Monday Morning :

Source:Explosm.net

 This could happen at work, home or anywhere else where people jump into conclusions and not listen!

Good COMMUNICATION is the best solution for many of problems that we might face in our life!

‘Bhuvan’, which means earth in Sanskrit, is not just the Indian version of Google Earth and Wikimapia. The remote sensing 3D image portal something more than that – a strong answer to such mapping application websites. It is really a powerful tool as the Minister of State in the PMO Prithviraj Chavan called it.

The tool would offer pictures of the globe, just like Google Earth, and navigable in the same way but currently has the best resolutions over the Indian sub-continent. It allows users to fly from space to street level, grab, spin and zoom down to any place.

As mentioned on wikipedia

“Bhuvan displays better images of India than the ones relayed by Google Earth along with a number of other interesting features which include weather information and even administrative boundaries of all states and districts, relevant only to the country. Bhuvan is equally capable of offering images of the globe, but the best resolution area includes India at the moment. In the Indian subcontinent, Bhuvan will be able to display a picture from ten meters away that is; a commuter moving on the road can be easily spotted.”

Official website of Bhuvan

Sources: Indian express, wikipedia

Sample Questions:

Voightps : Set of 10 – 15 questions and provide reasoning for every answer, you can do this while taking small breaks at work, each test will not take more than 5 minutes. 2 test a day are good enough, identify the weak area and then make sure you clear your concepts.

Oliver
Lehman 75 questions: Not exactly as exam but good to identify gaps

Oliver Lehman 175 questions: In pdf format. These questions are more close to exam questions

Flashcards:

 Quizlet : Free PMP flashcards, I liked Rita’s process chart and PMP processes

Concepts:

Earned Value Analysis: I liked these videos as they are simple and do not complicate this concept.

Delegation :

• If you are a PMI member, you can access the book “The Human Aspects of Project Management: Organizing Projects for Success, Volume One” by Vijay Verma. Steps to access this book:
  1. Login to PMI resources page
  2. go to eRead and reference
  3. Search for this book
• Brief on Delegation topic in Deep Pink’s review of Vijay Varma’s “Organizing Projects for Success“. Refer Page 3

Once my application was selected for audit, I started my preparation using PMBOK as I assumed that I will not be able to appear before 30th June’09, however I got authorization to appear on June 11th and scheduled my exam for 25th June and later preponed it to 24th June’09. To be on point, what I learnt is that the concepts, logic and basics are same for both the guides, there are some changes in ITTO (Input – Tool – Techniques – Outputs) and in language, however if you are planning to cram ITTO then refer to latest PMBOK. Also, I feel the how you prepare for exam, your strategy and most of the questions will not change.

Here are the best sites which describe difference between two PMBOK’s. Please do add any good website which I missed out.

Websites:

Project Smart

Videos:

9 Minute clip describing the primary differences between the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK) Version 3 and Version 4

Webinars:

ESI

1. Strategy for PMP in 30 days:  60 Hours

2. Strategy for PMP in 60 days: 120 Hours

Also, you can read my exam strategy to be used on the day of exam.

I have been thinking of giving PMP exam for couple of years, but never prepared for it. One day in Feb’09, one of my friend mailed me that he has cleared the PMP exam with a message ” Pappu Pass ho gaya” (Kid cleared the exam). That day I asked congratulated me and he told me to stop being Lazy and I should also go ahead and get it, it’s worth it. So this instance triggered me to give a shot to PMP certification.
I reached to training department in my organization and asked them about PMP exam preparation courses (mandatory hours) and I was informed that they have tie up with cyberlearning to provide online Project management course which fulfills one of the eligibility requirements (mandatory 35 contact hours). If you are looking to get these mandatory hours at an optimum cost, I will recommend PMP prepcast. To know more about PMP prepcast, do read <”Benefits of PMP Prepcast”.>

Let’s begin the timeline.

May 15: I finally started uploading information to the PMP application interface on PMI website. I feel this step was not at all easy in terms of collecting all the information for last 5 years and then converting them in PMI format. Here comes the internet (especially Google) to my rescue. If you search on internet using a combination of these key words: “application, PMP, project, management, experience”, you will get so many articles and tolls (excel sheets) which can help you document your experience in a structured format. <Here is the List of some of these websites which provide good information on completing the PMP applications.> It took me 3 days of hard work to complete the application.

May 22: I submitted my application on PMI website and instantly got an email with subject “Your PMI credential application has been received” with a message that they will review and notify in next 5 business days to make the payment.

This is the day I started preparing for exam using Rita Mulcahy’s book.

