Volume 4, Issue 2 Page

Inside this issue:

2012 Spring Conference 2-5

Event Sponsorship Info 5

PDU Opportunities 6

The 12 Most Popular

PMP Exam Preparation

Tools

7-9

Business Benefits Real-

isation—The Unfortu-

nate Truth

9-13

Why You Need To Prac-

tice With a PMP Exam

Simulator

13-

14

Everything We Need To

Know About Program

Management—We

Learned From Punk

Rock

15-

17

Miscellaneous Infor-

mation

18-

19

Volume 4, Issue 2 PM I Em er a ld C oa s t F l o r i da Ch ap t er P . O . Bo x 1 2 65 Sh a l im ar , FL 32 5 79

February 2012

Membership Stats

as of

February 2012:

Members: 242

144 PMP, 1PgMP, 1 CAPM

& 1 PMP-RMP

97 Main Chapter Members

47 Panama City Branch

Members

35 Mobile Branch Members

63 Pensacola Branch Mem-

bers

Membership Activity:

10 New Members

President’s Corner by

Bonnie McClure, PMP

Fellow Program Managers

Spring is finally upon us and what a wonderful start to the year. The Spring Sym-

posium is coming together and what an exciting day we have planned. Our Key-

note speaker, Joe Lukas is a dynamic speaker that will really have a lot to offer.

We have a full day planned, with 8 PDU’s available and a lot of networking oppor-

tunities. If you are considering any changes in your current position, or want to

know what is happening in the profession, this is the meeting for you.

Our Chapter meetings have been going well and it is great to see so many of you

join us. We have had some really great ideas from all of you at the monthly meet-

ings, and you will see some of those implemented as we move through spring and

into summer. Keep an eye out for some evening events coming up. And don’t forget

our Branches! Some of the meetings being offered through our Branches sound

very exciting.

I have had a lot of questions recently regarding the “best way” to continue gaining

PDUs. We all try to look for cost effective ways to meet our PDU requirements es-

pecially as more and more employers are no longer able to support funding these

efforts,. Our Spring Symposium is one way (less that $10 dollars per PDU), or how

about speaking at one of our Chapter meetings? You can join us for lunch and

share you knowledge or experience and gain PDUs at the same time, no cost. If you

don’t like to speak or are not sure when you can be available, you can write an arti-

cle for our newsletter, volunteer to help out with one of our events, volunteer to be a

board member next year, volunteer on a committee, attend monthly meetings, or

volunteer in the community. If you are interested in assisting the Board of Direc-

tors, please contact Bonnie McClure, President or , VP Communications.

We continue as a Chapter to grow and to excel and meet, or better yet exceed in

meeting your requirements. We welcome feedback from all our members to assure

we stay focused on your needs. Feel free to email or talk to any board member at a

meeting, or send an email at any time, we love to hear what you are looking for.

Have a wonderful month and a wonderful spring. I look forward to the coming

months. We have a great chapter and I enjoy watching us continue to grow.

Sincerely,

Bonnie McClure

Bonnie McClure, PMP

President, Emerald Coast PMI

Page 2 Volume 4, Issue 2

Annual Spring Conference

Saturday, 21 April 2012

Location: Emerald Coast Conference Center

Palm Conference Room 1250 Miracle Strip Parkway SE Okaloosa Island, FL 32548

Time: 8:00am-4:30pm

Conference Cost: $70 Chapter Member, $90 Non-Member, $30 Student

Keynote Speaker: Mr. Joe Lukas, VP of PM Centers USA Topic: “Hurdles to Project Excellence”

Breakout sessions/networking opportunities Continental Breakfast, Gourmet Box Lunch, Morning & Afternoon Snacks/

Drinks provided

Register on-line by 17 April 2012

www.pmiemeraldcoastfl.org

Room discounts available through Ramada Inn – Okaloosa Island. See Discounts sheet for more information. Must book with resort.

Mailing Address: E-mail: vpprograms@pmiemeraldcoastfl.org P.O. Box 1265 vpprofdevelopment@pmiemeraldcoastfl.org

Shalimar, FL 32579 Phone: (850) 797-3165 / (850) 803-0093

Volume 4, Issue 2 Page 3

Spring Conference Agenda

21 April 2011

8:00-8:45 Registration/Continental Breakfast

8:45-9:00 Chapter President Welcome / Conference Agenda

9:00-10:00 PM Speaker Series

Speakers: TBD

10:00-10:15 Break/Snack

10:15-11:45 Keynote Speaker

Mr. Joe Lukas, VP of PM Centers, USA

“Hurdles to Project Excellence”

11:45-1:15 Lunch

1:15-2:00 Breakout TRACK A - Session I

Track A – Tools & Training

1:15-2:00 Breakout TRACK B - Session I

Track B – Career Enhancement

2:00-2:15 Break/Snack

2:15-3:00 Breakout TRACK A – Session II

Track A – Tools & Training

2:15-3:00 Breakout TRACK B – Session II

Track B – Career Enhancement

3:00-3:15 Break/Snack

3:15-3:45 PM Human Resources Panel (TBD)

3:45-4:00 Presentation/Closing

Proud member of the Greater Fort Wal-

ton Beach Chamber of Commerce.

