This cohort is smaller and more intimate, allowing for real-time interaction.
Encouragement to turn cameras on to foster networking and familiarity.
Poll and Tech Check
Warm-up question to test poll functionality.
Initial poll experience had technical difficulties (black box, missing options) but was resolved.
Tech check to ensure everyone could see the slides.
Poll results were shared to demonstrate engagement.
Polls will be used in future sessions for interactive learning and to identify areas needing focus.
Kickoff Session Overview
Preparation for success by discussing available resources and study strategies.
Focus on project management (PMI) principles and identifying key elements in question stems to rule in correct answers and rule out incorrect ones.
Future sessions will focus on content application for exam preparation.
The current focus is on laying a solid foundation by teaching to the exam.
Prepare to Succeed: Overcoming Potential Obstacles
Discussing common reasons for disengagement or failure based on experience with over 25,000 students.
Overwhelm
Overwhelm stems from the large amount of material after the boot camp.
Solution: An achievable study plan with week-by-week goals.
The study plan is broken down into small, manageable “hikes” instead of a marathon, providing a step-by-step map with milestones.
Test Anxiety
Test anxiety is driven by judgment (self-judgment or fear of others' judgment).
Perfection is not required to pass the exam; it's okay to not know some answers.
The PMP exam includes five pretest questions that don't count toward the score; these questions are being evaluated for inclusion in the question bank.
No guessing penalty: If in doubt, always guess to increase the chances of getting points.
The passing score is not a fixed percentage; it ranges from proficient to highly proficient.
PMI wants candidates to succeed and protects the integrity of the certification.
Up to three attempts are allowed within one year with the application code.
PMI does not disclose the number of attempts it takes to pass.
Reasonable accommodations are available for candidates with substantiated needs (additional time, quieter environment), and candidates need to proactively ask for accomodations
How is the passage score determined?
Every question in the test question bank is weighted based on its difficulty.
Each exam has a total weighted score, and the bar for passing depends on the exam's overall difficulty.
PMI does not publish the exact passing percentage, but instructors anecdotally suggest aiming for 80% or higher to achieve proficient or highly proficient levels.
Time to read
The average time is one minute and seventeen seconds per question.
Candidates with learning, physical, or language disabilities can request additional time with proper documentation.
Impostor Syndrome
Many aspirants struggle to see themselves as qualified PMPs.
Overcome impostor syndrome with evidence of rigorous knowledge assimilation.
Earning the PMP signifies world-recognized knowledge, skills, and experience.
The PMP certification provides confidence and sets candidates apart, equipped with world-class best practices often unknown to current leaders.
Fear of Change
Fear of the changes that success will bring, including new responsibilities and expectations.
Candidates are in charge of how their lives change.
Employers match projects to experience levels.
It is okay to turn down opportunities that don't align with one's readiness.
Internal locus of control: Candidates control their future and choose their engagements.
Military Community Perspective
Military personnel often have extensive early experience with responsibility and accountability.
Applying the "make it happen" attitude and the values of honor, courage, and commitment is important.
High attrition rate in PMP certification requires perseverance .Make it happen, mission complete.
Summary of Overcoming Failure Drivers
Acknowledge and address feelings of overwhelm, test anxiety, impostor syndrome, and fear.
Solutions: Create a plan, aim for progress (not perfection), build evidence of competence, and control the acceptance of challenges.
Study Plan and Commitment
Determining individual position relative to risk and preparation.
Take a mock exam to establish a baseline (50% or above is a good start).
Dedicated study time: 80 to 100 hours.
Create a realistic study schedule and integrate it into the calendar.
Share the study schedule with significant others for support.
Establish a target exam week and commit to it.
Kickoff on a specific Tuesday, with sessions every Tuesday evening over seven weeks; mock exams follow in the subsequent week.
The study process involves requesting payment from IVMF, scheduling the PMP exam, and studying a student learner kit.
The PMP experience should not be undertaken privately; transparency and participation in sessions are critical.
Keep others informed of progress to create accountability.
Leveraging Available Resources
Resources are in Percipio (Skillsoft platform).
Emphasis on the study guide (companion to live sessions, not an either/or choice) that was co-authored by Susan and Shalon.
Mention of a military PMP roadmap.
Resources List
PMBOK 7th edition- Need this.
Agile Practice Guide- Need this.
Process Groups - Need this.
Exam Content Outline (ECO).
Videos in Percipio.
Mock exams.
The learner kit.
Agile Practice Guide
Focuses on agile principles and practices.
PMBOK 7th Edition
Focuses on principles.
Process Groups
Breaks down traditional project management into the "what" and "how."
How to use the resources
Books are for reference, not cover-to-cover reading.
Exam Content Outline (ECO)
Boot camp topics come from the ECO.
Videos in Skillsoft Precipio are the same videos that were previously required to qualify for 35 hours of PM education.
Exam Simulator
Access through Percipio.
The PMP 7th edition simulator is the one to use and is valuable for baseline assessment and micro quizzes by topic.
Learner Kit
O2O participants will gain access to it after completing the prerequisites.
It comes at an additional cost and will be provided by O2O after achieving specific milestones (passing three mock exams).
PMI Affiliated Sites
Offer additional learning resources.
Connecting the dots
Refers to the video "The one-word name of the certification game".
This session mentioned the video to refresh it and watch it again if you haven't already or watch it again, okay, because it is so important.
Emphasis on competencies (action and application) rather than rote memorization. Because, that is the name of the game.
Questions will come from sets of competencies. So the application is about creating competency project management competency based application, PMP application.
Focal Points
Project Management Guiding Principles
Based on PMI documentation.
Helps choose the right answer by ruling in and ruling out options.
Requires understanding the content and applying critical thinking.
The 12 project management guiding principles should inform decision-making.
Principles: The 12 principles by PMI are also supported by, let's see, the agile 12 principles. You have to know both of them ladies and gentlemen. You can't just go, yeah. I recognize them. That's good enough. No. Can you apply them in a context. Can they guide you. Do you know them wall enough that they could guide you on Selecting questions selecting answers to questions?
General Focal Points
Never ignore anything impacting the project; action is generally proactive.
Don't escalate immediately; assess the situation, evaluate options, and provide recommendations.
Face-to-face communication is the best option.
Always welcome change; professional change agents remain neutral while serving stakeholders.
Escalation is the last resort.
Always do the right thing (follow PMI ethics).
Code of Ethics
Read the PMI code of ethics and understand mandatory behaviors for responsibility, respect, honesty, and fairness.
Seeking stakeholder input and collaboration fosters transparency.
Problems should be addressed transparently with stakeholders, providing issue logs and proposed solutions.
Emotional intelligence and interpersonal skills are key (42% of questions).
Be compassionate and empathetic with team members.
Walk towards conflict, acknowledging it, building common understanding, and seeking supported solutions.
Be flexible and adjustable to change.
Wrong Answer Insights
Do not change the baseline without formal change control.
Do not minimize, disregard, or postpone safety or compliance requirements.
Always behave ethically.
Do not push agile teams; facilitate and enable rather than direct and command.
Prioritize impediments, obstacles, and barriers and address them immediately.
Learning and Focus for the week.
Review lesson one slide notes.
Research unfamiliar curriculum content.
Submit questions in advance.
This week is about understanding business environment, basically. Take two exams using the simulator. And that preparing the candidate to success, is the goal of the session.
Commitment and Next Steps
Commitment to succeed. If candidates are in. It's the reaction that are showing in the chat.
Dates and times of sessions are, barring, hurricane. They will show up in the time zone of their area.
Emphasis of saying yes in the chat because saying that the link is send of only saying yes in the chat is that important.