May 27: A lot happened on this day. I received an email from PMI, after 5 days / 3 business days that my application has been reviewed and I can go ahead and make the payment for PMP examination. Now I had the two options while paying for the fee. Either I go ahead and pay a non member fee which was $ 555 or I take the membership, $129 and pay members fee which was $ 405. After evaluating benefits using a cost benefit analysis , I decided to take the membership and pay $129 + $ 405 for my exam. Why I took the membership? Please read my post on “Benefits of PMI membership”. So finally I made the payment and I got an email that payment is received, however you might be aware that as soon as you make the payment your application goes through a random application selection process. If you application is selected, then you have to follow PMI’s PMP application audit process and if you not then you are through and can schedule your exam.

I was unlucky to be selected for Audit process. There is nothing to be afraid of this audit process if you have filled the correct information in the application but this process delays your preparation and an unnecessary tension is there till the time you submit the documents and get an approval email. I lost lot of time here as I had to follow up with my ex-employers and project teams to get the required documents. I was not able to study during this time. There is not much available on 1st hand experience on PMP audit process, so I thought of posting my experience, if interested do read my post “My application selected for PMP audit”. Finally I submitted all the required documents and mailed them through registered post to PMI.

June 11: Last 14 days were tough as I was not aware when am I going to get approval from PMI and whether I will be able to give exam on PMBOK 3rd edition. On this day, finally got the email to schedule my exam, went through lot of tension, however I kept the faith continued my studies with PMBOK 3rd, still optimistic about 30th June deadline. As soon as I got the email, I reached out to Prometric website to schedule my exam, latest was June 25th and that too 80 miles. I selected that date as I wanted to give it before 30th June. I later preponed it to 24th June as a slot was available at Prometric center near my
place. Do read my post on selecting exam dates, “Tips to select exam dates”. Now, only 2 weeks to go.

June 24: Finally appeared for exam and cleared with Proficient in most of the areas. Initially thought, I will watch a good movie and take a good sleep.

To read about my strategy, please read  “PMP preparation Strategy” and “PMP exam strategy”

Prerequisite: To clear PMP in 30 days or 60 hours, you need to have some background that supports this short duration. This study plan is a very focused and need you experience and education to reduce the learning time. I have listed some prerequisite which I could have think of and is not exhaustive list, try to get the intent.

Experience:

• Good amount of experience in Project Management
• Experience in Team management or middle level management experience
• Attended in-house or external trainings on team management (or team building workshops), time management, vendor management, Quality methodologies, risk management, contract management.

Education:

• Any other certification like Six Sigma green belt or any other certification which prepares you on different aspects of management
• MBA
• Formal education in any of these areas: Project management, Quality management, Risk management, Vendor management

Intent of prerequisite: Basically What I mean here is that you have basic understandings of the terms used in these areas and what do they mean in real world. This will help you to clear your concepts faster than others.

Let’s start our planning, for easy planning convert a month into 4 weeks or 60 hours, now plan for following:

1. 1st round of studies, 2nd round of studies

Following points I have covered separately as they apply to full length preparation too

2. At least 3 good quality full tests and daily a 15 minute test

3. Study Material

4. Leisure time, this also include time which is wasted due to things happening around you.

Study Plan: 4 weeks or 60 hrs

What I did: My total study time was around 40 – 45 hours of intense study and total 60 hours (intense study + trying to study).I feel that anyone with good project management experience and management background can definitely do in 60 hours

Material used: PMBOK 3, Rita Mulcahy’s PMP Exam Prep, Couple of pages of Headfirst

Test Given: Pmstudy Free, Pmstudy paid, Oliver Lehman 175

ITTO: Did not cram and did not use braindump thing as I felt if I can remember till that time, I will remember in the exam too.

1. Week 1 or 20 hrs: 

Completed Rita Mulcahy’s PMP Exam prep as I didn’t had PMBOK at this point of time

Competed a Pre preparation test

Internet research to find free questions

Rita Mulcahy’s Book: I think this is one of the must have book. This book gives you a different way of studying and do not focus much on ITTO as it is in PMBOK. Rita provides reason behind the input and practice examples, keep you involved throughout the reading.

Recommendation:

If you can get hold of Headfirst book, read it. It’s easy and has a totally different approach to ITTO. Best part it provides you lot of visuals, so you are not bored. 

2. Week 2 or 2nd 20 hrs:

Split this 20 hours into 2 parts, first part for approx 15 hours to complete PMBOK; don’t worry if you do not remember each ITTO. Just give a complete reading to PMBOK. On average target 1 chapter in 1 hour i.e. 12 hours + buffer of 3 hours for difficult topics. In second part of this week, spend 5 hours trying to memorize ITTO. Read the word trying as most of you will not be able to cram it in this short time.

