Velopi Ltd. News Feed

New dates for Dublin training course for Project Management Professional (PMP)Â®.

Wed, 01 Feb 2012 00:00:00 -0500

Note that the revised dates for the next 4-day Project Management Professional training course to be held in Dublin are:

March 15^th, 16^th, 28^th, 29^th.

If you would like to book a training course, or get support from one of our experienced PMP certified trainers, feel free to contact us.

T: +353 21 240 6250
E: info@velopi.com

It is highly recommended that you avail of a certified PMP training course to help you to study effectively and to gain PMP certification. See the benefits of our courses.

EGF Grants for Training

Tue, 31 Jan 2012 00:00:00 -0500

European Globalisation Adjustment Fund

The European Globalisation Adjustment Fund (EGF) offers the opportunity of free training for unemployed construction workers.

To find out if you are eligible for the grant scheme, contact the EGF Construction Contact Centre.

To obtain EGF funding for a project management course, you must have been made redundant between 1st July 2009 and 30th March 2010 and the course must be completed before Friday, 8th June 2012.

Velopi has eligible courses in Project Management, certified by the Project Management Institute (PMI). The courses help to prepare for the PMP Certification Exam of the PMI, and are available to people previously employed in the building industry who are eligible for an EGF grant.

This is an opportunity for construction workers, who have been made redundant, to obtain grant aided re-training and to aquire and develop new skills more relevant to the current jobs market.

To prepare candidates for the PMP Certification Exam, Velopi holds PMI accredited project management training courses in Dublin, Cork and Limerick. The Project Management Professional (PMP®) certification is the most widely recognized certification available to Project Managers worldwide and offers an opportunity for construction workers to broaden and transfer their skills.

For more information on Project Management Courses which are eligible under the EGF scheme, contact Velopi at:

Velopi Ltd.
Building 4400
Airport Business Park
Cork
Ireland.
T: +353 21 240 6250
E: info@velopi.com

Velopi was recently approved by Further Education and Training Awards Council (FETAC) and the Project Management Institute (PMI).

Wed, 18 Jan 2012 00:00:00 -0500

Velopi was recently approved by Further Education and Training Awards Council (FETAC) and the Project Management Institute (PMI).

Velopi was awarded FETAC approval on 11 October 2011. This means that Velopi Ltd are approved Training Providers with FETAC and that they have agreed and approved quality assurance systems in place for the design and delivery of training programs. This means that Velopi can offer to learners Project Management Courses which lead to FETAC awards on the National Framework of Qualifications (NFQ).
The National Framework of Qualifications (NFQ) provides a way to compare qualifications, and to ensure that they are quality assured and recognised at home and abroad. Individuals with qualifications recognised through the NFQ have advantages if contemplating moving abroad for further study or for employment. The National Framework of Qualifications places the learner at the centre of the education and training system in Ireland.

In recent years, an increased emphasis has been placed on the importance of qualifications being portable and recognisable, in both a European and an international context. In this respect, the NFQ is a national initiative that is linked in with similar developments that are taking place in other countries and at an overall International level.
The NFQ is significant for learners, providers and employers in this international context. The NFQ has aided the recognition of qualifications, not only for holders of NFQ awards travelling abroad, but also for those travelling to this country with qualifications gained outside the State.

Employers, in Ireland or abroad, can recruit from a larger group of potential employees when their qualifications are understood.

Qualifications recognised through the NFQ are quality assured. This means that the programme leading to the qualification, and the institution providing it, are reviewed regularly. Quality assurance is intended to ensure that all learners have a high quality learning experience regardless of where they study.
FETAC is soon to be amalgamated along with HETAC and the NQAI into the new Qualifications and Quality Assurance authority of Ireland.

The picture below shows Seamus Collins from Velopi receiving the award from at the awards ceremony in the Gresham Hotel, Dublin

Velopi is also a Registered Education Provider for the Project Management Institute (PMI). This means our quality systems and course content has been approved by the PMI as meeting their expectations. Velopi have expertise in getting people the internationally recognised Project Management Professional (PMP) certification.

