Thanks To ALLAH I passed on 29th of July - Dallas, TX

Submitted by al3adi on Sun, 07/31/2011 - 10:04

First of All I would like to thank Allah for this success and my family for their support!. and my best regards to the people here in PMZILLA for their valued input.

My name is Badr Ali a Saudi studying in Denton, TX I will be returning the favor by dropping my key guide for success below. I have a different approach that will ease the memorization of the processes.

* Don’t worry about memorizing. You will eventually know and memorize almost everything once your finished.

** Give every 2 chapters 1 week at least.

*** Don’t force the information to get into your head. let it soak in. If you fell tired or sleepy go rest or sleep.

**** THE MAP:
Wouldn’t be easier if everything flows in a sequence? Yes, but unfortunately that’s not how project management works. Iterations and progressive elaboration is a key characteristic for most of the processes in Project Management. But there is a way to at least know where do things happen and memorizing the following will push you into understanding everything.
The way is to memorize RITA's 79 processes by adapting this great technique (You may feel overwhelmed but believe me it is common sense). I got this technique from a guy that wrote a review on RITA's 4th edition.[Referenced below].

It will stick in your head forever. AND THIS IS IT:
Initiation: 55
planning: 5856
execution: 5573
M&C: 4652
close: 332

Can you memorize these Numbers?
In the link below there is an excel sheet describing each set of numbers and what they represent. This will help you with most of the questions, especially the ones like:
"what happens next?" & "when do you perform ...?".

I will explain the initiation PG and do the same with the rest based on the excel sheet attached:
In Initiation you Have the "BIG PICTURE" and "MAKING A COMMITMENT" each one 5 processes:
5 processes called the BIG PICTURE:
            a- Assign PM.
            b-EEF.
            c- OPA
            d- Understand Business Case.
            e- Divide project into Phases.
and
5 Processes called MAKE A COMMITMENT:
            a- Identify Initial Risks and Requirements.
            b- Develop Measurable Objectives.
            c- Create the Project Charter
            d- Identify Stakeholders
            e- Develop Stakeholder Management Strategy

If You look close it is common sense to look at the big picture first and then make a commitment. Right?
This is how it goes on. Continue in the same way for all the processes in the excel sheet and write them down every night as a map that guides you through studying.
***** After That, start studying by reading the Knowledge Area’s and their processes from PMBOK and understanding the explanation of them from RITA’s PREP BOOK 4th Edition, and answering all the questions at the end of each chapter.
****** Ask yourself WHAT, WHY, WHEN, HOW? for each KA and Process. If you can answer them you are good to go.
******* SIMUALTION EXAMS and FASTRACK are very important to get the feel of the exam, build your confidence and to find gaps in your knowledge.