PMI® Authorized PMP® Exam Prep

Version 3.0 | January 2023 Release

Course Outline with Exam Content Outline References

Lesson 1: Business Environment (Pre-Planning)

1A Foundation
• Foundational project management concepts
o Project & project success
o Evolution of Project Management – towards a system view of value delivery
o PM Life Cycles & development approaches – predictive, adaptive & hybrid
o PMO & OPM
o Projects, Programs & Portfolios
o Organizational Structure – Functional, Matrix, Project-oriented, Composite

• Project management principles

o Stewardship, team, stakeholders, value, system thinking, leadership,
tailoring, quality, complexity, risk, adaptability & resiliency, and change

• The Agile mindset

o Agile manifesto, mindset, values, principles and practices

• Tailoring – hybrid approaches, processes and practices in project

management

1B Strategic Alignment
• Define strategic alignment and business acumen
• Follow guidelines for effective business decision-making
• Explore organizational influences on projects (EEFs and OPAs)
• Explain how projects align with broader organizational strategy and
global trends

1C Project Benefits and Value

3.2. Evaluate and deliver project benefits and value
• Investigate that benefits are identified (3.2.1)

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 o Financial gains, new customers, social benefits, first to market,
improvement, regularization etc.
• Evaluate delivery options to deliver value (3.2.4)
2.1 Execute project with the urgency required to deliver business value
• Assess opportunities to deliver value incrementally (2.1.1)

1D Organizational Culture and Change Management

3.4 Support organizational change
• Assess organizational culture (3.4.1)
• Evaluate impact of organization change to project, and
determine required actions (3.4.2)
• Evaluate impact of the project to the organization and determine
required actions (3.4.3)

1E Project Governance
2.14 Establish project governance structure
• Determine appropriate governance for a project (e.g., replicate
organization governance) (2.14.1)
• Define escalation paths and thresholds (2.14.2)
1F Project Compliance
3.1 Plan and manage project compliance
• Confirm project compliance requirements (e.g., security, health
and safety, regulatory compliance (3.1.1)
• Classify compliance categories (3.1.2)
• Analyze the consequences of non-compliance (3.1.5)

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Lesson 2: Start the Project

2A Identify and Engage Stakeholders

1.9 Collaborate with stakeholders
• Evaluate engagement needs for stakeholders (1.9.1)
2.4 Engage stakeholders
• Analyze stakeholders (power interest grid, influence, impact)
(2.4.1)
• Categorize stakeholders (2.4.2)
• Develop, execute, and validate a strategy for stakeholder
engagement (2.4.4)
2.2 Manage communications
• Analyze communication needs of all stakeholders (2.2.1)
• Determine communication methods, channels, frequency, and
level of detail for all stakeholders (2.2.2)

2B Team Formation
1.4 Empower team members and stakeholders
• Organize around team strengths (1.4.1)
2.16 Ensure knowledge transfer for project continuity
• Discuss project responsibilities within team (2.16.1)
• Outline expectations for working environment (2.16.2)
1.11 Engage and support virtual teams
• Examine virtual team member needs (e.g., environment,
geography, culture, global, etc.) (1.11.1)
• Investigate alternatives (e.g., communication tools, colocation)
for virtual team member engagement (1.11.2)

2C Build Shared Understanding

I.2 Lead a team
• Set a clear vision and mission (1.2.1)
1.8 Negotiate project agreements
• Analyze the bounds of the negotiation for agreement (1.8.1)
• Assess priorities and determine ultimate objective(s) (1.8.2)
• Determine a negotiation strategy (1.8.5)
• Participate in agreement negotiations (1.8.4)
1.10 Build shared understanding
• Survey all necessary parties to reach consensus (1.10.2)
• Support outcome of parties’ agreement (1.10.3)

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 1.12 Define team ground rules
• Communicate organizational principles with team and external
stakeholders (1.12.1)
• Establish an environment that fosters adherence to ground rules
(1.12.2)
2D Decide Project Approach/Methodology
2.13 Determine appropriate project methodology/methods and practices
• Assess project needs, complexity, and magnitude (2.13.1)
• Recommend project execution strategy (e.g., contracting,
financing) (2.13.2)
• Recommend a project methodology/approach (i.e., predictive,
agile, hybrid) (2.13.3)

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Lesson 3: Plan the Project

3A Planning Projects
• Differentiation of Planning for Predictive vs Adaptive Approaches

3B Scope
2.1 Execute project with the urgency required to deliver business
value • Support the team to subdivide Project tasks as
necessary to find the minimum viable product (2.1.3)
2.8 Plan and manage scope
• Predictive vs Adaptive approach for scope
• Determine and prioritize requirements (2.8.1)
• Break down scope (e.g., WBS, backlog) (2.8.2)
2.17 Plan and manage project/phase closure or transitions
• Determine criteria to successfully close the project or phase (2.17.1)