Upcoming Project Management Courses:
Project Management Course Cork: 6/7/13/14th March 2012
Project Management Course Dublin: 15/16/28/29th March 2012
Project Management Course Limerick: 3/4/17/18th April 2012

To get more information on this or other Velopi training courses or services; please contact Velopi at info@velopi.com or 021 240 6250

6 Items to Achieve your PMP Certification

Mon, 16 Jan 2012 00:00:00 -0500

6 Items to Achieve your PMP Certification in 2012

The Project Management Institute (PMI) has developed a set of criteria and credentials for recognising Project Management Professionals (PMPs) worldwide. The credentialing process is rigorous, including: three to five documented years of work experience in project management, 35 hours of project management related training, and successful completion of the multiple-choice PMP Exam. The amount of material on the PMP Exam is vast and can seem overwhelming, but don’t be intimidated! Having and using the 6 items in this article will ensure you are prepared for and achieve optimal results in your exam.

1. PMP Credential Handbook

Including everything from an overview of the PMI certification program to exam policies and procedures, the PMP Credential Handbook is available for free online here. The first 20 pages of the handbook cover many exam basics and are a must-read for every potential examinee. Becoming familiar with the application process, payment policy, and examination administration rules will go a long way to making the actual exam day less stressful.

2. Time

The material on the PMP Exam is vast and detailed. This is not an examination you can “cram” for in a couple of weekends. Plan to take the exam after spending 10-12 solid weeks of studying for an hour or two nearly every day. Naturally, this schedule will have to be flexible enough to fit in with the rest of your responsibilities and commitments.

3. A Study Plan and Schedule

As project managers, we are well aware of the importance of a plan and schedule. Create a study schedule over 10-12 weeks that fits with the rest of your responsibilities. Depending on your job and household commitments, you may need more or less time. Take a practice exam to evaluate your weaknesses and consider spending more time on those areas. Be realistic in how much material you can cover each day and set weekly goals to track your progress. Don’t forget to include time for refreshing breaks and activities that you enjoy.

4. Training Course/Intensive 2 Day Bootcamp

It bears repeating: The PMP Exam covers a large amount of material in a relatively short period of time. Don’t be discouraged! While many project managers are able to successfully schedule their time to achieve optimal results, almost everyone can benefit from a training or intensive course.
It is highly recommended to participate in a training course or intensive bootcamp (revision) course in order to clarify any questions you may have, to focus your studies and also to get in touch with other people who are studying for the PMP exam. PMP Certified trainers also provide clarity and support, and have the experience of sitting the exam so are there to listen and help each individual candidate. Velopi provides support by email, phone and in person after the training courses as well as FREE unlimited access to the online exam simulator.
Our PMP Certified Trainers help divide the material into manageable portions and assist you in developing a successful schedule. Focused instruction over a specific timeline will help you meet your study goals and satisfies the required 35 hours of project management instruction.

5. Use the FREE Resources provided by Velopi

There are a number of areas in the PMP® Exam where questions are based on mathematical equations. To succeed in these question areas, all you need is to know the formulas and understand their application. Velopi’s PMP® Formulas Cheat Sheet provides a quick visual reference of all of the key formulas required for the PMP® Exam.

Would you like to apply for PMP® Certification? Do you need help filling out the PMP® application form? This can be a daunting task, especially as PMI® request that the majority of applications are processed online. Unless you are properly prepared, it can take a lot of time and effort to collate and organize the information required. Consequently, mistakes are easily made and often result in applications being audited. This article will explain how to fill out a PMP® application form correctly.
One solution to this is to use a PMP® sample application form. Velopi's PMP® Experience calculator is an excellent tool to help organise, prepare and edit your project management experience. It guides you through the PMP® application process ensuring that the data you enter into the online PMP® application form makes sense.

6. Exam Practice on Exam Simulator - Questions. Questions. Questions.

A large number of free PMP Exam sample questions are available from hundreds of resources on the internet. These free mock exams are a good start, but because they are free they will only go so far for you. You will also want to subscribe to an online PMP Exam Simulator to have access to the highest possible quality of samples.
Your study plan must include answering as many practice questions as possible including at least seven to eight complete 200-question practice exams. This type of preparation will help gauge your study progress and prepare you for the format of the real thing. You will be nervous on exam day, but becoming intimately familiar with types and formats of questions will help reduce anxiety and prepare you for success.

To sum up, there are a few simple things you can do to ensure you are prepared for the PMP Exam. Including these 6 items in your studies will reduce anxiety and eliminate stress associated with the exam day. Study hard and good luck!

If you would like to book a training course, or get support from one of our experienced PMP certified trainers, feel free to contact us.

T: +353 21 240 6250
E: info@velopi.com

Project Management Professional (PMP) & Software Validation Course Dates 2012

Tue, 29 Nov 2011 00:00:00 -0500

The following are a list of our Project Management Professional (PMP) and Software Validation Courses lined up for Q1 of 2012.

