risk Management
    • Risk Management Planning Inputs
    • Tools and Techniques for Risk Management Planning
    • Creating the Risk Management Plan
  • Identifying Potential Risk
    • Risk Identification Inputs
    • Tools and Techniques for Risk Identification
    • Risk Identification Outputs
  • Analyzing Risks Using Qualitative Techniques
    • Qualitative Risk Analysis Inputs
    • Tools and Techniques for Qualitative Risk Analysis
    • Ranking Risks in the Risk Register
  • Quantifying Risk
    • Tools and Techniques for Quantitative Risk Analysis
    • Quantitative Risk Analysis Outputs
  • Developing a Risk Response Plan
    • Tools and Techniques for Risk Response Planning
    • Risk Response Planning Outputs
  • Understanding How This Applies to Your Next Project
  • Summary
  • Exam Essentials
  • Key Terms
  • Review Questions
  • Answers to Review Questions
• Chapter 6: Resource Planning
  • Understanding Purchases and Acquisitions
    • Plan Purchases and Acquisitions Inputs
    • Tools and Techniques for Plan Purchases and Acquisitions
    • Plan Purchases and Acquisitions Outputs
  • Plan Contracting
    • Plan Contracting Outputs
  • Human Resource Planning
    • Human Resource Planning Inputs
    • Human Resource Planning Tools and Techniques
    • Human Resource Planning Outputs
  • Defining Activities
    • Activity Definition Process Inputs
    • Tools and Techniques for Defining Activities
    • Activity Definition Outputs
  • Understanding the Activity Sequencing Process
    • Activity Sequencing Tools and Techniques
    • Activity Sequencing Outputs
  • Understanding How This Applies to Your Next Project
  • Summary
  • Exam Essentials
  • Key Terms
  • Review Questions
  • Answers to Review Questions
• Chapter 7: Creating the Project Schedule and Budget
  • Estimating Activity Resources
    • Activity Resource Estimating Inputs
    • Estimating Activities Tools and Techniques
    • Activity Resource Estimating Outputs
  • Estimating Activity Durations
    • Activity Duration Estimating Inputs
    • Activity Duration Estimating Tools and Techniques
    • Activity Duration Estimating Outputs
  • Developing the Project Schedule
    • Schedule Development Inputs
    • Schedule Development Tools and Techniques
    • Schedule Development Process Outputs
  • Estimating Costs
    • Cost Estimating Inputs
    • Cost Estimating Tools and Techniques
    • Cost Estimating Process Outputs
  • Establishing the Cost Budget Baseline
    • Cost Budgeting Inputs
    • Cost Budgeting Tools and Techniques
    • Cost Budgeting Process Outputs
  • Bringing It All Together
  • Understanding How This Applies to Your Next Project
  • Summary
  • Exam Essentials
  • Key Terms
  • Review Questions
  • Answers to Review Questions
• Chapter 8: Developing the Project Team
  • Executing the Project Plan
    • Executing Inputs
    • Tools and Techniques of Direct and Manage Project Execution
    • Outputs of Direct and Manage Project Execution
  • Acquiring the Project Team
    • Tools and Techniques of Acquire Project Team
    • Outputs of Acquire Project Team
  • Developing the Project Team
    • Tools and Techniques of Develop Project Team
    • Outputs of Develop Project Team
  • Distributing Project Information
    • Tools and Techniques of Information Distribution
    • Outputs of Information Distribution
  • Understanding How This Applies to Your Next Project
  • Summary
  • Exam Essentials
  • Key Terms
  • Review Questions
  • Answers to Review Questions
• Chapter 9: Measuring and Controlling Project Performance
  • Requesting Seller Responses
    • Requesting Seller Responses Tools and Techniques
    • Request Seller Responses Outputs
  • Selecting Sellers
  • Evaluation Criteria
  • Tools and Techniques of Select Sellers
    • Weighting Systems
    • Independent Estimates
    • Screening Systems
    • Contract Negotiation
    • Seller Rating Systems
    • Expert Judgment
    • Proposal Evaluation Techniques
  • Select Sellers Outputs
    • Elements of a Contract
    • Contract Life Cycles
    • Contract Management Plan
  • Laying Out Quality Assurance Procedures