Page 4 Volume 4, Issue 2

RESORT DISCOUNTS Group Code: PMI

Would you like to stay the night before, night of the Conference or both?

Enjoy The Ramada Plaza Beach Resort (Okaloosa Island).

The Ramada Plaza Beach Resort is offering a group discount for those attending

the PMI Emerald Coast FL Chapter 2012 Spring Conference.

Room Rates:

The rate is $138.00/night plus 12% resort fee and taxes

First five bookings (if booked by 30 March) are subject to Beachside upgrade

You can book by calling Jamey Lamey (or the sales office): 800-472-1790

The Ramada Plaza Beach Resort is located across US 98 from the Emerald Coast

Conference Center…www.ramadafwb.com

Rooms are booking fast! Reserve early!

KEYNOTE SPEAKER BIO Professional Biography

Joseph A. Lukas, PMP®, PE, CCE

Joe Lukas, Vice President of PMCentersUSA, has over 30 years' experience in project man-

agement encompassing project portfolio management and international project management.

His projects have spanned numerous industries, including manufacturing, product develop-

ment, information technology, and construction.

Among his varied strengths, Joe has demonstrated expertise in earned value analysis and risk

management. He has published over 25 articles on various project management topics, and is

regularly invited to be a guest speaker for companies and organizations seeking to improve

performance and meet strategic objectives through effective

project management.

Joe is a certified Project Management Professional (PMP®) and has been a member of the Project Management

Institute (PMI®) since 1985. While living in Rochester, NY, Joe was very active with the PMI Chapter, serving in

various positions, including two terms as chapter president. His efforts in growing the Rochester Chapter were

recognized in 2001, when Joe was honored with an award for his outstanding contributions to the chapter.

Early in his career, Joe received his Professional Engineer license following his graduation from Syracuse Univer-

sity, where he earned a B.S. degree in Chemical Engineering. He went on to become a Certified Cost Engineer

(CCE) for the Association for the Advancement of Cost Engineering (AACE), and has served on the Genesee

Valley Section Board in various positions including section president.

Joe leads the experienced and skilled 35-member Instructor team for PMCentersUSA. Joe still serves as an In-

structor and provides PM Mentoring, Executive Coaching, and Consulting Services, as well as developing both

public and customized, private training programs for companies and organizations nationwide in the areas of

Business Analysis and Project Management.

Joe Lukas Receives the Jan Korevaar Outstanding Paper Award

Speaker Bio continued on next page.

Volume 4, Issue 2 Page 5

Speaker Bio Continued:

Joe Lukas, Vice-President of PMCentersUSA, was chosen by the attendees at the 6th World Congress on Cost

Engineering, Project Management and Quantity Surveying, and AACE International 52nd Annual meeting to

receive the Jan Korevaar Outstanding Paper Award. The award is presented at each World Congress to the author

of the paper which receives the highest attendee evaluations of all papers presented at the Congress. Joe's paper on

"Earned Value Analysis - Why it Doesn't Work", covered the common errors encountered in implementing earned

value on projects and recommended corrective actions. This paper can be downloaded by clicking on our

Knowledge Center menu tab and by then selecting white papers. Joe received the award at the 2009 AACE Annu-

al Meeting in Seattle. At this conference, Joe also presented his talk on the "Top Ten Scheduling Mistakes and

How to Prevent Them".

www.pmiemeraldcoastfl.org

2012 Spring Symposium

Saturday, April 21, 2012

Gold Sponsors! $500 *

Booth Space

3-4 minute presentation

Event, website and flyer

recognition

Two complimentary

event tickets (including

meals)

Silver Sponsors! $250 *

Booth Space

Event, website and flyer

recognition

One complimentary

event ticket (including

meal, additional meal

available at cost)

Deadline for Sponsorship: April 8, 2012 * If sponsorship is paid via website through Eventsbot, 5% charge will be added.

Page 6 Volume 4, Issue 2

Spring 2012 Panhandle Job Fair Information

The Spring 2012 Panhandle Job Fair is coming soon!

April 19 from 10am to 2pm

Employers register at: www.panhandlejobfair.com

Additional information, please contact: flpanhandlejobfair@cox.net

PDU Opportunities

Congratulations to our area’s newest

Project Management Professionals!

Leslie Zanders, PMP

Brynn Ammon, PMP

Check out the Calendar on your own PMI Emerald Coast FL website for PDU Webinar opportunities:

Link to Calendar with PDU opportunities

Interested in our fellow Region 14 Chapter’s Seminar @ Sea: Tools for Project Managers?

