Comments on: Book Review: Rita Mulcahy’s Hot Topics – Flashcards for passing the PMP and CAPM exams http://pmstudent.com/book-review-rita-mulcahys-hot-topics-%e2%80%93-flashcards-for-passing-the-pmp-and-capm-exams/ Helping new and aspiring project managers reach their career goals! Thu, 09 Feb 2012 14:27:12 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: casual observer http://pmstudent.com/book-review-rita-mulcahys-hot-topics-%e2%80%93-flashcards-for-passing-the-pmp-and-capm-exams/#comment-11910 casual observer Tue, 04 Aug 2009 21:38:21 +0000 http://pmstudent.com/?p=1390#comment-11910 Dr. PDG, I am just going to make a casual observation from an outsider's viewpoint. It appears to me that you are threatened by these pedigrees granted by non university instititutions. I do not blame you...I would be too. Who would want to spend a hundred thousand dollars and 10+ years only to be percieved as being less than qualified than someone with a PMP? Rarely have I seen a case in project management (oil refining/petrochemical industry) where the guy with the master's degree is any better than the guy who has no formal education. If anything, I hire the guys with less education because they have spent thier time actually practicing project management rather than sitting in a classroom listening to a professor talk about it. I agree that there are certain principles that need to be known in order for a person to function at the top level, but these are things that can be learned by being on the job in most cases. There is one more variable in this equation that no one has mentioned. Some people are natural leaders and have the organization, leadership, and people skills far beyond what can be learned in any academic setting. I know many companies who have changed thier thinking when it comes to project management and are now hiring and promoting thier PM's from the field. The field is a place where people actually do real work (shocking, I know). I agree with this philosophy and I hire guys who used to turn wrenches vs guys who used to turn pages anyday of the week. They get it done. Casual Observer, sweating in TX Dr. PDG,
I am just going to make a casual observation from an outsider’s viewpoint. It appears to me that you are threatened by these pedigrees granted by non university instititutions. I do not blame you…I would be too. Who would want to spend a hundred thousand dollars and 10+ years only to be percieved as being less than qualified than someone with a PMP? Rarely have I seen a case in project management (oil refining/petrochemical industry) where the guy with the master’s degree is any better than the guy who has no formal education. If anything, I hire the guys with less education because they have spent thier time actually practicing project management rather than sitting in a classroom listening to a professor talk about it. I agree that there are certain principles that need to be known in order for a person to function at the top level, but these are things that can be learned by being on the job in most cases. There is one more variable in this equation that no one has mentioned. Some people are natural leaders and have the organization, leadership, and people skills far beyond what can be learned in any academic setting. I know many companies who have changed thier thinking when it comes to project management and are now hiring and promoting thier PM’s from the field. The field is a place where people actually do real work (shocking, I know). I agree with this philosophy and I hire guys who used to turn wrenches vs guys who used to turn pages anyday of the week. They get it done.

Casual Observer, sweating in TX

]]> By: casual observer http://pmstudent.com/book-review-rita-mulcahys-hot-topics-%e2%80%93-flashcards-for-passing-the-pmp-and-capm-exams/#comment-24636 casual observer Tue, 04 Aug 2009 21:38:00 +0000 http://pmstudent.com/?p=1390#comment-24636 Dr. PDG, I am just going to make a casual observation from an outsider's viewpoint. It appears to me that you are threatened by these pedigrees granted by non university instititutions. I do not blame you...I would be too. Who would want to spend a hundred thousand dollars and 10+ years only to be percieved as being less than qualified than someone with a PMP? Rarely have I seen a case in project management (oil refining/petrochemical industry) where the guy with the master's degree is any better than the guy who has no formal education. If anything, I hire the guys with less education because they have spent thier time actually practicing project management rather than sitting in a classroom listening to a professor talk about it. I agree that there are certain principles that need to be known in order for a person to function at the top level, but these are things that can be learned by being on the job in most cases. There is one more variable in this equation that no one has mentioned. Some people are natural leaders and have the organization, leadership, and people skills far beyond what can be learned in any academic setting. I know many companies who have changed thier thinking when it comes to project management and are now hiring and promoting thier PM's from the field. The field is a place where people actually do real work (shocking, I know). I agree with this philosophy and I hire guys who used to turn wrenches vs guys who used to turn pages anyday of the week. They get it done. Casual Observer, sweating in TX Dr. PDG,
I am just going to make a casual observation from an outsider’s viewpoint. It appears to me that you are threatened by these pedigrees granted by non university instititutions. I do not blame you…I would be too. Who would want to spend a hundred thousand dollars and 10+ years only to be percieved as being less than qualified than someone with a PMP? Rarely have I seen a case in project management (oil refining/petrochemical industry) where the guy with the master’s degree is any better than the guy who has no formal education. If anything, I hire the guys with less education because they have spent thier time actually practicing project management rather than sitting in a classroom listening to a professor talk about it. I agree that there are certain principles that need to be known in order for a person to function at the top level, but these are things that can be learned by being on the job in most cases. There is one more variable in this equation that no one has mentioned. Some people are natural leaders and have the organization, leadership, and people skills far beyond what can be learned in any academic setting. I know many companies who have changed thier thinking when it comes to project management and are now hiring and promoting thier PM’s from the field. The field is a place where people actually do real work (shocking, I know). I agree with this philosophy and I hire guys who used to turn wrenches vs guys who used to turn pages anyday of the week. They get it done.

