The Sensible Guide to Program Management Professional (PgMP)® Success

Te Wu

• Editorial: Auerbach Publications
• Año: 2021
• ISBN:
  9781000406856
• Edición: 1
• Categoría: Computer Science
• Categoría: Certification Guides in Computer Science

A Sensible Guide to Program Management Professional (PgMP)® Success is for program managers preparing to take the PgMP exam based on The Standard for Program Management – 4th Edition (PgM4 Standard). It is designed for busy professionals whose responsibilities have taken them into the realm of coordinating, facilitating, managing, and leading programs. Program managers are leaders who are directly managing large amounts of project resources for their organizations.

This study guide addresses three main concerns facing PgMP exam candidates:

• What are the essential concepts, processes, and tools that form the foundation of today's program management?

• Since program management is still an emerging profession with professionals often working in different ways, what does this mean for a "standard" exam? More specifically, how does that impact your ability to pass the PgMP exam?

• What is the best way to prepare for the PgMP exam?

To address the first concern, this book highlights the underlying rationale for program management: why it exists in organizations; why it is becoming ever more important; what programs are, especially for the purpose of passing the exam; how to think like a portfolio manager; and what the most important concepts, processes, and tools are for this profession. By simplifying complex ideas and communicating them in plain English with relevant examples, this book aims to help readers not only to pass the PgMP exam but also to serve as an essential guide for program managers.

For the second concern, this book differs from other study guides by describing the author's personal experience as a program manager and addressing the most pressing questions for each of the performance domains in The Standard for Program Management.

To address the last concern, this book contains 420 practice questions, access to an online exam simulator and an online PgMP community, and a time-tested approach for passing the PgMP exam.

Chapter 1

Introduction to Program Management Profession and Its Credential

In this chapter, you will

• Learn the Program Management Professional (PgMP) qualification, process, and exam details
• Learn a tried and proven approach to studying for the exam
• Customize your own strategy and approach to passing the PgMP exam
• Learn a simplified framework for organization and how program management serves to advance organization strategies
• Learn to think like a program manager

1.1 About PgMP Certification

1.1.1 PgMP Certification Requirements

The bar of entry to become a PgMP is set intentionally high. It is designed for current program managers looking to advance their career by solidifying and proving their ability to coordinate, manage, and lead a program of multiple projects and other endeavors. PgMP can be seen as a distinctive differentiator among the professionals and in the eyes of employers. Attaining the certification indicates a command of the program management knowledge and skills and provides significantly greater credibility professionally.

To qualify for PgMP, applicants must have the qualifications as listed in Figure 1.1.

Figure 1.1PgMP minimum qualifications.

To qualify for the certification, a professional MUST have 48 months of project management experience and up to 84 months of program management experience. Unlike Project Managemet Professional (PMP), there is no additional education requirement. However, even for advanced practitioners, it is imperative to read the Standard and this study guide carefully. Similar to PMP and PgMP, it is not sufficient to pass the exam based solely on work experience. The purpose of PgMP exam by Project Management Institute (PMI) is to ensure PMP credential holders have similar foundational knowledge.

1.1.2 PgMP Certification Process

The PgMP application occurs in two phases (or evaluations as PMI calls them):

• In Phase 1, the panel will review your completed application. Upon its completion, the applicant can proceed to Phase 2.
• Phase 2 is the PgMP examination in which you have one whole year to pass.

Note: PMI audits about 10–15% of the applications, and this occurs during Phase 1.

To start Phase 1, simply go to www.pmi.org to apply for the PgMP credential. Sign in to your account or create a new account. In the Certification Program page, click on “Apply for PgMP Credential.” PMI also offers the following reference materials to aid in the credential process. These include:

1. PgMP Handbook
2. PgMP exam content outline (ECO)

Both of these publications can be found here: https:/​/​www.pmi.org/​certifications/​program-management-pgmp/​exam-prep.

My suggestions for you are as follows:

1. Join PMI, if you are not a member already. The cost of the PgMP credential can be expensive ($800 for members and $1,000 USD for non-members at the time of writing). Therefore, the discount of $200 more than offsets the cost of PMI membership. Furthermore, included in the annual membership fee, you have access to the three important standards: Project, Program, and Portfolio. The Standard for Program Management – Fourth Edition costs about $40 at retail.
2. Download the Standard for Program Management – Fourth Edition and read it carefully. Make sure you gain a working knowledge of the five performance domains, by reading the Standard and reviewing Chapters 3–8 of this book. This knowledge will help you complete the application.
3. Complete the application process. In addition to developing a working knowledge of the five performance domains, make sure you start to document your program management experiences and key contacts who can serve as professional references.
4. After submitting the application, be prepared to be audited. (I had the “pleasure” of being audited on the PgMP and Portfolio Management Professional (PfMP) application process. It was not too painful.)
5. As stated in the handbook, the process time is 10 business days for online application and 20 days for paper applications. Early experience has shown the turnaround time to be much quicker.
6. Once PMI approves your application, then you have one year to pass the PgMP exam. Within this one-year period, you are allowed to take the exam up to three times. Each of the subsequent exams cost $600 for members and $800 for non-members. Given this expense, it is highly recommended to effectively prepare and pass the exam on the first or second attempt. If you fail the PgMP exam three times, you must wait for another year before you may reapply and resubmit your credentials all over again.
7. The exam policies and procedures are extensive. For those who have completed other PMI certifications, the exam policies and procedures are similar. Please re-read the PgMP Handbook to get reacquainted.
8. When scheduling for the exam, my recommendation is to schedule it for late morning, assuming the testing site is within an hour of where you live. The late morning, say 10 or 10:30 AM, gives you the ability to sleep late, eat a larger than usual but healthy meal, avoid morning rush traffic, drive leisurely to the exam site, and finish by a reasonable time in which you can avoid the rush hour drive home.

My company, PMO Advisory, has written extensively on this topic and presented in webinars. For more information, review this blog article: https:/​/​www.pmoadvisory.com/​blog/​preparing-and-completing-pmi-certification-applications-pmp-pgmp-pfmp-acp-rmp/​.

1.1.3 Some Quick Words on Maintaining PgMP Credential

Maintaining the PgMP certification is relatively straightforward, especially for those who have the PMP credential. This is because PgMP and PMP share the same professional development units (PDUs) and professionals can “double dip” on the PDUs. Remember, to maintain the PgMP Active status, professionals need to earn 60 PDUs every three years. The minimum education requirement is 35 PDUs, and the maximum Giving Back PDUs is 25.

Also, similar to PMP, PgMP can transfer up to 20 PDUs to the next continuing certification requirement (CCR) cycle. Only PDUs earned in the 12 months preceding the renewal qualifies can be applied to the next cycle.

For more information on maintaining credential status,...