April 18—23, 2012

Visit PMI Charleston, SC Chapter for registration form and additional information.

Interested in Mastering Continuous Improvement, Agile Communication Certification or Mastering Microsoft

Project 2010?

Visit Project Management Resource Group, Inc’s web site for course curriculum, dates and prices.

Interested in International Project Management? Roeder Consulting is introducing this new course.

Visit Roeder Consulting for curriculum, dates and prices.

Also through Roeder Consulting you can find Tres Roeder’s “A Sixth Sense For Project Management” which

you can earn up to 6 PDU’s for reading this book (Category C, Self Directed Learning), as well as additional PDU opportunities: http://www.roederconsulting.com/projectmanagementtrainingoverview.php

ALPHA PM Consulting:

http://www.alphapmconsulting.com/

PM ONE Bootcamp in Charleston, SC:

PMP Bootcamp course in April

International Institute for Learning Inc.

Offers multiple individual and PDU Packs. Visit: IIL for additional information.

Volume 4, Issue 2 Page 7

The 12 Most Popular PMP Exam Preparation Tools

By Cornelius Fichtner, PMP

If you are about to start studying for your Project Management Professional (PMP) exam, you’ll

want to make sure your toolkit is bursting with things to help you on the journey to becoming a

PMP. There are so many options to consider when looking at the study materials on the market

that it can be difficult to know where to start.

First, don’t be overwhelmed by the choice. The tools that your colleagues and classmates are using

may not be the right ones for you. How do you learn best? Choose study materials that will help

you prepare for PMP certification in a way that best suits your learning style. You’ll also want to

consider your budget. Don’t feel that you have to buy really expensive exam preparation tools.

There are products on the market that are both efficient and cost effective. Reading what other

students have to say about the study tools they use can also be helpful: check out independent re-

view sites.

Still stuck for where to start? Here’s my guide to the top 12 most popular PMP exam preparation

tools.

1. PMI's Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK Guide)

The PMBOK Guide is the workbench of PMP exam preparation tools. It’s the foundation that eve-

rything else is built on. This is the most “popular” study material simply because everybody has to

read it for the exam! Remember that PMI members get a PDF copy for free.

2. PMP Exam Study Guides

These are also known as PMP exam prep books. They cover the same materials as the PMBOK

Guide but in more accessible language. They often explain the concepts in ways that are easier to

understand and to learn.

3. PMP Exam Courses

Training courses come in many varieties. You could attend a course online or in a classroom. You

could study at your own pace or with an instructor. You could choose a boot-camp or to study over

many weeks. Look for a PMP exam course that will give you the required 35 contact hours.

4. Exam Simulators and Free Questions

These are the torch in your toolkit, helping you shine a light on your weaker areas. Taking sample

exams via an exam simulator will help you assess your readiness for the real thing. You can find

free questions online, but these only go so far, so be sure to sign up for a professionally created

simulator from a PMI Registered Education Provider. Some PMP exam study guides also come

with a CD or DVD which contain questions.

5. Podcasts

Podcasts can be in audio or video format. A PMP podcast is very easy to carry around with you and

has the benefit that you can listen to or watch it wherever you are. Some of these are so elaborate Continued on next page.

Page 8 Volume 4, Issue 2

Continued from previous page.

that they actually fall into PMI’s Category F (“distance learning”) for PMP Exam preparation

courses and even offer 35 contact hours.

6. Flash cards

Flash cards allow you to study and memorize the concepts that you need to know for the exam. You

can make your own and carry them with you at all times, so you can test yourself in spare mo-

ments. Another alternative is electronic cards that you can use on your phone.

7. Apps

Apps are becoming more and more popular and there are lots to choose from. For example, there

are games that teach you the ITTOs, there are apps that teach concepts with mnemonics and oth-

ers that test you with questions. Check out the iTunes app store for additional ideas.

8. Formula study guides

Study guides for PMP formulas are a precision tool. They will help you review and learn the formu-

las required for the exam in a way that makes it easier to recall them under pressure.

9. Lessons Learned

Don’t underestimate what you can learn from others. Talking to colleagues who already have their

PMP certification can be an invaluable resource. If you can’t talk to anyone, read what others have

to say about how they studied, what they studied and what their experience was like. You could

also get a mentor to help you prepare, and learn from his or her experiences too.

10. PMI Chapter

This is the spirit level of the toolkit, helping you stay centered and motivated. Tap into your col-

leagues at your local PMI Chapter. They may have a study group that you could join. At a mini-

mum, you’ll be able to talk to PMPs about how they managed their journey to PMP certification.

11. Brain dump sheets

A brain dump sheet is a way to recall information under exam conditions. It’s a personal study tool

that you can shape to fit the way you study best, and it’s becoming more popular. Create a sheet of

paper with all the key information on and then practice writing it out until it’s second nature. Then

you simply have to do that in the exam and all the key information will be at your fingertips!

