Preparing for the PMI Scheduling Professional (PMI-SP)^® Exam

What is this course about?

This course provides the skills required to schedule and deliver critical projects on timewhile helping you prepare for the PMI Scheduling Professional (PMI-SP)^® exam. You learn how to establish realistic project plans by identifying resource needs, defining the work and calculating the Critical Path. You also learn how to track and report project status to stakeholders using EVA. After class, you have access to sample templates and spreadsheets for your own use in developing estimates, schedules and tracking information.

What background do I need?

Project management knowledge at the level of Course 296, Project Management: Skills for Success, or Course 340, Project Management for Software Development, is recommended. A background in project management is strongly recommended; experience within a project environment is helpful.

Why do I need this course?

Project managers must balance resources, schedule constraints and ever-increasing customer expectations to deliver projects on time. This course develops your practical skills in scheduling that are essential to successful project delivery. Delivering a project within a defined timescale means fewer costs due to rework or missed deadlines and better project quality. Further, on-time delivery demonstrates a professional approach and commitment to project management.

Who will benefit from this course?

This course benefits anyone preparing for the PMI Project Scheduling (PMI-SP)^® credential. As well as, those responsible for managing project time and those who wish to enhance their scheduling skills. In addition, this course is particularly valuable to practitioners following the PMI PMBOK^® Guide and the Standard for Scheduling, or working within a structured methodology, such as PRINCE2^TM.

What are the eligibility criteria for taking the PMI-SP^® exam?

The PMI-SP eligibility criteria, as established by the Project Management Institute, are divided into two catagories:

Category 1 maintains that the candidate hold a minimum of a four-year degree (bachelor's or the global equivalent), with at least 3,500 hours of project scheduling experience and 30 hours of project scheduling education.

Category 2 maintains that the candidate hold a minimum of a secondary diploma (high school or the global equivalent) with at least 5,000 hours of project scheduling experience and 40 hours of project scheduling education.

How is this course different from Course 296 and Course 340?

Both Course 296, Project Management: Skills for Success, and Course 340, Project Management for Software Development, cover project management fundamentals. Course 340 is geared for software development projects. Course 296 is not tied to any specific project type and provides key skills for planning, executing and closing out projects.

Course 248 focuses on scheduling and management skills necessary for successful project scheduling and planning. It details estimation and earned value techniques essential for delivering projects by deadline far beyond the basic skills touched upon in Course 296 or Course 340. Course 248 also details best practice advice and guidance by adhering to specific industry standards related to scheduling.

How much time is spent on each topic?

What kinds of activities are covered in the workshops?

In this course, you spend approximately 60 percent of class time in activities and are immersed in a progressively elaborate case study. Experiential activities include:

• Building a WBS
• Constructing PDM diagrams
• Determining your task durations using three-point estimates
• Calculating the Critical Path
• Assigning resources and adjusting the schedule
• Employing EVA to assess project status and re-forecast the schedule
• Reporting on the project
• Adapting to sudden changes

Will I be using any project management tools or other software tools in this course?

Yes. You use spreadsheets and a word processor, and a Work Breakdown Structure (WBS) creation tool is demonstrated. You also apply a flexible framework of techniques for use in any project management environment and with a variety of project management tools. However, Microsoft Project is not used. This course emphasizes the implementation of key skills rather than using specific project management software tools.

If you are interested in using project management software tools, you may consider Course 3702, Microsoft^® Project 2010: A Comprehensive Hands-On Introduction, or Course 919, SharePoint^® for Project Management.

What is parametric estimating and how will it benefit me?

Parametric estimates express a statistical relationship between historical data and variables in your project environment. Parametric estimating helps you formulate activity-duration estimates as the basis of realistic and achievable schedules.

What do I gain from doing Critical Path analysis?

Critical Path analysis allows the project manager to make informed decisions relative to project resources and schedules. You gain focal points for your management efforts as well as identifying the duration of your entire project.

I've heard of EVA. Is this something I should incorporate in my projects?

Absolutely! Earned Value Analysis (EVA) allows you to state specific information about actual progress against the planned project schedule and current project status in terms that are relevant to management and project stakeholders.

What happens if I don't pass the exam?

If for any reason you do not pass your PMI-SP Exam after completing our course, Preparing for the PMI-Scheduling Professional (PMI-SP)^® Exam, contact us within 60 days of your original course attendance to schedule a free course retake.

How does this course relate to other Learning Tree courses?

In addition to the previously mentioned Course 296 and Course 340, you may be interested in the following related project management courses:

In Course 923, Project Budgeting and Estimating: Taking Control of Your Projects, you create an accurate budget for any level of work from individual project tasks to entire portfolios.

Course 286, Preparing for the PMI Risk Management Professional (PMI-RMP)^® Exam, expands on the concepts of schedule contingency covered in Course 248 to include risk analysis and build plans that take risk into account.

Course 287, Complex Project Management, is geared toward project managers who are responsible for managing large, complex projects involving substantial budgets and cross-functional teams.

Course 299, Microsoft^® Project 2007: A Comprehensive Hands-On Introduction, you learn how to solve typical project and business problems using the planning, control and reporting features of Microsoft Project.