Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

This book is a pretty good study companion to the PMBOK guide. I just took my PMP certification exam today and passed ! Below is my review on this book. If you are interested in how you might best prepare for the PMP exam - read on - further below. - this is a good study companion to the PMBOK guide. - it does have some tips for memorizing things (like math formulas, theories on motivating employees, etc.) -- I found these tips helpful for the most part - this book also has some tips on items to focus on (because higher chances of them being on the PMP exam) and those not to focus on too much (because lower chances of them being on the PMP exam - based on historical data) - This book - is a bit wordy - it probably weighs about 50 lbs (ok, I'm exaggerating) and has about 600 pages. - however, the wordiness is meant to make it less 'dry' it seems (try reading the PMBOK - now, that's dry) - chapter practice tests - were very helpful for me (it is how I best learn) ONE THING THAT I WOULD NOT RECOMMEND -- do not try to memorize the "Rita's Process Chart" - and don't bother with "Rita's Process game". Ugh - what a waste of time! I am a veteran Project manager (finally obtained my PMP after 27+ years in the field) -- and Rita's process is confusing and just not helpful at all. stick with the PMBOK version of the process/knowledge matrix table - it is far more reasonable. For those of you interested in learning how to best prepared for the PMP exam : Here is what I recommend - whether you are an experienced project mgmt veteran like me, or someone new to the field. 1) Absolutely - Get the PMBOK guide (if you are a PMI member, you can download the PDF version of the document for free from their website) 2) Get a second book as a study companion (I chose this book - Rita Mulchahy's) 3) Do not get anymore books. Two is more than enough. You won't have time to read more than two books!! these are hefty books! 4) Read the two books together - one chapter at a time. What I did was read a chapter in PMBOK - then I read the corresponding chapter in Rita's - then took the chapter test in the Rita's book 5) I did that one pass through with all the chapters. It took me about 2 months to get through the two books and the chapter tests (Studying on average 5-6 hours per week) 6) you should be getting about 75% correct on the rita's chapter tests by the time you schedule you exam date. Leave yourself couple of weeks for the final push. 7) During the two weeks leading up to your exam date - do the following : (plan on spending at least 2 hours every day to study - the last two days - I took the day off from work and just studied all day) a. refresh your memory and create a summary sheet (limit to 1 page) for each chapter of the PMBOK - with your own notes about the basic concepts and processes. Put notes in there that will help you memorize important facts, distinctions, and concepts you must understand. Keep these summary sheets as "working" notes as you do practice tests and learn concepts that you missed before b. During the two weeks memorize the folllowing two things (what I did was type them out on my PC - at least once a day for most of the two weeks) ; i - the PMBOK table that maps the process groups and knowledge areas - Table 3-1 in the PMBOK guide. as you memorize you will hopefully remember what happens in each process - and why they go in that order. ii - the math formulas - Rita's book has a summary sheet in the back section that was very helpful to help with memorization. But again try to think about what the formula is trying to calculate as you memorize them, instead of just blindly memorizing them. b. Retake the Rita's chapter tests - there are 14 chapters in this book - each with it's own tests. Figure out why you missed a question. You'd be surprised at how much you can learn and how everything comes together when you spend the time to research and understand your errors. You should be getting about 70-75% correct in these tests c. then go out there and find one or two good practice tests - google "PMP practice tests". There are many you can pay for -- and then there are a whole bunch of free ones. If you opt for the free ones (like I did) - choose carefully - and choose just 1 or 2. I started with the Oliver Lehmann's free practice tests - 175 practice questions - down loadable. took the practice exam without using any of my notes to test myself. then reviewed the questions that I missed or had to guess really hard at. Oliver Lehmann site provides references to look up for the rationale for the correct answer. anything new I learned - I added to my summary sheets. Then I took Oliver Lehmann's online free practice test (75 questions - with a timer to help pace yourself). Again - if I missed any questions or had to guess really hard, I researched it and tried to learn the concept that the question was trying to convey. Anything new i learned - I added to my summary sheet. d. I tried a few other free practice tests that are out there (Oliver Lehmann website lists many of the free ones on the internet) -- but I would tell you not to waste your time on them. Some of them had ridiculous questions that were overly difficult -- that did not reflect at all what the real PMP exam would ask. It will only discourage you. If you want to use free practice tests - I would only recommend the Oliver Lehmann's e. the night before or the morning of your PMP exam, look over your summary sheets that you have compiled over the two weeks - and study it. Review your practice questions and try to remember how the questions were asked. f. go the the test site - be positive - you've prepared hard for this and you will pass the exam! Good luck!