The Critical Path Week Ending February 28

Due to working crazy off hours in preparation for my v1.0 launch, I not only forgot to do a week in review on the 20th, I also missed meeting my writing commitment on the 24th and 25th.  Whatever the excuses, I was feeling a little burned out.  I have to remember this is a marathon and not a sprint.  Writing a daily blog takes a lot of discipline.  Though I have so much to say, it can escape me if I don't get the idea captured quickly.  Wow, it's hard to believe it's almost March.  At least there should be viewer posts about snow removal.

2/26/2010

Putting Things In Perspective

I had mild chest and shoulder pains this morning. I am in the ER waiting to see the doctor. I’ll let you know the outcome and my status shortly...

2/23/2010

Satisfying Needed Scope Versus Wants

There are many templates and means to ensure your project meets the requirements.  But I can’t stress enough how important it is to ensure you’re working to satisfy the requirements (or scope) first...

2/22/2010

The Hateful Cycle of Apathy Hits a Nerve

Have you ever stuck your neck out and get no support?  Did the trust among that team start to break down? I’ve seen it happen first hand and Geoff Crane wrote an awesome post over at Papercut Edge about it...

2/21/2010

How To Prevent Your Project From Hemorrhaging

This post is in response to a post written by Jennifer Bedell on the PMStudent blog about goldplating. Goldplating is very common in application development and can be very expensive...

2/20/2010

How Owners Managers and Leaders Differ

I was asked a very interesting question today, requiring me to stop and think. How do I believe being an entrepreneur and a business owner differ? It’s a very good question because...

2/19/2010

What You Need Is Some Kaizen

While sitting in a governance meeting the other day, I heard how (before I joined the team) a vendor brought in some high paid six sigma black belts to...

2/18/2010

How to Thank a Managed Camel

I was informed I am the winner of the very first Freedom of Speech February (FOSF) giveaway from How to Manage a Camel.  My comments last week on a blog post by Gary Holmes earned me a free copy of the Method123 Project Management Methodology (MPMM™) Professional from their partners at Method123...

2/17/2010

Creeping Ever So Closer To Closure

As my startup project is creeping ever so closer to its closure and the actual launch of the product happens, I’m feverishly completing activities late into the night.  It’s not easy working crazy hours to get this done.  My family goes to bed, I drink a pot of coffee, and get to work...

2/16/2010

Interesting PMI Perspective On Claiming PDUs

...Based on the telephone conversation I had, if you’ve worked as a PM for at least 6 months, you can claim 5 PDUs.  Otherwise, if you are able to say you spend more than 1,500 hours per calendar year in that roll, you also qualify to claim the 5 PDUs...

2/15/2010

Getting Exactly What You Want

I just wrapped up a week long logo design project at 99Designs, with an intellectual property transfer agreement.  Flash back to August 2009, when I was watching Episode 13 of This Week in Startups...

Interesting PMI Perspective On Claiming PDUs

After one of my readers asked me about PMP PDU claims, I made a telephone call to PMI. The question revolved around Category 2H and the proper way to prove you have met the criteria of the PDU.  In the past, I purposely formatted round-table discussion agendas a certain way to make it easy on the PMPs to claim PDUs.  So, what proof do we need to claim category 2H PDUs?  And, how many PDUs can you claim for being employed as a project manager? Category: 2H Description: Practitioner of project and/or program management services for more than 1,500 project hours per calendar year. Maximum PDUs: Time in service 6 months: 5 PDUs Maximum 15 PDUs may be earned per cycle (3 years).

What does that mean?  Based on the telephone conversation I had, if you've worked as a PM for at least 6 months, you can claim 5 PDUs.  Otherwise, if you are able to say you spend more than 1,500 hours per calendar year in that roll, you also qualify to claim the 5 PDUs.  Within your Continuing Certification Requirements (CCR) cycle, which is now 3 years, you can do this 3 times.  Do the math and you have a total of 15 maximum PDUs, if you're a full time PM.  That's not bad!  You're 1/4 the way to meeting the goal of 60 required PDUs per CCR and you haven't spent a dollar on training.

What about proof?  When claiming PDUs for something like a round-table discussion, the only proof you need is an agenda or something similar. But, I was really surprised by they answer I got from PMI for Category 2H.  You don't need any proof.  When I was audited, prior to taking my exam, I provided a detailed account of my project experiences and areas of focus.  None of this is necessary to maintain your credential. I was very specific how I framed my question to PMI.

Me: Please confirm, yes or no, if I have my PMP certification and I show up to work every day with the title of PM, I rate 5 PDUs a year?  Nothing else is required?

PMI Answer: Yes, that is correct

I have to admit, I don’t agree with this.  What's the point of telling people to follow a process if you have no mechanism in place to verify they are following it correctly?