We have had a number of bookings for these courses already, so if you are interested please get in touch soon to book your place.

Project Management Professional Courses Cork January 31st and February 1st, 7th, 8th (2012)

Project Management Professional Courses Dublin March 22nd, 23rd, 29th, 30th (2012)

GAMP5 Computer Software Validation Training Course February 2nd and 3rd (2012)

For a full list of our training courses click here

To book your place on a project management professional or software validation course, Contact Us today!

Updated list of services on Velopi.com

Tue, 11 Oct 2011 00:00:00 -0400

Velopi.com has recently undergone a number of updates, changes and improvements. We have updated our website with our full list of training, project consultancy, validation and software testing services.

Here is the full list of our services:

Training	Project Consultancy	Validation	Software Testing
Project Management Professional (PMP)®	Project Planning	Computer Validation	Software Testing Services
Project Management Professional (PMP®) 2 Day Exam Preparation Course	Project & Programme Management	Regulatory Auditing Services	Writing Software Testcase Cases
Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM)®	Project Cost and Schedule Control	Process Validation	Software Test Management
Managing Projects	Project Recovery	Equipment Validation	Software Quality Assurance
Managing Project Risk	Project Management Outsourcing	Professional Outsourcing
Managing Outsourcing to Low Cost Centres	Project Management Office Setup
GAMP5 Computer Software Validation
Software Test Fundamentals
Advanced Software Testing

If you would like any further information on any of our services listed above, please do not hesitate to contact us.

T: +353 21 240 6250
E: info@velopi.com

Velopi Ltd.
Building 4400
Airport Business Park
Cork
Ireland.

Testimonials: What they are saying about Velopi

Fri, 07 Oct 2011 00:00:00 -0400

Seamus andour team at Velopi love getting feedback as it helps us to improve our consultancy services, our training courses and our website!

We receive feedback and evaluation through a variety of mediums some of which include post-course evaluation sheets, recommendations on LinkedIn, testimonials on our website and comments on our facebook and tweets to us on twitter!

Here are just some of our most recent testimonials which we have recieved. We do not edit, enhance or delete ANY of our testimonials.

"I recently sat the PMP certificaton exam and would highly recommend Velopi's 4 day Advanced PMP preparation course. The training course was excellent and prepared me completely for the exam. Seamus was a great tutor with vast experience and real project examples that were extremely relevant. Seamus provided excellent follow-up support after the training and Velopi's online exam simulator was very helpful in preparing for the exam. I would strongly recommend this course to anyone interested in achieving PMP certification.” September 18, 2011

"I recently achieved PMP certification having completed the Velopi exam preparation course. I am happy to recommend Velopi. Seamus is an exceptional tutor. His course material is of a very high standard providing a thorough grounding in all of the PMBOK key knowledge areas.” August 22, 2011

"Velopi and Seamus Collins provide wonderful training. Seamus is an enthusiastic and exceptional teacher and gets the whole class involved in getting the most from each lesson. His teaching is very structured, focussed and informative and yet responsive to the needs of each individual in the class. His enthusiasm and personal support helped me to pass the exam and obtain certification. I am very grateful for all his help.” August 19, 2011

"I recently received my PMP certification after completing the 4 day preparation course at Velopi. I found the course to be an invaluable tool toward gaining certification and would highly recommend it to anyone. Seamus proved to be an excellent tutor and consistently provided support and information following the course up to the day of my exam.” August 17, 2011

"I recently received PMP certification after attending the PMP course with Velopi. I found the course format and exam simulator excellent tools in preparing for the exam. I must give credit to Seamus the course lecturer who was very professional and maintained a good learning environment over the 4 day course. I have since recommended Velopi to many of my friends and collegues who are interested in preparing for the PMP certification.” August 16, 2011

"I recently obtained PMP certificaton and would highly recommend Velopi's 4 day Advanced PMP preparation course. Seamus is a great tutor with real world experience that was extremely relevant.
Seamus provided excellent follow-up support after the training and Velopi's online exam simulator was very helpful in preparing for the exam” August 15, 2011

"My recent attainment of PMP Certification was greatly aided by the excellence of Velopi’s training course content, delivery and mentorship. The process took just one month from first introduction to the process formalities to exam completion. I would unhesitatingly recommend Velopi’s personnel and methodology” July 28, 2011

