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Recently, I received a copy the 5th edition PMP Project Management Professional Exam Review Guide. It is the companion text to the Review Guide. It has been fully updated for the 4th Edition of the PMBoK.
Kim Heldman’s book, which has over 600 pages and includes two hours of audio on the CD, is a heavy text. It’s necessary, as it covers all aspects of the PMP syllabus in great detail. There are also exam tips.
Heldman’s writing style is great. She does a great job of explaining the seemingly boring concepts that make up project management in a way that is interesting to the reader. The book is not for everyone. It is important to be interested in project management, but you don’t have to be a PMP candidate to enjoy it. This book is for beginners who need to learn the concepts.
The book covers the basics and the project charter, before spending some time discussing scope and requirements gathering. Chapters 4 & 5 discuss budgeting and scheduling. After those chapters are completed, Heldman continues to write about risk management, resource plan, managing a team, monitoring and controlling the work of others, and closing down a project. The book also includes sections on procurement management, professional responsibility, and other topics that are hot topics in the PMP exam.
Each section contains real-world scenarios, exam hints, and a final section that explains how the theory applies for the next project (or your current one, I suppose).
Heldman writes clearly about team management. This is not surprising considering that these topics are some her favourites.
She writes that while recognition and rewards can help build a team, they can also be detrimental to morale if there isn’t a set process or criteria for giving them out. Track who is being awarded throughout the project… Take into account cultural differences and individual preferences when giving out rewards and recognitions. Some people don’t like being recognized in front of others, while others love it. Some people are more open to a sincere thank-you, while others prefer a simple thank you with little fanfare. Others won’t accept individual rewards because their culture doesn’t allow them. This is what you should keep in mind when designing your reward system.
I would be more inclined to carry this book around if it were smaller and lighter. Unfortunately, that is not possible. The entire book is also available as a.pdf file. You can print out a few pages to review while on the train or take it with you on your computer.
This book and CD package are great if you’re looking for a comprehensive, interesting book to help you study for your PMP exam.
This review was first published on PMTips.net.