12. Internet forums

There is lots of information on internet forums – and many of them are free. Chat to other students

about how their exam preparation is going, or ask advice from seasoned PMPs.

Whatever tools you choose, it is important to study regularly. Try to spend some time on your PMP

studies every day. The study materials you buy should reflect the fact that you’ll be using them on

a daily basis, so that might influence what you invest in. Tools like electronic versions of flash

Continued on next page.

Volume 4, Issue 2 Page 9

Continued from previous page.

cards, books and guides are very portable and can be used whenever you have a spare moment.

Finally, studying for your PMP is a difficult job, so choose PMP materials that you enjoy using and

find fun! That will make your revision more enjoyable and the PMP credential an achievable tar-

get.

About the author: Cornelius Fichtner, PMP is a noted PMP expert. He has helped over 16,000 stu-

dents prepare for the PMP Exam with The Project Management PrepCast and offers one of the

Best PMP Exam Simulators on the market.

Summary:

There are many PMP exam preparation tools on the market that aim to help you pass the PMP ex-

am. This article looks at the 12 most popular types of PMP study materials.

Keywords:

PMP, PMP Exam, PMP Exam Prep, PMP exam prep material, PMP certificate, PMP Certification,

Project Management Professional, PMI, Project Management Institute, PMP Study Materials.

About the Author:

If you do not include the “About the author” segment as part of your newsletter, then please use the

following at the beginning of the article:

By Cornelius Fichtner, PMP - Making the PMBOK® Guide fun.

Thank you.

An image of the Author can be found at

http://www.project-management-prepcast.com/images/images/cornelius_fichtner_1.jpg

Business Benefits Realisation – The Unfortunate Truth

By Craig Wilkins, Gareth Byatt, Gary Hamilton, and Jeff Hodgkinson

Gareth, Gary and Jeff would like to thank Craig for agreeing to partner with us and share his ex-

pertise as the primary author for this article.

Business Benefits Realisation for programs and projects should be tackled very early in their

lifecycle. A concerted effort towards the management of business benefits realisation is key to the

success of programs and projects.

The Current Scenario Business Perspective

Business benefits realisation (BBR) is a process which is sometimes practiced, and often hypothe-

sised about. However, the unfortunate truth is that more often than not, the business case proposi-

tion is not analysed post-program or project to verify whether the benefits are being realised – and

what happens if they are not.

Continued on next page.

Page 10 Volume 4, Issue 2

Continued from previous page.

Project Management Perspective

The traditional role of the Program or Project Manager (PM) is to deliver an outcome of some sort. The PM is

typically not tasked with identifying benefits, nor do they remain active in the program/project when the time ar-

rives to harvest those benefits. The responsibility of “harvesting the benefits” is passed back to the business or, if

pertinent, back to the program of which the project was a part.

It is imperative for the PM to be cognizant of the benefits their project has set out to gain, and, as such, all ad-

vanced PMs should be acutely aware of the benefits’ lifecycle and to know their role in that lifecycle.

A Story on Benefits: the Business Perspective

Imagine this scenario: a business intends to invest capital in an idea that its management believes will improve

efficiency and increase customer satisfaction, which will, in turn, generate new business. A business case is de-

veloped which focuses on the opportunities and is so well-structured that the financiers approve it to proceed.

They hand this opportunity over to the program office to deliver but, to keep it tight, they set definitive time and

financial constraints to prevent the project from squandering their profits.

The program and project team works incredibly hard to deliver and, with a few challenges along the way, they

succeed. Everyone is happy; they have a post-implementation celebration and the product is handed over to the

business to manage and maintain. All the business has to do to ensure that the profits will come rolling in is to

keep the financiers happy and be certain that their staff is trained in the new product.

Morale is high and the executives want to move on to their next opportunity. However, the financiers stop them in

their tracks by asking: ”Can you provide us with evidence proving your last investment is reaping the rewards

you anticipated?” The executives reply: “Well, the product was implemented on time and we didn’t waste any of

the money you lent us, we have trained staff and happy clients utilising the system. We are paying you back the

agreed amount, so that’s a proven success isn’t it?” The financier replies “Yes, that sounds like a success story;

however, we would like to see exactly how much more income your organisation is booking since the launch of

your new product, and the percentage client growth this product has provided. If you can show us these figures,

we will be happy to partner with you in this new venture. This new business case looks appealing.”

The Executives think for a while before responding “Yes, I’m sure we have that information somewhere; we will

speak to our people and prepare a report for you. What does your calendar look like in two days? We can get

something to you by then.”

And so it begins . . . the scramble to reverse engineer some random numbers and search high and low for the ben-

efits.