"Having decided to move 'sideways' in my career, I wanted to consolidate my project management skills in order to increase the opportunities available to me.
Seamus Collins from Velopi was recommended to me by someone I trust and I passed the PMP exam first time. Seamus delivers PMP exam training in a clear, concise manner. The 4 test exams he provides via his website are invaluable.
Velopi delivered on the promise of taking me from the application process through to success at the PMP certification exam.
Do you want to get the PMP qualification first time?
I highly recommend taking the PMP course with Velopi and Seamus Collins.” July 22, 2011

If you would like to read more testimonials or add your testimonial just email info@velopi.com

Remember to Like us on Facebook, Follow us on Twitter, Watch us on YouTube and Link with us on LinkedIn

2 Day PMP Certification Preparation Course Cork

Tue, 04 Oct 2011 00:00:00 -0400

PMP Bootcamp Refresher Course November 8th & 9th

Have you attended a Project Management Course in the past and never quite got around to sitting that Project Management Exam and gaining your PMP certification?

Well, never mind because we have a PMP Bootcamp Refresher Course in Cork in November, just for you! It is the Project Management Professional Course covered in 2 days. It is an intense revision course and will prepare you for the PMP exam.

The Project Management Professional (PMP)® certification is the most widely recognised certification available to Project Managers worldwide.

Our Project Management Professional (PMP®) 2 Day Exam Preparation Course in Cork is proving very popular indeed with places filling up faster than expected. Our course is 2 days long, plus individual coaching and unlimited exam simulator access.

Date: November 8th & 9th
Location: Cork International Airport Hotel
Cost: €600

So, if you are interested in this course or any other of our courses email info@velopi.com today and if you book this course before the 11th October, we will give you €100 OFF the price!

_{Don't forget to}_{Like Velopi on Facebook,}_{Follow Velopi on twitter and}_{Link with Velopi on LinkedIn}

Email: info@velopi.com
Call Seamus: +353 21 240 6250
Velopi Ltd.,
Building 4400,
Airport Business Park,
Cork,
Ireland.

Equipment Qualification (EQ)

Tue, 04 Oct 2011 00:00:00 -0400

Notes on Equipment Qualification

Equipment Qualification is the final series of inspections and tests to ensure that critical requirements necessary for related product quality are satisfied and that documents and procedures necessary to properly operate and maintain the system are in place.
Critical requirements may be derived from system User Requirements Specifications, transfer reports and manufacturing instructions.
Examples of critical installation requirements may include product contact material and instrument accuracy. Examples of critical operating requirements may include temperature and fill weight accuracy. Systems having at least one critical requirement are subject to Equipment Qualification.

Principles of Equipment Qualification (EQ)

The extent of qualification activities will vary depending on the specific function of the equipment being qualified. Equipment may require IQ only, IQ/OQ, or IQ/OQ/PQ. The number and type of specific inspections and tests will be dependent on the complexity of the system & it’s impact on product quality.

Assessment of systems should include an evaluation of system components and functions to determine impact on product quality. These should take into account User Requirements, (when available), Critical Process Parameters, (CPPS), and Critical Quality Attributes, (CQAs) related to system use. The intent of these evaluations should be to ensure that appropriate inspections and tests are prescribed for each system element.

Records of assessments should become part of the validation files. They may be included in the Validation Plan or Equipment Qualification Protocols.

Installation Qualification (IQ)

IQ ensures that the equipment as installed, meets the User Requirements and that critical installation requirements have been verified.
Installation Qualification requirements could include the following: -

Commissioning complete verification
As-built schematic(s) – typically P&Ids
Equipment list – including all system components that are identified by a tag number
Instrument List – including all system instruments identified by tag number
Lubricants list – list lubricants with potential product contact
Software Title, Software Version & Installation Cert
Utility connections – verify utility connections
Instrument calibration records – at IQ stage, these may be factory calibrated
Parts list – verify location of parts list

Operational Qualification (OQ)

Operational Qualification ensures that the equipment as installed meets the User Requirements and that critical operational requirements have been verified.
OQ generally will consist of a test or series of tests designed to challenge critical operating requirements and alarms such as speed, pressure, temperature, flow rate etc, against pre-determined Acceptance Criteria. The duration of the tests should be adequate to ensure system capability to achieve desired performance while experiencing variations that might be expected to occur in normal use.
The operational ranges of testing should include a set of conditions encompassing upper and lower operating limits.
Operational Qualification requirements may include:-

IQ Complete – verify IQ completion
Instrument calibration records
Security, alarm & interlock checks
Critical Requirement test
Functional tests

Performance Qualification (PQ)

The purpose of PQ is to qualify the operation of a system of multiple units that may have undergone separate IQ/OQs.
The PQ of critical utilities should involve an extended monitoring and sampling program to demonstrate system performance.
PQ requirements are analogous to the OQ requirements listed above but should focus on integrated system performance. Read More...

