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PMP Exam Tool: Master Rita Mulcahy’s Process Chart

Image of Rita Mulcahy's Process Chart game

If you are preparing for the Project Management Professional exam, having a proven PMP Exam tool to support the learning process is key.  One such tool is Rita Mulcahy’s Process Chart game. Rita’s game is an important tool to learn the project management process in more detail, quickly and effectively.  It helps you understand what should be done when.

PMP Exam – Rita Mulcahy’s Process Chart Game

  1. An Introduction to Rita’s Process Chart
  2. The Process Domain and the PMP Exam
  3. What You Need to Understand to Pass the PMP
  4. Study for the PMP® Using Rita’s Process Chart Game
  5. Prepare for the PMP

An Introduction to Rita Mulcahy’s Process Chart

When students discover Rita’s process chart game, they often ask, “Which parts should I memorize?” It’s a simple question, right? Unfortunately, the answer isn’t so straightforward. It’s more than just memorizing―it’s realizing that to pass the exam, you need to thoroughly understand each process.

Let’s start with some basics. Understanding the overall process of project management is integral to learning the terms and concepts for the exam.

PMI® has defined five process groups in Project Management. Rita’s Process Chart is our interpretation of those groups and the associated actions that result in unique outputs attributed to each process.

Rita’s process chart game is not intended to map to other management resources. Its function is to state the efforts involved in management a project.   The game helps you learn the five process groups of Initiating, Planning, Executing, Monitoring & Controlling and Closing.

The Process Domain and the PMP Exam

Prior to January 2020, the PMP exam was generally focused on planned project management.  Planned project management revolves around five process groups and nine knowledge areas.  This is still the case; however, after January 2020, the PMP exam dramatically changed.

Now the exam is organized around three Domains. These are People, Process and Business Environment.  Planned project management is part of the Process Domain along with agile and hybrid project management methodologies.  Process represents 50% of the exam content.

Planned project management remains an important part of the Process Domain.  For this reason, you still need to understand planned aspects of project management to pass the exam and why Rita’s Process Chart Game is an important tool for passing.

What You Need to Understand to Pass the PMP

The PMP exam may ask questions that present a situation which requires you to which process group the project is in.  Rita’s process chart game lays out what specific actions are in each process group and why these actions occur.  There is no specific order for the activities in most of the process groups.  The exception is the planning process group which has a set order of actions.

Rita’s Process Chart game will solidify your understanding of the overall project management process and help you identify and focus on gaps in your knowledge.

Study for the PMP® Using Rita Mulcahy’s Process Chart Game

A typical exam question will only give you some of the information. For example: “You’ve just gained acceptance of interim deliverables from the customer.” Because you’ve done some memorization, you’ll know this action occurs in the Monitor and Control process group.

Now you know where you are within the process but that’s only half the battle. The question then asks, “What should happen next?” The exam is testing your knowledge of the process and outputs associated with the action. In this example, the process is Validate Scope, and the outputs are: work performance information, accepted deliverables, change requests, and project documents updates.

If you understand the actions associated within a process, and what process groups they primarily align with, then you can use logic to quickly analyze and select the best answer.

If you know where you are in the process and understand why processes, actions, and outputs occur you’ll be better prepared to pass the exam.

Prepare for PMP Exam

The process groups are key to planned-driven project management. Rita understood this which is why she created the process chart game to help break down each element to help you more quickly learn the process groups and actions.

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Should I Take the PMP® Exam in 2020 or Wait Until 2021?

Woman sitting on coach with computer thinking about taking the PMP exam

As you know, PMI is changing the PMP Exam as of January 2, 2021.  We know you are trying to figure out which option is best for you in the time that remains — or if you have already made your decision — to help shake off any worries you may have on your journey to certification.

Why Take the Current PMP Exam in 2020?

If you have the qualifications to sit for the exam now, why wait?  If you are confident in your preparation, you should leverage your knowledge and take it now.  You can schedule to take the exam online or in person.  However, if you are not ready or struggling to achieve your goal before the exam changes in January, but still want to take the exam before it changes, consider a virtual class with an experienced instructor.

You know the benefits of becoming a PMP.  If you didn’t, you wouldn’t be considering it.  Getting the benefit of being PMP-certified will get you those benefits that much sooner.  Having the PMP now, could help you further demonstrate your value in your current position. It could also help you secure a new job in this uncertain economic climate.

The current PMP Exam is a well-known. Exam parameters, question style, and virtually everything else about the current exam is known and documented. We have it figured out. The current exam content outline has been in place for several years.  We understand the level of difficulty and what it takes to pass.  On the contrary, we are still getting to know the 2021 exam and its level of difficulty.   This uncertainty can increase the areas you’ll need to understand and study.

Although the passing score of the current exam is not published, it is a well-established, consistent figure and it will not change before the end of 2020.

Therefore, if you qualify to sit for the exam, are executing on your study plan and have your education hours, getting your cert in 2020 is still your best option!

Why Take the NEW PMP Exam in 2021?

The PMP Exam is not trivial.  It requires disciplined study and 35 training contact hours.  Don’t try to jam it in this year if you don’t have the time or you need to take additional classes to get your contact hours.

If you don’t have the required experience hours for your application right now, you should probably plan for the new exam.  Get the new book and start studying now!  You can learn new skills and become a better project manager to impact your work today.

If you are experienced in Agile or Hybrid, it will help with 50% of exam questions in the new 2021 exam.  Remember, study will still be required — particularly if you don’t have plan-driven project experience which remains a significant part of the PMP exam.

You may have more options to take the exam in a testing center in 2021.  We suspect pandemic conditions will improve in 2021, allowing for more testing center options to open.  Also, many testers find the online proctored exam environment is much more restrictive than in-person testing centers.

What is My Best Option Right Now?

The best plan for most of us right now is to try to get the exam in and get certified in 2020.  Either way, you need time to study.  Be sure to honestly assess your time available to study and your overall readiness.

No matter which choice you make, RMC can help.

RMC’s Exam Support and Guidance

If you choose to take the 2020 exam, and you are using our 9th Edition products or eLearning,  that’s great; however if, for some reason, you find you can’t take the exam in 2020,  we offer free or discounted upgrades to 10th Edition products for the new 2021 PMP exam.  For students in our 9th Edition instructor-led courses, who fail the exam in 2020, you qualify for our class guarantee (subject to guarantee provisions).

Want to speak with someone directly?  Our customer service staff can help advise you. Please contact RMC at 952-846-4484 or info@rmcls.com with any questions.  You can also register for one of our PMP Exam free monthly webinars.

Sources: https://www.pmi.org/certifications/types/project-management-pmp