A Story on Benefits: the Project Management Perspective

“Right, let’s get the best team we have available and design this new product. We have a definitive completion

timeframe and a set budget; I am certain we will make this happen”.

After a lot of hard work, long hours and stress, the product is delivered. However, we didn’t have enough time

nor money so we only implemented 80% of the required functionality. But, hey, what a product! We met most of

our delivery constraints. Well done to all; let’s have a celebration to share our success story.

Three months later, the PM is in an interview for a new role. The interviewer asks the PM: “Was you last project

was a success?” The PM responds honestly: ”Yes, the product was implemented on time and we didn’t waste any

of the budget. We developed a well-trained staff and there are happy clients utilising the system. That’s a success,

isn’t it?”

The interviewer retorts, “Yes, that does seem impressive, but did the project reap the business benefit it set out to

achieve?”

Continued on next page.

Volume 4, Issue 2 Page 11

Continued from previous page.

The PM replies: ”That is not a PM’s task, you know, to identify and then measure the benefits. That is what man-

agement is for. I am certain they have that data somewhere; surely we would have been told if it hadn’t met the

benefits.”

He didn’t get the new role.

The concept of Business Benefits Realisation (BBR)

Businesses can and should measure their return on investment post program/project (throughout the lifecycle of

the product) to verify a good or a bad decision as a result of the information provided to them in the business case,

and to learn from their decisions. Early in the life of the project, a benefits realisation plan should be created that

details expected benefits of the project, and if relevant, how they align to the benefits of a “parent program”. It is

important to consider both “hard” business benefits as well as “soft” benefits. Often it is easier to agree soft, in-

tended benefits rather than hard numbers (not just financial numbers, it could include specific time saving im-

provements or percentage improvement in coverage of processes, for example). The program/project manager

should own the benefits realisation plan throughout the life of the program/project, and transition it to a business

owner at the appropriate time, to manage the benefits through the product lifecycle.

This is the concept of Business Benefits Realisation (BBR).

Benefits can and should be documented in a plan, not just discussed. If the results are positive, well done; your

decision-making processes are working and your forecasting techniques are sound. If the results are negative, you

have a method of identifying exactly where you went wrong and the ability to rectify the process in order for this

not to reoccur. If you cast your mind back to the second reason companies take on project management process,

this would be a success, wouldn’t it?

How do you perform Business Benefits Realisation?

The answer is simple – you plan for it and realise that it will take some time. As with any solid process, an organi-

sational process, guidelines and template(s) should be available to assist staff in meeting corporate expectations.

The template is like a hybrid of a business case and a simple project plan. The focus is to flesh out the tangible

benefits that will be “baked into” future business plans, utilising the expected outcomes as a base and attributing

an owner and hence a value to each benefit. It is crucial to identify real, tangible benefits, and not too many of

them (too many benefits means too many things to track in future).

The BBR has its lifecycle which must be overseen by a senior staff member for management until completion.

This is management to the end of the life of the product as per the business case, not the end of the project life cy-

cle.

The benefits will have a realisation timeline, and some may kick in earlier than others. This realisation schedule is

monitored and measured by the overall BBR owner and each specific benefit owner. There may be KPIs for them

to achieve. As each anticipated benefit has been realised, the actual value of the benefit is measured against the

planned value to obtain a variance (if any) in value as proposed in the business case. In order to do this successful-

ly, a governance and reward process must be applied to the BBR. If a manager is remunerated on the basis of the

success of their BBR process, they may actually pursue the benefits the project has delivered with enthusiasm.

Common sense and strong business acumen should prevail when managing benefits.

Conclusion

In summary, the ultimate achievement of program and project success entails a great deal more than successfully

delivering the investment initiative to meet time, cost and scope. It includes meeting the business benefits as pro-

posed during the initial business case. A well-written business case is essential, as is a structured approach to en-

suring the benefits lifecycle is planned, measured and tracked to the end. This is not necessarily the domain of

Continued on next page.

Page 12 Volume 4, Issue 2

Continued from previous page.

the program or project manager; however, the astute PM should be aware of the benefits lifecycle and the rele-

vance of their program or project to the success of their organisational strategic goals – and know how they can

play their part in making it happen. We would really like to hear from you if you have any feedback, a story to tell

us or a specific topic you would like us to use in a future article. If so, please email us at Contac-

tus@pmoracles.com.

