New PMP Exam change will embrace new change in content outline on 11 Jan 2016. The PMP examination is a vital part of the activities leading to receive a professional credential, PMP examination indicates the practices of the project management practitioner.

What would be the upcoming new PMP Exam change?

Exam Format of four hours and multiple choice itself remains same, including the scoring pattern and including the PMBOK 5th edition knowledge curriculum.

As always, PMP Exam is based on Course Content Outline published by PMI(Project Management Institute) which emphasizes on Tasks in Performance domains.

Exam is based on scenario based questions created from various tasks performed by Project Manager. These domain tasks were defined way back, few years ago. Questions are all primarily based on these scenarios coming out of these domain tasks of Project Management Profession.

PMI has upgraded the domain tasks to add a few more based on today’s project managers new role in Project Management based on existing new technology used.

This means, more new domain tasks in addition to old domain tasks. That also boils down to more variety of new Questions for Exam takers from 2016 Jan onwards. The upcoming new exam from 11 Jan 2016 would also include several new task based scenarios. These new tasks are highlighted in various Performance Domains as follows. These addition of new tasks itself is the change which is coming in.

PERFORMANCE DOMAIN I: INITIATING THE PROJECT

Task 1 Perform project assessment based upon available information, lessons learned from previous projects, and meetings with relevant stakeholders, in order to support the evaluation of the feasibility of new products or services within the given assumptions and/or constraints.
(new PMP exam change) Task 2 Identify key deliverables based on the business requirements, in order to manage customer expectations and direct the achievement of project goals.
Task 3 Perform stakeholder analysis using appropriate tools and techniques, in order to align expectations and gain support for the project.
Task 4 Identify high level risks, assumptions, and constraints based on the current environment, organizational factors, historical data and expert judgment, in order to propose an implementation strategy.
Task 5 Participate in the development of the project charter by compiling and analyzing gathered information, in order to ensure project stakeholders are in agreement on its elements.
Task 6 Obtain project charter approval from the sponsor, in order to formalize the authority assigned to the project manager and gain commitment and acceptance for the project.
(new PMP exam change ) Task 7 Conduct benefit analysis with stakeholders (including sponsor, customer, subject matter experts), in order to validate project alignment with organizational strategy and expected business value.
(new PMP exam change ) Task 8 Inform stakeholders of the approved project charter, in order to ensure common understanding of the key deliverables, milestones, and their roles and responsibilities.

PERFORMANCE DOMAIN II: PLANNING THE PROJECT

Task 1 Review and assess detailed project requirements, constraints, and assumptions with stakeholders based on the project charter, lessons learned, and by using requirement gathering techniques, in order to establish detailed project deliverables.
Task 2 Develop a scope management plan, based on the approved project scope and using scope management techniques, in order to define, maintain, and manage the scope of the project.
Task 3 Develop the cost management plan based on the project scope, schedule, resources, approved project charter and other information, using estimating techniques, in order to manage project costs.
Task 4 Develop the project schedule based on the approved project deliverables and milestones, scope, and resource management plans, in order to manage timely completion of the project.
Task 5 Develop the human resource management plan by defining the roles and responsibilities of the project team members, in order to create a project organizational structure and provide guidance regarding how resources will be assigned and managed.
Task 6 Develop the communications management plan based on the project organization structure and stakeholder requirements, in order to define and manage the flow of project information.
Task 7 Develop the procurement management plan based on the project scope, budget, and schedule, in order to ensure that the required project resources will be available.
Task 8 Develop the quality management plan and define the quality standards for the project and its products, based on the project scope, risks, and requirements, in order to prevent the occurrence of defects and control the cost of quality.
Task 9 Develop the change management plan by defining how changes will be addressed and controlled, in order to track and manage change.
Task 10 Develop the risk management plan by identifying, analyzing, and prioritizing project risks, and defining risk response strategies, in order to manage uncertainty and opportunity throughout the project life cycle.
Task 11 Present the project management plan to the relevant stakeholders according to applicable policies and procedures, in order to obtain approval to proceed with project execution.
Task 12 Conduct kick-off meeting, communicating the start of the project, key milestones, and other relevant information, in order to inform and engage stakeholders and gain commitment.
(new PMP exam change ) Task 13 Develop the stakeholder management plan by analyzing needs, interests, and potential impact, in order to effectively manage stakeholders’ expectations and engage them in project decisions.

PERFORMANCE DOMAIN III: EXECUTING THE PROJECT

Task 1 Acquire and manage project resources by following the human resource and procurement management plans, in order to meet project requirements.
Task 2 Manage task execution based on the project management plan by leading and developing the project team, in order to achieve project deliverables.
Task 3 Implement the quality management plan using the appropriate tools and techniques, in order to ensure that work is performed in accordance with required quality standards.
Task 4 Implement approved changes and corrective actions by following the change management plan, in order to meet project requirements.
Task 5 Implement approved actions by following the risk management plan, in order to minimize the impact of the risks and take advantage of opportunities on the project.
(new PMP exam change ) Task 6 Manage the flow of information by following the communications plan, in order to keep stakeholders engaged and informed.
(new PMP exam change ) Task 7 Maintain stakeholder relationships by following the stakeholder management plan, in order to receive continued support and manage expectations.

PERFORMANCE DOMAIN IV: MONITORING AND CONTROLLING THE PROJECT

Task 1 Measure project performance using appropriate tools and techniques, in order to identify and quantify any variances and corrective actions.
Task 2 Manage changes to the project by following the change management plan, in order to ensure that project goals remain aligned with business needs.
Task 3 Verify that project deliverables conform to the quality standards established in the quality management plan by using appropriate tools and techniques, in order to meet project requirements and business needs.
Task 4 Monitor and assess risk by determining whether exposure has changed and evaluating the effectiveness of response strategies, in order to manage the impact of risks and opportunities on the project.
Task 5 Review the issue log, and update if necessary, and determine corrective actions by using appropriate tools and techniques, in order to minimize the impact on the project.
(new PMP exam change ) Task 6 Capture, analyze, and manage lessons learned using lessons learned management techniques, in order to enable continuous improvement.
(new PMP exam change ) Task 7 Monitor procurement activities according to the procurement plan, in order to verify compliance with project objectives.

PERFORMANCE DOMAIN V: CLOSING THE PROJECT

Task 1 Obtain final acceptance of the project deliverables from relevant stakeholders, in order to confirm that project scope and deliverables were achieved.
Task 2 Transfer the ownership of deliverables to the assigned stakeholders in accordance with the project plan, in order to facilitate project closure.
Task 3 Obtain financial, legal, and administrative closure using generally accepted practices and policies, in order to communicate formal project closure and ensure transfer of liability.
Task 4 Prepare and share the final project report according to the communications management plan, in order to document and convey project performance and assist in project evaluation.
Task 5 Collate lessons learned that were documented throughout the project and conduct a comprehensive project review, in order to update the organization’s knowledge base.
Task 6 Archive project documents and materials using generally accepted practices, in order to comply with statutory requirements and for potential use in future projects and audits.
Task 7 Obtain feedback from relevant stakeholders, using appropriate tools and techniques and based on the stakeholder management plan, in order to evaluate their satisfaction.

Conclusion:

It is advised considering the new PMP exam change on 11 Jan 2016, to move ahead with thorough preparedness for the examination with various possible questions scenarios which could be formulated on the domain tasks.