What do you think?

Updated 10 Step Help To Submit PMP PDUs

I'm in the process of helping my client make their submissions for PMI Professional Development Units (PDUs). All PMPs need 60 PDUs during a CCR cycle so don't put it off until the last minute. In this case, my client participated in a workshop. If you want to collect PDUs, you're going to need some kind of evidence. It might be a program agenda, copies of a publication, transcript, certificate, registration form... do I need to go on? This is actually for you in the event PMI audits you. In this case, participating in a workshop, the evidence is not required to actually complete the PDU request online.  Because PMI has updated their website, I think it's important you know the new process. Know your PMI ID #, Cert #, and Last Name on file with PMI.

Step 1: Log into the PMI homepage. A Membership Status box will appear in the left navigation menu with the following data: PMI ID No.: Member Since: Expires:

A Certification Status box will also appear in the left navigation menu with the following data: PMP No.: Earned: Renewal Date

Within that Certification Status box, at the bottom, is a link titled "View PDUs" (If you follow the link before logging in, you'll be asked to do so at that time)

Step 2: Select the "View PDUs" link Step 3: In the left navigational column, select Report professional development units (PDUs) Step 4: Select a PDU category and sub-category (if applicable) ("2e" for participating in a workshop) Step 5: Select the Next button Step 6: Complete the entire form (know the knowledge area and process group) Step 7: Select the Next button Step 8: Review for accuracy and enter the number of PDUs (if given the option) Step 9: Select the Next button Step 10: Select the checkbox, agreeing to the accuracy of the claim and Select the Submit button

Go back and review your Online Transcript in a few days to verify your submission was successful.

See, it's not as hard as you thought!

I welcome any questions you may have about the process.

Regards,

Derek

Free Report from WBS Coach Josh Nankivel

I just reread my free copy of Top 7 WBS Mistakes Project Managers Make.  Though I am now a paid affiliate of WBS Coach, I had to first review the products.  I reviewed WBS Coach multiple times (just to be sure).  At $39.99, I wasn't sure if it would meet my expectations.  Well, it did and then some.  I got 5+ hours of video, audio, and textual training and a 68 page PDF textbook.  It even included a one-year unconditional money-back guarantee.

The WBS Coach product includes:

• Core Lessons: 8 Lessons on WBS concepts, tutorials, and applications
• Instructor Interviews: 3 interviews, approximately 2 hours
• Q&A Sessions: Bonus video and audio based off student feedback
• WBS Checklist: Practitioner checklist for immediate real-world use
• PDU Credit: Course qualifies for 5 PMI PDUs
• PDU Reporting Guidebook: Claim PDUs without guesswork

If you're not sure about spending the money, get this free report first.  It's informative and...did I already say it was FREE?

10 Helpful Steps to Submit PMI PDUs

I'm in the process of helping a group in the PMO make their submissions for PMI Professional Development Units (PDUs).  All PMPs need 60 PDUs during a CCR cycle so don't put it off until the last minute.  In this case, they all participated in a workshop.  If you want to collect PDUs, you're going to need some kind of evidence.  It might be a program agenda, copies of a publication, transcript, certificate, registration form... do I need to go on?  This is actually for you in the event PMI audits you.  In this case, participating in a workshop, the evidence is not required to actually complete the PDU request online. Know your PMI ID #, Cert #, and Last Name on file with PMI.

Step 1: Log into the PMI homepage. A Membership Status box will appear in the left navigation menu with the following data: PMI ID No.: Member Since: Expires:

A Certification Status box will also appear in the left navigation menu with the following data: PMP No.: Earned: Renewal Date

Within that Certification Status box, at the bottom, is a link titled "View PDUs" [http://tel.occe.ou.edu/pmi/PMI_Member/PDUlogin.php3]

Step 2: Select the "View PDUs" link Step 3: Enter your ID#, Cert#, and first four letters of your last name Step 4: Select the "PMI PDU Self Report Form" radio button Step 5: Select the "Login" button to continue Step 6: Select the Activity you wish to claim  ("2e" for participating in a workshop) Step 7: Complete the entire form (know the knowledge area and process group) Step 8: Select the "I Agree" checkbox and the "Continue" button Step 9: Review for accuracy Step 10: Select the "Submit" button

Go back and review your Online Transcript in a few days to verify your submission was successful Repeat Steps 1, 2, and 3

At Step 4,  select "PMI Transcript" radio button Step 5: Select the "Login" button to continue to your Online Transcript

See, it's not as hard as you thought!

How to get free PMP PDUs

I just read a VERY helpful blog post about getting PMP PDUs for free. A software consultant in Atlanta detailed how he was able to get 64 PDUs without spending any money other than time and fuel to travel.  Thank you Coding Unknowingly for taking the time to help others. Check out the post.