But even if you remember 50% of it, it’s a good start.  You will not get many straight questions from ITTO (may be 4-5 questions), however if you remember some of the ITTO at this stage, it will help you a lot in last 2 weeks. Please read my post on ITTO tips, <”PMP ITTO, worth cramming?”>

3. Week 3 or 3rd 20 hrs:

Now you have completed Rita and PMBOK but you do not remember lot of things, no worry. Just read both of them again in this week. Too much, it is not as by study hours I mean actual time you study not that you have book in front of you…… Just read again, you will feel as if you are reading for 1st time but your brain will start storing the information and you will answers the questions when it matter most. While reading Rita, try to relate the content to ITTOs, make logical relationships.

4. Week 4 or last 20 hours

Tip: Plan this week; make a list of topics that you are weak and how much time you need for each topic. Remember Law of Diminishing result, after certain knowledge about a topic, more study will not increase the score.

These 20 hours are to refresh what we have studies in past 3 weeks and focus on our weak areas. Give a full length test at the start of this week and one 3 days before the exam. The first test will give you the areas where you need to work, clear your concepts or cram.

Make sure you do all the formula based question given in the Rita’s book.

I recommend paid PMPStudy test ($ 20) for 1st full length test (at the start of week), this test may not be the similar to test what you get in exam, however this test will identify the areas you need to work upon as that is what you need. Remember no test can provide you exact questions as it will be against the PMI’s code of ethics and professional responsibility. Use this test to identify the areas you need to study and prepare yourself for 4 hour session of Question and answers on a computer and not to give you your scores before the actual test.

Do read the following posts as they provide my recommendations on material, managing your preparation time and PMP prep tests.

PMP prep tests

PMP Study Material

Managing Time for PMP exam

Good Luck, do let me know how did you do in you exam and share tips for other prospective students, remember “Lesson Learned” concept in PMP and your professional responsibility to share knowledge.

This demo — from Pattie Maes’ lab at MIT, spearheaded by Pranav Mistry — was the buzz of TED. It’s a wearable device with a projector that paves the way for profound interaction with our environment. Imagine “Minority Report” and then some.

Before sleeping, my husband said he wanted to eat Yummy Yummy “Chole” for his lunch. I was very happy as my husband rarely demand for food. I thought to make the best for him (i always try). So I soaked the chole.

My both mother & in law, have good hand in cooking, so I usually take help from them. This recipe came out too well and not only my husband but all his friends also like the chole’s which i make. Thanks to my both the mum’s!!!!

I use very less of spices and oil in all my dishes, and trust me its healthy as well as tasty!
So lets start….

Serving : 4 Adult

Ingredients:

250gm Chole or Chick pea

Chole (Chick Pea) Soaked in water

1cup green onion or red onion paste
1cup tomato puree or fresh tomato paste

Tomato & Onion paste

1tbs Garam Masala
1tbs chole masala
2tea spoon jeera
2 stick of Cinnamon
3-4 Cardamom/elachi

Spices for Chick Pea masala

5-6 Cloves
1 Bay leave
1/2tbs Tamarind paste
1/2tbs Ginger Garlic paste
3pinch of turmaric/Haldi Powder
1tbs Canola oil (can use vegetable/corn oil also)  Note: I have tried with all types, but it came out too good with canola oil. All the above oil helps in reducing bad cholestrol and improving the good cholestrol)
1 Chopped Green Chilly
Little Cilentro/Corriander leaves
Half cut lemon wedge.

Salt to taste

Paste and masala
Cut 2medium Onion and put it in a mixer.
Cut 2medium tomatoes and put it in a mixer.
Soak Tamarind in water,and squeeze the tamirind.Can use the tamarind paste from the market also.
For Masalas* Grind cloves,cinnamon sticks,cardamom,cloves

Procedure
1. Soak the Chole/chick peas in water, over night.Next day -Putthe water & chole/chick pea , in a pressure cooker.Add the bay leave & Tamarind paste. Pressure cook till one whistle.
2.In a pan,add canola oil.Wait till the oil becomes hot.Sprinkle the Jeera,chopped green chillies.Wait till the jeera turns golden brown,and the chilli turns down its colour)
3.Add the Onion paste & ginger garlic paste,and keep stiring.wait for few seconds,till the onions turns golden brown for red onions,and whitish for green onions.
4.Then add the tomato paste.wait for 2minutes,occassional stirring required.
5.Put the garam masala,chole masala,haldi,& masala’s* with salt to taste.
6.Keep stiring.
7.After 5minutes,add the chole,and mix well.
8.If required add little water.
9.Cook for about 10-15minutes.
 
Add Cilentro’s/Corriander leaves & squeeze half lemon & Serve hot with “Baturas/roti’s/jeera rice/plain rice”.

Happy Cooking

Also Read … Gherkins Yum Yum