Summary of Lots of Tricky PMP Questions (Direct from PMBOK 7th Edition) - Qs 21 to 30

Summary of "Lots of Tricky PMP Questions (Direct from PMBOK 7th Edition) - Qs 21 to 30"

This video presents a series of 10 scenario-based PMP practice questions directly referencing concepts from the PMBOK Guide 7th Edition. The focus is on applying project management knowledge, particularly emphasizing people-oriented skills, leadership, collaboration, and adaptive/Agile methodologies, reflecting the shift from the process-heavy PMBOK 6th Edition to a more principle-based and people-centric approach in the 7th Edition.

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Main Ideas, Concepts, and Lessons:

• Shift from Process to People Focus:
  • PMBOK 7th Edition emphasizes communication, collaboration, and leadership over rigid processes.
  • Agile principles and adaptive approaches are more prominent.
  • Team culture elements like positive discourse, respect, transparency, and celebrating success are critical.
• Handling Scope Changes:
  • When unexpected or unrelated scope is added by stakeholders, initiate an open dialogue to understand the context before raising change requests or escalating.
  • Collaboration and communication with functional managers are preferred over unilateral decisions.
  • Agile backlog prioritization can be a tool but should be combined with dialogue.
• Team Motivation and Leadership:
  • Establishing a clear project vision and purpose can increase intrinsic motivation.
  • Pairing team members with customers improves engagement and understanding.
  • Threats or punitive measures to improve performance are counterproductive and may worsen behavior.
• Conflict Management:
  • Facilitate respectful communication focusing on current issues rather than past blame.
  • Encourage joint problem-solving and adherence to agreed change control processes.
  • Conflict can be constructive if managed well.
• Distributed Teams:
  • Use technology (audio/video meetings, messaging, project websites) to maintain transparency and ongoing contact.
  • Daily stand-ups or co-location may not always be feasible; focus on collaboration tools and open communication.
  • Build time for remote team members to get to know each other.
• Development Approaches and Life Cycles:
  • Choose development approaches based on project context:
    • Predictive (Waterfall): Suitable for regulatory environments or projects with clear requirements and high oversight.
    • Iterative: Useful when solution ideas are uncertain but a single release is needed.
    • Adaptive (Agile): Best when requirements are complex, uncertain, and expected to change, with incremental deliveries.
    • Hybrid: Combines upfront planning with adaptive responses.
  • Understand delivery cadence; some projects (e.g., process re-engineering) may require single delivery rather than incremental releases.
• Agile Challenges and Solutions:
  • Sustainable pace is critical to avoid burnout; velocity should be an internal team metric, not a management tool for pressure.
  • Flow-based scheduling (e.g., Kanban) optimizes work based on capacity, limits work in progress, and reduces waste and context switching.
  • Kanban and flow scheduling can be alternatives to sprint-based velocity metrics.
• Project Initiation with Uncertain Methodology:
  • When unsure about the best approach (Waterfall vs. Agile), use general phase definitions (feasibility, design, build, test, deploy, close) as a framework.
  • These phases apply universally, but their execution varies by methodology (sequential for Waterfall, iterative for Agile).

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Detailed Methodologies / Instructions Highlighted:

1. Handling Unrelated Scope Additions:
   • Raise the issue of incorrect scope and impacts.
   • Start open dialogue with the functional manager.
   • If validated, raise a change request for formal consideration.
   • Use product backlog prioritization if Agile.
2. Improving Low-Performing, Union-Protected Teams:
   • Set a clear project purpose and vision.
   • Pair team members with customers to increase engagement.
   • Avoid threats or replacing the team hastily.
   • Transparency tools (Gantt, Burn down charts) may help but are secondary.
3. Managing Stakeholder Conflicts:
   • Facilitate respectful communication.
   • Focus on present issues, not past blame.
   • Search for alternatives collaboratively.
   • Agree on change control processes to prevent future disputes.
4. Managing Distributed Teams:
   • Use audio/video conferencing and messaging tools.
   • Maintain an open project website for transparency.
   • Build time for remote team bonding.
   • Avoid impractical solutions like co-location unless feasible.
5. Selecting Development Approaches:
   • Predictive for regulatory-heavy projects.
   • Iterative for uncertain solutions needing one final release.
   • Adaptive for complex, changing requirements needing incremental delivery.
   • Hybrid to combine upfront planning with flexibility.
6. Addressing Agile Resistance and Velocity Misuse:
   • Avoid forcing teams to work faster using velocity as pressure.
   • Implement flow-based scheduling (Kanban) with WIP limits.
   • Use visual management to optimize work flow and reduce context switching.

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Educational

Video