Summary

1.  45 hours for internal training

I’ve attended approximately 45 hrs (3 hrs/each session) internal training.  It's not mandatory, but it was part of my organization initiation. In addition, I bought the RITA project management preparation guide.

2. 36 hours for PMBOK study sessions and QAI training

I've attended 36 hours training from QAI global institute facilitated by Pressman (www.rspa.com). This is mandatory training to appear for PMP exam from IT industry. Probably you can get similar trainings from any other institutes as well.


3. 80 hours for 1st Revision


I’ve completed 1st revision of PMBOK approximately in 80 hours. There is a specific calculation. Understanding of processes in each knowledge area w.r.t. PMBOK has taken at least 1 to 2 hours. Spent around 10 hours on the framework.

Important thing is, I didn't buy the RITA guide at this point in time. I tried to spend most of the time to understand the processes from PMBOK guide. You can understand Project Integration Management after completing whole book. If you prepare along with RITA guide, your study time may comedown further. You may think 80 hrs is very small and you can accomplish it quickly if you sit for 1 week. Please don’t do that. Just spend 2 to 3 hrs / day at maximum and leave rest of the time to reconcile your experience with that process area.


4. 120 hours for second revision


When I’ve started the second revision, things are better in comparison with first revision; still several things are beyond my visualization limits. Because I work in Seller organization, PMBOK assumes that you work in Buyer organization unless it states specifically.

Well, it’s not a bad revision. I’ve prepared some case studies on my own with my experience, prepared some templates…etc. Slowly getting control on PMBOK terminology. I worked in Buyer organization as a contractor on deputation; this experience is very useful to understand things from buyer perspective. During this time my role was project leader/manager in seller organization and contractor in buyer organization. I had come across to spend my time in all project management activities other than dealing with contracts. Most of the time I have applied Expert skill to resolve some issues and few times other skills were applied. Each skill of the PM has some meaning in PMBOK; you’ll understand it after studying it.

I thought I could attend the exam after 2nd revision. But still I can see some gaps; rescheduled the exam. Several times I rescheduled the exam because I was not satisfied with my understanding level during that period. At this point of time, you need to understand few things to appear for the exam though you lead projects successfully

•  You work in buyer organization not in seller organization;
•  Visualize you are leading 300+ team, not small one;
•  The team must spread over different geographical locations with different cultures and work styles.

5. 100hrs for 3rd revision

Now entered into third revision by rescheduling the exam 8th time : - )

http://turlapatipmp.blogspot.com/2010/05/date-15052010-16-days-to-pmp-exam.html

You can understand my situation in third revision by reading it from above post in my blog. I’ve mentioned approximately 100 hrs for this revision, but I’m not sure. Because this revision is very aggressive and rigorous, calculated each second of my time in measurable objectives that includes working, sleeping, eating, playing …etc. You can expect some mistakes in blog content, because I’ve posted some messages mid night at 1:00 am, morning at 5:00 am. I’ll correct it when I get time in future. But this is brief about my PMP preparation. If you plan for PMP, try to spend these many hours. Don’t spend continuously, take some breaks, understand what author is saying, reconcile with your experience. Prepare templates, samples...etc, which would help to understand the concepts in better way. Use all your relationships with friends/colleagues to understand theoretical concepts in practical manner. For example when I was reading HR management concepts, I followed HR activities in the organization. Because head of the HR department is responsible to motivate all the employees in organization with different activities. These activities are very important when you visualize 300 + group in your project. 

All the best for your exam!!!