Velopi can provide customers with the technical and management expertise needed to deliver projects. Either on-site with the customer or off-site; we provide an experienced, flexible & cost effective solution to either short term or long term needs. We provide a wide range of services to the Pharmaceutical & Medical Device industry globally.

Contact usfor further information on what we can do for your organisation.

Email: info@velopi.com

Phone: +353 (0)21 240 6250

Velopi at MEDTEC Cork Event

Tue, 04 Oct 2011 00:00:00 -0400

Ireland’s Only Event for the Medical Device Manufacturing Market

MEDTEC Ireland, the knowledge bank for medical device technology professionals, has moved to Cork for 2011. As the second largest hub of medical device manufacturing in Ireland, Cork has long been in our sights as an ideal location for a MEDTEC event.

With over 80 exhibitors showing best-in-class technologies, tools and tips for world-class medical device manufacturing strategies – coupled with a high-powered conference visitors to this year’s exposition - will have plenty to see and hear to help them build/retain their cost-effective and efficient manufacturing and supply-chain solutions.

Even amidst the economic downturn the global consumption of medical devices has continued to rise. Growing at an average rate of 9% per annum and driven by the changing demographic of a globally ageing population, medical device manufacturers continue to invest in manufacturing that serves an increasingly diverse market.

Nowhere has the search for medical device manufacturing excellence become more apparent than in Ireland. The Emerald Isle's aggressive package to attract inward investment has resulted in the establishment of manufacturing facilities for 15 of the world's top 20 medical device manufacturers.

During the past few years the emphasis in Ireland has changed from a low-cost manufacturing base to a centre of R&D excellence for the medical device industry. The requirement for up-to-date knowledge and learning in the fields of materials, technology and manufacturing has never been greater. This is particularly apparent in Cork where both pharmaceutical and medical device manufacturers have invested heavily in R&D facilities.

Come visit Velopi (Stand 218) at the MEDTEC event in Cork – tweet us, like us on facebook or link with Velopi and we will send you FREE tickets to this fantastic event!

Alternatively, email info@velopi.com or call: +353 21 240 6250

New PMP Exams available on MyPMP

Fri, 16 Sep 2011 00:00:00 -0400

New PMP Exams available on MyPMP

The Project Management Professional (PMP)® credential examination has been revised based on updates to the professional role of a PMP® credential holder recently found by PMI’s Role Delineation Study (RDS).

PMP Exam Changes

Project managers pursuing the credential or preparing for the exam should be aware that approximately 30 percent of the PMP exam has changed. As a result of the RDS, the Professional and Social Responsibility content area (Domain 6) is now included in every domain rather than a separate domain on the examination.

The recognition obtained through the RDS is that professional and social responsibility is integrated into all of the work of project management. PMI’s Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct should therefore be viewed as now integrated into the day-to-day role of a project manager, emphasizing its importance in each phase of the project lifecycle.

However, education and experience eligibility requirements for the PMP credential will not change.Velopi now have updated PMP exams on our exam simulator.

Project Management Professional (PMPÂ®) Courses Dublin, Limerick and Cork

Wed, 07 Sep 2011 00:00:00 -0400

Our Project Management Course Dublin (starting September 19th) is now FULL. The next course dates will be added to our home page later in the week.

Be sure to book early to avoid dissapointment as our early booking discount of €100 is very popular!!

We have the following Project Management courses lined up for Q4.
The normal course booking fee is €1200, which includes;

• 4 Day Project Management Professional (PMP®) training course
• All Printed course notes
• Lunch each day of the course
• Refreshments during course
• Professional Assistance in completion of the PMP Application online
• Support from one of our PMP qualified tutors leading upto and after the PMP Exam

Book early to avail of our €100 early booking discount and get your place on Velopi’s Project Management Professional (PMP®) preparation course for only €1095.

Upcoming Course Dates:

Project Management Courses
Cork:

October 13th, 14th, 20th, 21st

Project Mangement Courses
Dublin:

~~September 19th, 20th, 26th, 27th~~ FULL
November 21st, 22nd, 28th, 29th

Project Mangement Courses
Limerick:

October 11th, 12th, 18th, 19th

Velopi is an approved provider of project management training by the Project Management Institute (PMI). As a PMI Registered Education Provider (R.E.P.), Velopi's training courses have been reviewed against PMI's Quality Assurance guidelines.

