All Blog Posts
Our most popular blog posts are pinned to the top.
Chartered Project Professional The Story So Far?
What is Chartered Project Professional? In October 2008 the Association for Project Management (www.apm.org.uk) submitted a petition to the Queen for a Royal Charter. Assuming that the Queen grants the charter then one of the rights granted will be to establish a register of Chartered Project Professionals. This will not be limited to project managers but […]
The APM Launch Registered Project Professional (APM RPP)
The APM has launched the APM Registered Project Professional standard. What is APM RPP? What is the assessment process and will it be worthhwile?The Assessment Process for the APM Registered Project Professional Registered Project Professional will need to show that they can manage a complex project using the tools, processes and techniques of project management This will […]
Business Case For The APM Practitioner Qualification (PQ)
Many project managers have little involvement in the writing of project business cases until they are asked to produce one in the APM PQ. This is because they are either because they work for a contractor, so respond to ITTs. Even if they work for a client organisation the business case is often prepared by […]
APM Practitioner (APM Pq) Typical Written Questions
If you fail to demonstrate knowlege of key topics during the group work the assessors may ask you to answer writen questions. The APM has published the following sample questions.Question AConsider a project you have managed or one you know well.a) Describe key factors in determining and managing the project’s context.b) Critically analyse the methods […]
APM Practitioner (APM Pq) Hints And Tips
The APM PQ covers 39 criteria. However seven of these are critical. 1. Demonstrate an understanding of project context and the overall business case.Many delivery project managers struggle with this aspect of the PQ, because they have not had practical exposure to a business case or investment process. Often this is because this is owned by […]
APM Introductory Certificate (APM IC) Sample Questions
Sample Multi-Choice Questions 1) Which of the following is not a characteristic of a project? a) Has a defined life span b) Uses a pre-defined set of techniques c) Produces defined and measurable business benefits d) Has an “element of uniqueness”. 2) Which of the following best defines a project management methodology? a) The projects background, purpose and benefits b) A documented process […]
Will A Project Management Qualification Get Me A Better Job?
It depends at what stage you are in your project management career. If you have a couple of years successful project management experience under you belt then getting a qualification can really strengthen your career in the view of employers. Or if you are considering a career change then a qualification can get you noticed […]
The Project Office and Why You Should Love It
In different organisations it might be called the Project Office, Project Support Office or Project Management Office but whatever the term used this is essentially the same team or department with the same fundamental role – to ensure projects are run efficiently, reported accurately and deliver a measurable business benefit. It is important in […]
How to Build High Performing Project Team
What is a high performing project team and how does it differ from a regular team? All managers recognize a high performing team when they see one. They are the people who can take a project and run with it, requiring little intervention from superiors before bringing the project to a successful conclusion. Unlike typical […]
APMP Project Management Qualification Adds £10K To Salary
Every year the recruitment consultancy Arras People conduct a detailed Project Management Benchmark Report. Over the years it has become widely respected as a measure of the state of the UK project management jobs market. In this year’s review of salary rates for project managers they examined the difference between the salary rates of those […]
Re-evaluating Effective Leadership in Today’s On-line Society
Regimes around the world have been crumbling as large protests amass globally. There is unrest among the civilian population who seek strong leaders free from corruption and greed. The Arab Spring has lead to overthrows in Libya, Egypt, Bahrain and numerous other surrounding countries. The Occupy Wall Street movement is sweeping the nation and protesters […]
There Are Project Managers and There Are Project Managers
There is a wealth of information, advice, articles and blogs out there about the emerging profession of project management and these all, invariably, refer to project managers as if they were one breed. There is little distinction between the industry the project managers work in, or the levels of complexity in the projects they manage. […]
Is IT Project Management different?
IT Project Management has become known as its own separate field which is maintained by a body of research and knowledge spanning fields with approved professional certification. The IT field is fast becoming more dependable, quicker and more affordable, the costs, complications, and dangers of IT projects keep increasing. Extensive cited studies and reports show […]
What is a Project Plan?
In order for any project to have a successful outcome, a project needs a solid foundation. Before the work starts there must be the coming together of minds to agree the project objectives, scope and detailed activities to produce a working project plan. This will describe from start to finish how it will be done and […]
Can PMP Certification Get You An Interview?
Imagine in your mind that you are the hiring manager of a large scale company that is looking to bring on a new project manager, and you are staring at the large stack of resumes dreading getting started. The first thing that you want to do is rather than search for the eligible applicants and […]
Parallel Project Training Joins Forces with Carnegie Enterprise to Offer APM PQ in Scotland
– In a new venture Parallel Project Training and Carnegie Enterprise are combining their expertise to deliver APM PQ training in Scotland during December 2011 – Reading, UK. 31 October 2011: The Association for Project Management Practitioner Qualification (APM PQ) is an internationally recognised project management qualification aimed at project professionals experienced in managing non-complex […]
PMP Certification A Project Manager’s Next Best Step
Financial ventures and creative campaigns today happen on much larger scales than they have in the past due to the evolution of communications and the global marketplace. For this reason endeavors such as these involve many more people. It is essential to have project managers that can maintain the integrity and direction of such projects […]
How to keep up project team motivation during an economic recession
Growing concerns about our current economic state are causing a large number of people to feel insecure about their employment status. It seems that job security is no longer a guarantee and this can cause even the most confident and qualified employee to lose these motivation. Lack of morale can negatively impact your team and […]