About

The

Article

Authors,

Their Roles

Their Plans,

And Their Goals

Gareth Byatt, Gary Hamilton, and Jeff Hodgkinson are experienced PMO, program, and project managers who developed a mutual friendship by realising we shared a common passion to help others and share knowledge about PMO, portfolio, program and project management (collectively termed PM below). In February 2010 we decided to collaborate on a three (3) year goal to write 50 PM subject articles for publication in any/all PM subject websites, newsletters, and professional magazines / journals. Readership of the articles is continuously increasing and we are fortunate to have assistance from people around the world who have taken the time to translate our articles into Arabic, Czechoslovakian, French, German, Indonesia, Italian, Korean, Spanish, Portuguese, and Russian for their readers. Our articles are published on websites in 30 countries including Australia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Costa Rica, Czech Republic, Finland, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Italy, India, Jamaica, Jordan, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nigeria, Pakistan, Panama, Poland, Portugal, Russia, Singapore, South Korea, Spain, Sri Lanka, Trinidad, Turkey, UK, Ukraine and the USA. Our mission with these articles is to help expand good PMO, program, and project management practices by promoting the PM profession, to be a positive influence to the PM Community, be known as eminent influencers of good PM practic-es, and in earnest hope readers can gain benefit from the advice of their 66+ years of combined experience plus the ex-pertise of co-authors who kindly write with us on particular subjects. As of December, 2011, we have been published over 500 times! Along with writing articles, each also champions a role in the overall writing program collaboration process: Gareth manages all requests for additional guest author collaborations Gary manages the article development tracking and readership metrics Jeff manages the article distribution and new readership demographics Each of us can be contacted for advice, coaching, collaboration, and speaking individually as noted in their bios or as a

team at: Contactus@pmoracles.com

Craig Wilkins (PMP, MPM) has over 25 years of experience in the Information Technology and Telecommunications indus-try, of which the last 17 years have been in the application of program and project management practices. Craig has been assisting and guiding global organisations in their pursuit of efficient program and project management practices for the

past 11 years.

Craig is a vocal advocate of proactive risk management and has a keen interest in the business benefits lifecycle. Current-ly, he is actively campaigning to promote the practice of benefits harvesting post project to allow the business to ascertain

the level of success of their financial investments. Email Craig craig@wilkins.com.au.

Gareth Byatt has 16+ years of experience in project, program and PMO management in IT and construction for Lend Lease. Gareth has worked in several countries and lives in Sydney, Australia. He can be contacted through LinkedIn. Gareth holds numerous degrees, certifications, and credentials in program and project management as follows: an MBA from one of the world’s leading education establishments, a 1st-class undergraduate management degree, and the PMP®, PgMP®, PMI-RMP®, PMI-SP® & PRINCE2 professional certifications. Gareth is a past Director of the PMI Sydney Chapter, he is currently the APAC Region Director for the PMI’s PMO Community of Practice and he chairs several peer networking

groups.

He has presented on PMOs, portfolio and program and project management at international conferences in the UK, Aus-

tralia, & Asia including PMI APAC in 2010. Email Gareth: gareth.byatt@gmail.com

Gary Hamilton has 17+ years of project and program management experience in IT, finance, and human resources and volunteers as the VP of Professional Development for the PMI East Tennessee chapter. Gary is a 2009 & 2010 Presi-dents’ Volunteer Award recipient for his charitable work with local fire services and professional groups. He has won sev-eral internal awards for results achieved from projects and programs he managed as well as being named one of the Busi-ness Journal’s Top 40 Professionals in 2007. Gary is the 5th person globally to obtain the six PMI credentials PgMP®, PMP®, PMI-RMP®, PMI-SP®, PMI-ACP®, and CAPM®. In addition to these, Gary holds numerous other degrees and certi-fications in IT, management, and project management and they include: an advanced MBA degree in finance, Project+, PRINCE2, MSP, ITIL-F, MCTS (SharePoint), MCITP (Project), CSM (Certified Scrum Master), and Six Sigma GB profes-

sional certifications. Email Gary: Gary@PMOracles.com or contact him through LinkedIn.

About the Author continued on next page.

Volume 4, Issue 2 Page 13

Jeff Hodgkinson is a 32+ year veteran of Intel Corporation, where he continues on a progressive career as a senior program/project manager. Jeff is an IT@Intel SME and blogs on Intel’s Community for IT Professionals for Pro-gram/Project Management subjects and interests. He is also the Intel IT PMO PMI Credential Mentor supporting col-leagues in pursuit of a new credential. Jeff received the 2010 PMI (Project Management Institute) Distinguished Contri-bution Award for his support of the Project Management profession from the Project Management Institute. Jeff was the 2nd place finalist for the 2011 Kerzner Award and was also the 2nd place finalist for the 2009 Kerzner International Pro-ject Manager of the Year Award TM. He also received the 2011 GPM™ Sustainability Award. He lives in Mesa, Arizona, USA and is a member of Phoenix PMI Chapter. Because of his contributions to helping people achieve their goals, he is the third (3rd) most recommended person on LinkedIn with 590+ recommendations, and is ranked 72nd most networked LinkedIn person. He gladly accepts all connection invite requests from PM practitioners at: www.linkedin.com/in/jeffhodgkinson. Jeff holds numerous certifications and credentials in program and project manage-ment, which are as follows: CAPM®, CCS, CDT, CPC™, CIPM™, CPPM–Level 10, CDRP, CSM™, CSQE, GPM™, IPMA-B®, ITIL-F, MPM™, PME™, PMOC, PMP®, PgMP®, PMI-RMP®, PMI-SP®, PMW, and SSGB. Jeff is an expert at program and project management principles and best practices. He enjoys sharing his experiences with audiences

around the globe as a keynote speaker at various PM events. Email Jeff: jghmesa@gmail.com

