GUIDE TO

THE CHANGES IN
PMP - 2015

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Table of contents
Introduction the purpose of this manual 1

New Tasks: Initiating 3

New Tasks: Planning 4

New Tasks: Executing 6

New Tasks: Monitoring and controlling 7

New Tasks: Closing 8

Exam paper: module-wise weightage 9

Changes to Continuing Certification Requirements 10

Introduction
THE PURPOSE OF THIS MANUAL
If you have been preparing for the Project Management Professional
Certification exam, work as project manager, or even have only passing
interest in the field of Project Management, chances are youve likely
heard of the changes PMI the organization that administers the PMP
credential- has introduced to the exam, for 2015 and beyond.
And when it comes to an exam as tough as the PMP, staying up-to-date
with developments and changes is crucially important to tailor your prep accordingly.

knowledge area, an analysis of the PMP exam paper to arrive at a breakdown of weightage, by area,
and details of the changes to CCR requirements. Keep this guide at hand and within reach as you
prepare so you never lose sight of the end-objective: acing the exam on your first attempt!

WHY ARE THE CHANGES BEING IMPLEMENTED?

Every five to seven years, the Project Management Institute (PMI)
performs a Role Delineation Study (RDS), which is essentially a survey
of project managers worldwide, to identify the nature of tasks, roles,
and responsibilities they fulfil in organizations across sectors. The RDS
helps the PMI arrive at an accurate picture of the status of the Project
Management profession, and the skillset require to succeed as project
manager.
This information is then utilized to incorporate changes at source to ensure the PMP examination will
continue to assess what is relevant to practice as the profession evolves over time.
In the most recent survey, the RDS determined that the role of a PMP has evolved, thus necessitating
changes to the exam.

NOTE: The changes in PMP is only to the examination content outline,

and not to the PMBoK 5th edition.

NEW TASKS ADDED

There are five domains of practice for the PMP exam. While the
domains remain the same, additional tasks have been added to these
domains, while a few tasks have either been modified or removed.
Changes have also been made to several of the knowledge areas and
skills associated with certain tasks.

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 Domain 1 Initiating the Project
Tasks added: Task 2, Task 7, and Task 8

Domain 2 Planning the Project

Tasks added: Task 13

Domain 3 Executing the Project

Tasks added: Task 6, Task 7

Domain 4 Monitoring and Controlling the Project

Tasks added: Task 6, Task 7

Domain 5 Closing the Project

Tasks added: None

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Initiating
Task 1 Perform the project assessment based on the information available, lessons
learned from past projects, and holding stakeholder meetings in order to support
evaluation and feasibility of new products or services within the given
assumptions and/or constraints.

Task 2 Identify key deliverables that are based on business requirements that help in
managing customer expectations and direct achievement of project goals.

Task 3 By using appropriate techniques and tools, perform stakeholder analysis to meet
expectations and gain support for the project.

Task 4 Based on the current environment, historical data, organizational factors, and
expert judgment, identify high level risks, assumptions, and constraints to
propose an implementation strategy.

Task 5 By compiling and analyzing gathered information, participate in the

development of the project chapter to ensure project stakeholders are in
agreement on its elements.

Task 6 Attain project charter approval from the sponsor, for the purpose of formalizing
the authority assigned to the project manager and gaining acceptance and
commitment for the project.

Task 7 To validate the alignment of the project according to the organizational strategy
and expected value, conduct benefit analysis with relevant stakeholders.

Task 8 Ensure common understanding of the key deliverables, the milestones and roles
and responsibilities by informing stakeholders of the approved project charter.

KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS

Analytical skills

Benefit analysis techniques

Elements of a project charter

Estimation tools and techniques

Strategic management

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Planning
Task 1 Assess and review the detailed project requirements, assumptions and
constraints with stakeholders based on the project charter, learned lessons and
by the use of requirement gathering techniques to establish detailed project
deliverables.

Task 2 Based on the approved project scope and the use of use scope management
techniques, develop a scope management plan, to define, maintain, and manage
project scope.

Task 3 Based on Project scope, resources, schedule, approved project charter and other
information, develop the cost management plan while using estimating
techniques, to manage project costs

Task 4 Based on the approved project deliverables, scope, milestones and resources
management plans, develop the project schedule to manage timely completion of
the project.

Task 5 To create a project organizational structure and provide the required guidance
on how resources will be assigned and managed, develop the human resource
management plan by defining the roles and responsibilities of the project team
members.

Task 6 Based on the stakeholders requirements and project organizational structure,

develop the communications management plan to define and manage the flow of
project information.

Task 7 The procurement management plan should be developed based on the project
budget, scope, and schedule to ensure the project resources that are required
are available.

Task 8 Define the quality standards and develop the Quality Management plan for the
project, based on the project scope, risks, and requirements, to control the cost
of quality and to prevent the occurrence of defects.

Task 9 Define how changes will be addressed and controlled by developing the change
management plan to track and manage change.

Task 10 Risk Management should be planned for by developing a risk management plan
that will identify, analyze, and prioritize project risk; create the risk register; and
define risk response strategies to manage uncertainty and opportunity
throughout the project life cycle.

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Task 11 According to the applicable policies and procedures, present the project
management plan to the relevant stakeholders according to applicable policies
and procedures to obtain approval to proceed with project execution.

Task 12 Hold the kick off meeting, communicate the start of the project, the key
milestones and other relevant information to engage and inform the
stakeholders and gain commitment.

Task 13 By analyzing the needs, interests and potential impact, develop the stakeholder
management plan to effectively manage stakeholders expectations and engage
in project decisions.

KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS

Change management planning

Cost management planning, including project budgeting tools and techniques

Communications planning

Contract types and selection criteria

Estimation tools and techniques

Human Resource planning

Lean and efficiency principles

Procurement planning

Quality management planning

Requirements gathering techniques ( e.g. Planning sessions, brainstorming, and focus groups)

Regulatory and environmental impacts assessment planning

Risk management planning

Scope management planning

Stakeholder management planning

Time management planning, including scheduling tools and techniques

Workflow diagramming techniques

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Executing

Task 1 By following the Human Resource and Procurement Management Plans, manage
and acquire project resources to meet the requirements of the project.

Task 2 Based on the Project Management Plan, manage task execution by developing
and leading the project team to achieve project deliverables.

Task 3 Using the appropriate techniques and tools, implement the quality management
plan order to ensure that work is performed according to required standards

Task 4 By following the change management plan, implement approved changes and
corrective actions to meet project requirements

Task 5 Following the Risk Management plan, implement approved actions to minimize
the impact of the risks and take advantage of opportunities on the project.

Task 6 Following the Communication Plan, manage the flow of information by following
the communications plan to keep stakeholders informed and engaged.

Task 7 Following the Stakeholder Management Plan, maintain stakeholder relationships

by following the stakeholder management plan to receive continued support and
manage expectations

KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS

Continuous improvement processes

Contract management techniques

Elements of a statement of work

Interdependencies among project elements

Project budgeting tools and techniques

Quality standard tools

Vendor management techniques

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Monitoring and controlling
Task 1 Using appropriate techniques and tools, measure project performance to identify
and quantify any variances and corrective actions

Task 2 Following the Change Management Plan, manage changes to the project to
ensure project goals remain aligned with business needs

Task 3 By using appropriate techniques and tools, verify that project deliverables
conform to the quality standards established in the quality management plan to
meet project requirements and business needs

Task 4 Monitor and assess risk by determining whether exposure has changed and

of risks and opportunities on the project.

Task 5 Review the issue log, update if necessary, and finalize corrective actions by using
appropriate tools and techniques to minimize the impact on the project

Task 6 Capture, analyze and manage the lessons learned, with the use of the lessons
learned management techniques to enable continuous improvement

Task 7 According to the Procurement plan, monitor procurement activities to verify

compliance with project objectives.

KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS

Performance measurements and tracking techniques (e.g. EV, CPM, PERT, Trend Analysis)

Process analysis techniques (e.g. LEAN, Kanban , Six Sigma)

Project control limits (e.g. Thresholds, tolerance)

Project finance principles

Project monitoring tools and techniques

Project quality best practices and standards (e.g. ISO, BS, CMMI, IEEE)

Quality measurement tools (e.g. Statistical sampling, control charts, flow charting, inspection,
assessment)

Risk identification and analysis techniques

Risk response techniques

Quality validation and verification techniques

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Closing
Task 1 From relevant stakeholders, obtain final acceptance of the project deliverables to
confirm that the project scope and deliverables were achieved

Task 2 In accordance with the project plan, transfer the ownership of deliverables to the
assigned stakeholders to facilitate project closure.

Task 3 Using generally accepted policies and practices, obtain financial, legal, and
administrative closure to communicate formal project closure and ensure transfer
of liability

Task 4 According to the Communications Management plan, prepare and share the final
project report, to document and convey project performance and assist in project
evaluation.

Task 5 Conduct a comprehensive project review and collate and document lessons
learned throughout the project to update the organizations knowledge base.

Task 6 Using generally accepted policies and practices, archive project documents and
materials to comply with statutory requirements and for potential use in future
projects and audits.

Task 7 Using appropriate techniques and tools, and based on the stakeholder
Management plan, obtain feedback from relevant stakeholders to evaluate their
satisfaction

KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS

Archiving practices and statutes

Compliance (statute/ organization)

Contract closure requirements

Close out procedures

Feedback techniques

Performance measurement techniques (KPI and key success factors)

Project review techniques

Transition planning technique

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Exam Format Breakdown

slightly from the current version. Details are as follows.

31%

24% 25%

13%
7%

g g g g g
in in tin r in l i n g
at n u t o tr o l si n
t it i an ec i
n n Cl
o
In Pl Ex Mo co
d Total 100%
an

GRAPHIC ILLUSTRATING THE CHANGES TO WEIGHTAGE

NEW % of Items on Test

OLD % of Items on Test

30% 31%

24% 24% 25% 25%

13% 13%

8% 7%

g g g g
t in i ng t in o r in o l l i n in
g
ti ti a a nn e cu t
ni n t r lo
s
In Pl Ex Mo co C
d
an

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Changes to Continuing
Certification Requirements

PMI Talent Triangle. The framework for the CCR program remains the same. However, classification of
PDUs earned from two categories has undergone a change.

EDUCATION

60 PDUs required in this category: This change is to place emphasis on evolving employer
demanded skills.

These PDUs will be aligned with the PMI Talent Triangle

Minimum no. of PDUs must be earned in Technical Project Management, Leadership, and
Strategic and Business Management categories.

GIVING BACK

The maximum no of earned PDUs in this category has decreased.

The activities remain the same, i.e., Volunteering, Creating Knowledge and Working as a
Professional.

The total number of PDUs to be earned in Working as a Professional has decreased.

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Mark your Calendar

slightly from the current version. Details are as follows.

1st November, 2015: The last day to take the test under the current version of the PMP exam

11 January 2016: The revised version of the exam will come into play and the new CCR policy
will become applicable for all PMP certified professionals old and new.

In a nutshell
As a PMP candidate, you will only need to keep in mind the date of the exam change and the updates
to the exam outline. Education and experience eligibility will not change. All the other elements of
application and testing involved in certification will remain the same. If you wish to take the exam
under the current version of the PMP exam, you will have to appear before the 1st of November.

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