    • Inputs to Perform Quality Assurance
    • Perform Quality Assurance Tools and Techniques
    • Perform Quality Assurance Outputs
  • Monitoring and Controlling Project Work
    • Monitor and Control Project Work Inputs
    • Tools and Techniques of Monitor and Control Project Work
    • Monitor and Control Project Work Outputs
  • Administering the Contract
    • Contracting Inputs
    • Administering Contracts Tools and Techniques
    • Managing Contract Outputs
  • Managing Project Teams
    • Tools and Techniques for Managing Teams
    • Managing Project Team Outputs
  • Managing Stakeholders
  • Establishing Performance Measurements
    • Performance Reporting Inputs
    • Performance Reporting Tools and Techniques
    • Performance Reporting Outputs
  • Understanding How This Applies to Your Next Project
  • Summary
  • Exam Essentials
  • Key Terms
  • Review Questions
  • Answers to Review Questions
• Chapter 10: Monitoring and Controlling Change
  • Managing Integrated Change Control
    • How Change Occurs
    • Change Control Concerns
    • Configuration Management
    • Change Control System
    • Integrated Change Control Inputs
    • Integrated Change Control Tools and Techniques
    • Integrated Change Control Outputs
  • Managing Cost Changes
    • Cost Control Inputs
    • Cost Control Tools and Techniques
    • Cost Control Outputs
  • Monitoring and Controlling Schedule Changes
    • Schedule Control Inputs
    • Schedule and Control Tools and Techniques
    • Schedule Control Outputs
  • Monitoring and Controlling Risk
    • Risk Monitoring and Control Inputs
    • Risk Monitoring and Control Tools and Techniques
    • Risk Monitoring and Control Outputs
  • Understanding How This Applies to Your Next Project
  • Summary
  • Exam Essentials
  • Key Terms
  • Review Questions
  • Answers to Review Questions
• Chapter 11: Controlling Work Results and Closing Out the Project
  • Utilizing Perform Quality Control Techniques
    • Perform Quality Control Inputs
    • Perform Quality Control Tools and Techniques
    • Perform Quality Control Outputs
  • Verifying Project Scope
  • Controlling Scope Changes
    • Scope Control Inputs
    • Scope Control Tools and Techniques
    • Scope Control Outputs
  • Formulating Project Closeout
    • Characteristics of Closing
    • Project Endings
  • Closing Out the Project
    • Close Project Inputs
    • Close Project Tools and Techniques
    • Close Project Outputs
  • Closing Out the Contract
    • Contract Closure Inputs
    • Contract Closure Tools and Techniques
    • Contract Closure Outputs
  • Releasing Project Team Members
  • Celebrate!
  • Understanding How This Applies to Your Next Project
  • Summary
  • Exam Essentials
  • Key Terms
  • Review Questions
  • Answers to Review Questions
• Chapter 12: Applying Professional Responsibility
  • Ensuring Integrity
    • Personal Integrity
    • Conflict of Interest
    • Professional Demeanor
  • Applying Professional Knowledge
    • Project Management Knowledge
    • Truthful Reporting
    • Laws and Regulations Compliance
    • Confidential Information
  • Balancing Stakeholders' Interests
    • Competing Needs
    • Dealing with Issues and Problems
    • Balancing Constraints
  • Respecting Differences in Diverse Cultures
    • Global Competition
    • Culture Shock
    • Respecting Your Neighbors
    • Training
    • Perceiving Experiences
  • Understanding How This Applies to Your Next Project
  • Summary
  • Exam Essentials
  • Key Terms
  • Review Questions
  • Answers to Review Questions
• Appendix: Process Inputs and Outputs
  • Initiating Processes
  • Planning Processes
  • Executing Processes
  • Monitoring and Controlling Processes
  • Closing Processes
• Glossary

A no-nonsense book about project management, without a flamboyant style and easy reading. OK, there ain't that many pictures or graphs in there, but if you like me prefer to read and understand, this is for you.

Granted, I haven't used the CD that comes along the book and which is supposed to contains additionan audio material, but I still think this is a worthwhile book if you're heading towards the PMP.