Why You Need To Practice With A PMP Exam Simulator

By Cornelius Fichtner, PMP

You have studied the PMBOK® Guide; you have read numerous additional study materials; you believe

you have a good handle on project management theories and the application of those theories; and you

feel as if you are ready to take the Project Management Professional (PMP)® exam. There is just one

thing that keeps lingering in the back of your mind…the PMP Exam consists of 200 multiple choice

questions that must be answered in 4 hours.

How is someone to prepare for answering 200 multiple choice questions in just four hours? That

equates to just over one minute of allotted time per question. This can be an intimidating to even the best

test takers.

There are many free PMP Exam Questions on the market, and free can be good for some time, but in the

long run you do get what you pay for. Some of the risks of taking free exams are the exam questions may

not have been reviewed for accuracy by an expert on the exam, or it may not accurately represent the ex-

am taking experience you will face for the PMP Exam. A single webpage with a list of sample test ques-

tions does not accurately represent the actual PMP Exam testing environment. The PMP exam is a com-

puter based exam with specific features and functions you will want to be comfortable with prior to tak-

ing the exam. You will need to be able to focus solely on the 200 multiple choice questions in order to

complete the exam in the 4 hours allotted. Are you willing to risk your ability to pass the PMP Exam by using free exams that may have incorrect

questions / answers and may not be formatted as the PMP Exam is?

A PMP Exam Simulator offers the user the opportunity to experience a “real” exam environment prior to

sitting for the exam. Some benefits of an exam simulator over just using free PMP Exam Questions are:

1. You will feel more comfortable with the user interface of the exam. You will go into the ex-

am with an understanding of the look and feel of the exam. The exam will feel familiar which

will be one less thing to worry about when you are taking the PMP exam.

2. You will be calmer because you have done this so many times before. You will be accus-

tomed to how the exams features and functions which will let you focus more on the questions

than trying to understand the format of the exam. Continued on next page:

Page 14 Volume 4, Issue 2

Continue from previous page:

3. You will know how to pace yourself and be able to answer 200 questions in 4 hours. After

using the simulator you will have an understanding as to the pace in which you need to respond to

questions in order to answer all 200 in 4 hours. Being able to answer all questions will increase

the probability of you passing the exam.

4. You will be able to identify areas of strength and weakness. Following each exam you will be

able to identify the areas in which you need to spend some additional time studying for and the

areas in which you excel.

5. You will have the ability to take the exams on your schedule. Using a PMP Exam Simulator

allows you to take practice exams at times that fit your schedule...these can be taken any time you

have access to a computer with internet and 4 hours available.

6. You will become more and more confident with every sample exam you take. As you be-

come increasingly successful in taking the practice exams you will feel progressively confident in

your capability to pass the PMP Exam.

Investing in using a PMP Exam Simulator with professionally developed PMP Question will provide you

with a genuine exam experience; allow you to become accustomed to the exam interface; provide you

with a sense of calm due to familiarity with the test environment; prepare you to answer 200 multiple

choice questions in 4 hours; assist you in identifying areas which may need additional preparation; af-

fords you the ability to take practice exams on your schedule; and provide you with confidence in your

ability to pass the PMP Exam.

As you may suspect there are many PMP Exam Simulators on the market, and not all are created equal,

so you need to make sure you compare prior to making any purchase. To help you make a qualified deci-

sion on the best simulator to buy for you we have created a PMP Exam Simulator Selection Worksheet

that that can be downloaded from www.pm-exam-simulator.com/select. This worksheet has been de-

signed to help simplify the selection of the best PMP Exam Simulator for you.

About the author: Cornelius Fichtner, PMP is a noted PMP expert. He has helped over 17,000 students

prepare for the PMP exam with The Project Management PrepCast and offers one of the best PMP exam

simulators on the market.

Summary:

How is someone to prepare for 200 multiple choice questions that must be answered in four hours…that

is just over one minute per question. This can be intimidating to even the best test takers. PMP Exam

Simulators offer the user the opportunity to fully prepare for and experience a “real” exam environment

prior to sitting for the exam.

Keywords:

PMP, PMP Exam, PMP Exam Simulator, PMP Simulator, PMP Software, PMP Certificate, PMP Certifi-

cation, PMI, Project Management Institute, Project Management Professional

Volume 4, Issue 2 Page 15

Interesting article reprinted from the Defense AT&L July-August 2005 edition:

Page 16 Volume 4, Issue 2

Volume 4, Issue 2 Page 17

Page 18 Volume 4, Issue 2

NOT a member of PMI® or the Chapter?

