Introduction - Resources

Recommended online resources for 'Introduction' - Chapter 1 of the PMBOK® Guide. 

In line with Introduction - Outline, topics include Project Management Institute; past, present and future of project management; benefits of project management; and a number of miscellaneous items related to project management.

Introduction to Project Management Institute

If you want to get an introduction to Project Management Institute (PMI®), there is no better place than their official website (www.pmi.org). However, where there is a wealth of information on the website, and it is difficult for novice to PMI® to get a quick introduction. Following is the selection of articles on www.pmi.org to serve the purpose.

The core ideology of the PMI® comprises of two notions: core purpose – the organization's reason for being – and core values – essential and enduring principles that guide an organization. The core purpose of PMI® is to advance the practice, science and profession of project management throughout the world in a conscious and proactive manner. PMI® believes in project management impact, professionalism, volunteerism, community, and engagement as their core values. (Ref: PMI®'s Strategic Plan, Page 5)

A brief overview is given at About PMI®, whereas What is PMI®? lays down the fundamental approaches of PMI®  for global advancement of project management profession.

Two of the very prominent components of the overall efforts of PMI®  are certifications and standards. PMI® offers a comprehensive certification program comprising of six certifications to cater to the needs of project practitioners of all education and skills level. Overview of the certifications is available at What are PMI® Certifications? PMI® offers a number of standards, practice standards and frameworks, and standards extensions. Introduction to the same can be found at What are PMI® Global Standards?

Project Management: Past, Present, and Future

What was the starting point of project management? If you are interested to find the answer, in a well presented manner, then check out this video clip on History of Project Management. The video is in fact a book trailer. Farrokh Alemi, PhD has also posted a video presentation on the same topic on YouTube. Check it out at History of Project Project Management. Enough on past of project management?!

Time to know some useful statistics related to project management, especially in the context of growing need for training in project management. Dr. Edwin Andrews, Director, Academic and Educational Programs and Services, PMI, has a video presentation on Grow Your Enrollment - Through Teaching Project Management. It basically persuades academic institutions to initiate project management programs. However, to support his arguments, he presents some very useful and strong statistics on project management, especially on slides 7 to 24.

Want to sum it up? Here is an overview of Project Management: Past, Present, Future and the Future of Project Management :)

Benefits of Project Management

Straight, let me list down the resources that covers the topics at hand,

1. The Top Ten Benefits of Project Management by Gary Picariello on BrightHub.com.
2. Ten ways Project Management Skills can Help Your Career by Michelle LaBrosse, PMP.
3. The Benefits of Project Management [Refer to the note below]
4. Organizational Benefits of Project Management [Refer to the note below]
5. 18 Reasons Why Project Fail [Refer to the note below]

Note: A number of free resources (including the articles mentioned at serial no 3 to 5) by Rita Mulchay, PMP (late) - an internationally renowned project management author, trainer and speaker - are available at The Project Management Training Industry's Premier—and FREE—Educational Portal. You have to create an account on the page to access the free resources (truly worth it!).

Miscellaneous

1. ThinkTank Consulting, in Why do you need Project Portfolio Management? [video clip] highlight the importance of portfolio management in organizations in simple and interesting way. Though its an advertisement, yet very informative.
2. Impact of Portfolio Project Management [video clip] presents findings of a research and use the same to find answers to whether project portfolio management works and verify actual benefits to acclaimed benefits. It's a bit brainy stuff, unlike the other stuff meant to be basic and of introductory nature!
3. Strategic Project Management [video clip] highlights shift in time, and the way it has changed project management and job of project managers.
4. Let us watch and listen to Hassan Mir, PMP and find out how he explains Project vs Operations; some people find it a bit difficult to differentiate between the two!
5. In The Project Manager Professional Profile, Ricardo Vargas, PMP shortly discusses a debatable issue of whether project managers need to have technical knowledge related to the area in which he or she is supposed to manage a project. Check out his viewpoint.
6. Ricardo Vargas, PMP again. This time clarifying [chewingly :)] the difference between the roles of Project Manager from Project Management Office in his video clip titled Differentiating the Project Manager from PMO
7. Enough of supporting stuff?! OK. Let's have a quick review of topics specifically covered in the first chapter of the PMBOK® Guide in PMBOK Explained  Session - I [video clip] by Karren from Project Management Success team.

Presentation Slides

Presentation slides of the "Introduction" (Chapter 01 of the PMBOK® Guide Fifth Edition) can be downloaded from the following links: Presentation Slides - Introduction 



Post Last Updated:
Batch 5: May 17, 2015
Batch 3: May 12, 2012


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