Casual Observer, sweating in TX

]]> By: Dr. PDG http://pmstudent.com/book-review-rita-mulcahys-hot-topics-%e2%80%93-flashcards-for-passing-the-pmp-and-capm-exams/#comment-4616 Dr. PDG Wed, 24 Dec 2008 14:11:46 +0000 http://pmstudent.com/?p=1390#comment-4616 Hi Karine, While passing your PMP may be a logical "first step", given the business you are in, I would urge you to consider exactly how much value should be placed on a certification that requires no evidence that you have ever completed a project "successfully"; That requires only 35 hours of training and that training can be obtained by reading a book or listening to a 35 hour podcast; And which consists of a 200 question, multiple choice exam, of which only 175 actually count,and requires a passing grade of only ~62%? Bottom line here- given you are creating a "methodology", I would hope you view the PMP as the first step towards earning a true COMPETENCY credential, or better yet, why not get a degree in Project/Program Management if you want to be taken seriously as a professional practitioner? BR, Dr. PDG, freezing in Boston Hi Karine,
While passing your PMP may be a logical “first step”, given the business you are in, I would urge you to consider exactly how much value should be placed on a certification that requires no evidence that you have ever completed a project “successfully”; That requires only 35 hours of training and that training can be obtained by reading a book or listening to a 35 hour podcast; And which consists of a 200 question, multiple choice exam, of which only 175 actually count,and requires a passing grade of only ~62%?

Bottom line here- given you are creating a “methodology”, I would hope you view the PMP as the first step towards earning a true COMPETENCY credential, or better yet, why not get a degree in Project/Program Management if you want to be taken seriously as a professional practitioner?

BR,
Dr. PDG, freezing in Boston

]]> By: Dr. PDG http://pmstudent.com/book-review-rita-mulcahys-hot-topics-%e2%80%93-flashcards-for-passing-the-pmp-and-capm-exams/#comment-24635 Dr. PDG Wed, 24 Dec 2008 14:11:00 +0000 http://pmstudent.com/?p=1390#comment-24635 Hi Karine, While passing your PMP may be a logical "first step", given the business you are in, I would urge you to consider exactly how much value should be placed on a certification that requires no evidence that you have ever completed a project "successfully"; That requires only 35 hours of training and that training can be obtained by reading a book or listening to a 35 hour podcast; And which consists of a 200 question, multiple choice exam, of which only 175 actually count,and requires a passing grade of only ~62%? Bottom line here- given you are creating a "methodology", I would hope you view the PMP as the first step towards earning a true COMPETENCY credential, or better yet, why not get a degree in Project/Program Management if you want to be taken seriously as a professional practitioner? BR, Dr. PDG, freezing in Boston Hi Karine,
While passing your PMP may be a logical “first step”, given the business you are in, I would urge you to consider exactly how much value should be placed on a certification that requires no evidence that you have ever completed a project “successfully”; That requires only 35 hours of training and that training can be obtained by reading a book or listening to a 35 hour podcast; And which consists of a 200 question, multiple choice exam, of which only 175 actually count,and requires a passing grade of only ~62%?

Bottom line here- given you are creating a “methodology”, I would hope you view the PMP as the first step towards earning a true COMPETENCY credential, or better yet, why not get a degree in Project/Program Management if you want to be taken seriously as a professional practitioner?

BR,
Dr. PDG, freezing in Boston

]]> By: Charing Townsend http://pmstudent.com/book-review-rita-mulcahys-hot-topics-%e2%80%93-flashcards-for-passing-the-pmp-and-capm-exams/#comment-4581 Charing Townsend Tue, 23 Dec 2008 17:14:56 +0000 http://pmstudent.com/?p=1390#comment-4581 I also used Rita's flashcards to study for the PMP exam. I found them very helpful because they were open ended questions, not multiple choice. They forced me to really think about each of the topics presented and formulate better, more defined answers. I'd highly recommend these to use during your spare time to help keep you sharp! I also used Rita’s flashcards to study for the PMP exam. I found them very helpful because they were open ended questions, not multiple choice. They forced me to really think about each of the topics presented and formulate better, more defined answers. I’d highly recommend these to use during your spare time to help keep you sharp!

]]> By: Charing Townsend http://pmstudent.com/book-review-rita-mulcahys-hot-topics-%e2%80%93-flashcards-for-passing-the-pmp-and-capm-exams/#comment-24634 Charing Townsend Tue, 23 Dec 2008 17:14:00 +0000 http://pmstudent.com/?p=1390#comment-24634 I also used Rita's flashcards to study for the PMP exam. I found them very helpful because they were open ended questions, not multiple choice. They forced me to really think about each of the topics presented and formulate better, more defined answers. I'd highly recommend these to use during your spare time to help keep you sharp! I also used Rita’s flashcards to study for the PMP exam. I found them very helpful because they were open ended questions, not multiple choice. They forced me to really think about each of the topics presented and formulate better, more defined answers. I’d highly recommend these to use during your spare time to help keep you sharp!

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