When you become a PMI member, you’ll gain access to knowledge, networks and resources that can

help you to improve your work and advance your career in project management. Membership means

you’ll be recognized as someone who is:

Serious about professional and personal development

Enthusiastic about good practices in project management

Dedicated to practicing your profession in an ethical manner

All of these factors give you an edge in the job market and distinguish you to employers, colleagues

and stakeholders. Go to http://www.pmi.org/en/Membership/Membership-Benefits-of-

Membership.aspx for more details on how to become a member of PMI and the Emerald Coast FL

Chapter

Where do I take the PMP Exam? If you are not taking a PMP training class that includes taking the exam, you may be wondering

how/where you will take your test. The PMI website provides the name of the testing company but

not much more in the way of specifics. You might start your search using the following URL:

http://www.prometric.com/default.htm As you drill down to find a testing site, be aware that the one

most convenient for YOU may not be in Florida; for instance, the site in Mobile Alabama is more

convenient if you live near Pensacola. Another possibility is Tallahassee—depending on your loca-

tion.

Interested in forming a PMP Study Group?

Tom Lehmann, VP Professional Development would like to hear from you if you are interested in

participating in a study group to prepare for the PMP Exam. Some details remain to be resolved,

such as finding a suitable location; but the Board has access to study materials and is willing to

name a POC if sufficient interest is shown. Also, this would provide another way for current PMPs

to earn PDUs—by leading a session.

So—if you are interested in forming a PMP Study Group or leading a session, please contact Tom

Lehmann, PMP at: vpprofdevelopment@pmiemeraldcoastfl.org

PMI Emerald Coast FL Chapter Needs YOU!

If you are interested in volunteering, the Chapter has many opportunities for Volunteers and you can

earn PDUs at the same time. The Chapter has a continuous needs for volunteers to help board mem-

bers with planning and executing Chapter activities.

Volunteering is an excellent way to expand your contact network, and to increase your skills and

qualifications as a leader.

Board Members earn 10 PDUs for their service. Chapter volunteers also earn PDUs to help you meet

your continuing certification requirements for your PMP. However, having a PMP is NOT a prereq-

uisite!

Volume 4, Issue 2 Page 19

Chapter Website

www.pmiemeraldcoastfl.org

Check the website often for information regarding Chapter Events (and registration for Events),

Newsletters, as well as PDU-earning opportunities such as Webinars, Classes and Bootcamp sessions

that might be of interest to our members. You will also find the Monthly Training Session presenta-

tions on the website; these are posted within a day or so after the monthly membership meeting.

We encourage suggestions and other input regarding Newsletter and/or Website content. If you have

an item or an idea for Newsletter or Website content —please send it to: info@pmiemeraldcoastfl.org

Academic Resources To advance the teaching of project management in higher education, PMI offers a range of programs

and services for students, professors, researchers and educational institutions.

Student Resources: For students, PMI continues to develop educational resources to help them

achieve their academic goals. PMI also offers discounted student memberships, tuition scholarships,

professional credentials and the ability to get involved in communities to learn and network with oth-

er students and project management practitioners.

Faculty Resources: Classroom resources such as teaching case studies, journal articles, A Guide to

the Project Management Body of Knowledge and other global standards have proven invaluable to

instructors. PMI also offers a scholarly journal and research grant opportunities.

Institutional Resources: Because higher education plays an important role in advancing project man-

agement, PMI offers programs that give recognition to universities and colleges that meet quality

standards for project management education and training.

From: PMI website - see “Academic Resources” under “Academic Degree Accreditation” on the

“Career Development” page on the PMI.org website: www.pmi.org.

Chapter Communications

If you are receiving e-mail communications from the PMI Emerald Coast Florida Chapter - your

e-mail address is on our distribution list. You have been added to this list because - (1) you have

requested notification of chapter events (2) we have received notification from the PMI that you

have joined/renewed your membership in our chapter (includes contact info) and/or (3) you are a

PMI member in our area and we hope to interest you in an upcoming chapter event (including

Chapter Branch formation). Also—when you renew your membership - please ensure your con-

tact information is current!

It is not our intent to contact anyone who wishes to be excluded from our distribution list. If you

receive unwanted e-mail from the PMI Emerald Coast Florida Chapter- please contact the VP

Communications at vpcommunications@pmiemeraldcoastfl.org and request to be removed from

this distribution list.

For new members who may not yet be receiving chapter e-mail notices - depending on the day of

the month you join it may take a couple of weeks for us to receive your information from the PMI.

Please feel free to contact the VP Communications to have your e-mail address added to our dis-

tribution list rather than waiting for PMI to send us their notification.