3C Schedule
2.6 Plan and manage schedule
• Predictive vs Adaptive approach for schedule
• Estimate project tasks (milestones, dependencies, story points) (2.6.1)
• Utilize benchmarks and historical data (2.6.2)
• Prepare schedule based on methodology (2.6.3)

3D Resources
1.6 Build a team
• Deduce project resource requirements (1.6.2)
2.11 Plan and manage procurement (resources)
• Define resource requirements and needs (2.11.1)
• Communicate resource requirements (2.11.2)
• Manage suppliers/contracts (2.11.3)
• Plan and manage procurement strategy (2.11.4)
• Develop a delivery solution (2.11.5)

3E Budget
2.5 Plan and manage budget and resources
• Estimate budgetary needs based on the scope of the project and
lessons learned from past projects (2.5.1)

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 • Anticipate future budget challenges (2.5.2) Plan and manage
resources (2.5.4)

3F Risks
2.3 Assess and manage risks
• Determine risk management options (2.3.1)
• Iteratively assess and prioritize risks (2.3.2)
3.1 Plan and manage project compliance
• Determine necessary approach and action to address compliance
needs
(risk, legal) 3.1.6)
• Determine potential threats to compliance (3.1.3)

3G Quality
2.7 Plan and manage quality of products/deliverables
• Determine quality standard required for project deliverables (2.7.1)
3.1 Plan and manage project compliance
• Use methods to support compliance (3.1.4)
• Measure the extent to which the project is in compliance (3.1.7)

3H Integrate Plans
2.9 Integrate project planning activities
• Consolidate the project/phase plans (2.9.1)
• Assess consolidated project plans for dependencies, gaps, and
continued business value (2.9.2)
• Analyze the data collected (2.9.3)
• Collect and analyze data to make informed project decisions
(2.9.4)
• Determine critical information requirements (2.9.5)
2.10 Manage project changes
• Determine strategy to handle change
(2.10.2)

Lesson 4: Lead the Project Team

4A Craft Your Leadership Style

I.2 Lead a team
• Value servant leadership (e.g., relate the tenets of servant
leadership to the team) (1.2.3)

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 •Determine an appropriate leadership style (e.g., directive,
collaborative) (1.2.4)
• Distinguish various options to lead various team members and
stakeholders (1.2.7)
1.11 Engage and support virtual teams
• Implement options for virtual team member engagement
(1.11.3)

4B Create a Collaborative Project Team Environment

2.12 Manage project artifacts
• Determine the requirements (what, when, where, who) for
managing the project artifacts (2.12.1)
• Validate that the project information is kept up to date (i.e.,
version control) and accessible to all stakeholders (2.12.2)

4C Empower the Team

I.2 Lead a team
• Support diversity and inclusion (e.g., behavior types, thought
process) (1.2.2)
• Inspire, motivate, and influence team members/stakeholders
(e.g., team contract, social contract, reward system) (1.2.5)
I.4 Empower team members and stakeholders
• Determine and bestow level(s) of decision-making authority
(1.4.4)

4D Support Team Member Performance

1.3 Support team performance
• Appraise team member performance against key performance
indicators (KPIs) (1.3.1)
• Support and recognize team member growth and development
(1.3.2)
• Determine appropriate feedback approach (1.3.3)
• Verify performance improvements (1.3.4)

1.14 Promote team performance through the application of emotional

intelligence
• Assess behavior through the use of personality indicators
(1.14.1)
• Analyze personality indicators and adjust to the emotional needs
of key project stakeholders (1.14.2)

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4E Communicate and Collaborate with Stakeholders
2.2 Manage communications
• Communicate project information and updates effectively (2.2.3)
• Confirm communication is understood and feedback is received
(2.2.4)
I.2 Lead a team
• Analyze team members and stakeholders influence (1.2.6)
2.4 Engage stakeholders
• Engage stakeholders by category (2.4.3)
1.9 Collaborate with stakeholders
• Optimize alignment between stakeholder needs, expectations,
and project objectives (1.9.2)
• Build trust and influence to accomplish project objectives (1.9.3)
3.2 Evaluate and deliver project benefits and value
• Apprise stakeholders of value gained by the project (3.2.5)

4F Train Team Members and Stakeholders

1.6 Build a team
• Appraise stakeholder skills (1.6.1)
1.5 Ensure team members/stakeholders are adequately trained
• Determine required competencies and elements of training
(1.5.1)
• Determine training options on training needs (1.5.2)
• Allocate resources for training (1.5.3)
• Measure training outcomes (1.5.4)
1.13 Mentor relevant stakeholders
• Allocate the time for coaching mentoring (stakeholders) (1.13.1)
• Recognize and act on coaching mentoring opportunities (1.13.2)

4G Manage Conflict
1.1 Manage conflict
• Interpret the source and stage of the conflict (1.1.1)
• Analyze the context for the conflict (1.1.2)
• Evaluate/recommend/reconcile the appropriate conflict
resolution solution (1.1.3)
1.12 Define team ground rules
• Discuss and rectify ground rule violations (1.12.3)

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 1.10 Build shared understanding
• Investigate potential misunderstandings (1.10.4)
• Break down situations to identify the root cause of a
misunderstanding (1.10.1)

Lesson 5: Support Project Team Performance

5A Implement Ongoing Improvements

Continuous Improvement
• Plan Continuous Improvement Methods, Procedures, and Tools
• Assess CI framework
• Plan CI methods, procedures, tools
• Recommend/Execute CI steps

5B Support Performance
2.2 Manage communications
• Communicate project information and updates effectively
(2.2.3)
• Confirm communication is understood and feedback is received
(2.2.4)
1.4 Empower team members and stakeholders
• Support team task accountability (1.4.2)
• Evaluate demonstration of task accountability (1.4.3)
1.6 Build a team
• Continuously assess and refresh team skills to meet project
needs (1.6.3)
• Maintain team and knowledge transfer (1.6.4)
1.11 Engage and support virtual teams
• Continually evaluate effectiveness of virtual team member
engagement (1.11.4)
2.11 Manage project artifacts
• Continually assess the effectiveness of the management of the
project artifacts (2.12.3)
2.13 Determine appropriate project methodology/methods and
practices
• Use iterative, incremental practices throughout the project life
cycle
(e.g., lessons learned, key stakeholder engagement, risk) (2.13.4)

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5C Evaluate Project Progress
2.8 Plan and manage scope
• Monitor and validate scope (2.8.3)
2.6 Plan and manage schedule
• Measure ongoing progress based on methodology (2.6.4)
• Modify schedule, as needed, based on methodology (2.6.5)
• Coordinate with other projects and other operations (2.6.6)
2.5 Plan and manage budget and resources
• Monitor budget variations and work with governance process to
adjust as necessary (2.5.3)
2.1 Execute project with the urgency required to deliver business value
• Examine the business value throughout the project (2.1.2)
2.7 Plan and manage quality of products/deliverables
• Recommend options for improvement based on quality gaps
(2.7.2)
• Continually survey project deliverable quality (2.7.3)

5D Manage Issues and Impediments

2.15 Manage project issues
• Recognize when a risk becomes an issue (2.15.1)
• Attack the issue with the optimal actions to achieve project
success (2.15.2)
• Collaborate with relevant stakeholders on the approach to
resolve the issues (2.15.3)
I.7 Address and remove impediments, obstacles, and blockers for the team
• Determine critical impediments, obstacles, and blockers for the
team (1.7.1)
• Prioritize critical impediments, obstacles, and blockers for the
team (1.7.2)
• Use network to implement solutions to remove impediments,
obstacles, and blockers for the team (1.7.3)
• Re-assess continually to ensure impediments, obstacles and
blockers for the team are being addressed (1.7.4)

5E Manage Changes
3.3 Evaluate and address external business environment changes for
impact on scope
• Survey changes to external business environment (e.g.,
regulations, technology, geopolitical, market) (3.3.1)
• Assess and prioritize impact on project scope/backlog based on
changes in external business environment (3.3.2)

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 • Recommend options for scope/backlog options (e.g., schedule,
cost changes) (3.3.3)
• Continually review external business environment for impacts on
project scope/backlog (3.3.4)
2.10 Manage project changes
• Anticipate and embrace the need for change (e.g., follow change
management practices (2.10.1)
• Execute change management strategy according to the
methodology (2.10.3)
• Determine a change response to move the project forward
(2.10.4)

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Lesson 6 Close the Project/Phase

6A Project/Phase Closure
1.8 Negotiate project agreements
• Verify objective(s) of the project agreement is met (1.8.3)
2.17 Plan and manage project/phase closure or transitions
• Validate readiness for transition (e.g., operations team or next
phase) (2.17.2)
• Conclude activities to close out project or phase (e.g., final
lessons learned, retrospectives, procurement, financial,
resources) (2.17.3)

6B Benefits Realization
3.2 Evaluate and deliver project benefits and value
• Document agreement on ownership for ongoing benefit
realization (3.2.2)
• Verify measurement system is in place to track benefits (3.2.3)

6C Knowledge Transfer
2.16 Ensure knowledge transfer for project continuity
• Confirm approach for knowledge transfers (2.16.3)

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