We are one of the top project management training partners in Ireland we a long list of satisfied corporate clients ranging from Pharmaceutical to Medical Device companies. See what Our Customers have to say about us here!

Upcoming Project Management Professional (PMPÂ®) Courses

Mon, 22 Aug 2011 00:00:00 -0400

Upcoming Project Management Professional (PMP®) Courses

We have the following Project Management courses lined up for Q4.
The normal course booking fee is €1200, which includes;

• 4 Day Project Management Professional (PMP®) training course
• All Printed course notes
• Lunch each day of the course
• Refreshments during course
• Professional Assistance in completion of the PMP Application online
• Support from one of our PMP qualified tutors leading upto and after the PMP Exam

Book early to avail of our early booking discount and get your place on Velopi’s Project Management Professional (PMP®) preparation course for only €1095.

Upcoming Course Dates:
Project Management Courses
Cork:

October 13th, 14th, 20th, 21st

Project Mangement Courses
Dublin:

September 19th, 20th, 26th, 27th
November 21st, 22nd, 28th, 29th

Project Mangement Courses
Limerick:

October 11th, 12th, 18th, 19th

Velopi is an approved provider of project management training by the Project Management Institute (PMI). As a PMI Registered Education Provider (R.E.P.), Velopi's training courses have been reviewed against PMI's Quality Assurance guidelines.

We are one of the top project management training partners in Ireland we a long list of satisfied corporate clients ranging from Pharmaceutical to Medical Device companies.

How to Become a Certified Project Management Professional (PMPÂ®)

Wed, 03 Aug 2011 00:00:00 -0400

How to Become a Certified Project Management Professional (PMP®)

Becoming a PMP is not a difficult thing to do. This article will explain how to get PMP certified the easy way. In response to queries looking for material titled “PMP Certification for Dummies”, we have written this document to outline the basic information in relation to the credential and its attainment.

Follow the guidance below and this will help you to get PMP certified!

The PMP exam
The PMP exam is based on the Project Management Institutes PMP Examination Specification. The PMP exam consists of 200 multiple choice questions which deal with the 6 respective Project Management Processes. These are;

1. Initiating the project (11%)

2. Planning the project (23%)

3. Executing the project (27%)

4. Monitoring and controlling the project (21%)

5. Closing the project (9%)

6. Professional and social responsibility (9%)

To pass the PMP Exam, candidates need to score 106 out of 175 questions. Please note that 25 random questions within the exam are unmarked.

The Project Management Institute PMI
PMI serves practitioners and organizations with standards that describe good practices, globally recognized credentials that certify project management expertise, and resources for professional development, networking and community.*

PMP Certification Prerequisites
To apply for the PMP, you need to have either:

• A four-year degree (bachelor’s or the global equivalent) and at least three years of project management experience, with 4,500 hours leading and directing projects and 35 hours of project management education.

OR

• A secondary diploma (high school or the global equivalent) with at least five years of project management experience, with 7,500 hours leading and directing projects and 35 hours of project management education.

We will provide an excel template and guidance to assist you in compiling your Project Management experience for the PMP Exam Application form.

How to get PMP certified
To get certified, you will need to sit and pass the PMP Exam. Once you pass the exam and receive your results you will be added to the list of PMP credential holders worldwide.

New PMP Exam format
According to the PMI approximately 30% of the exam will change (August 31st). The Professional and Social Responsibility content area (Domain 6) will now be tested in every domain rather than as a separate domain previously.

1. Initiating the project (13%)

2. Planning the project (24%)

3. Executing the project (30%)

4. Monitoring and controlling the project (25%)

5. Closing the project (8%)

PMP Exam and Certification Costs
The combined cost for both the PMP Exam and all Certification costs are

• $555 for non-PMI members
• $405 PMI members

PMP Exam and Certification preparation
In order to prepare for the PMP Exam, candidates should enroll on a PMP Preparation or revision course; click here for information about Velopi’s PMP Preparation Courses. Following this course, they should practice with Velopi’s 800 PMP Question Exam Simulator.

How much time does it take to prepare for the PMP Certification Exam
The amount of time required to prepare for the PMP Certification Exam depends very much on the candidate, the academic background and other commitments. A guide to preparation time would be 4 weeks study after attending Velopi’s PMP Preparation Course, but again this is dependant on the individual.

* Taken from Project Management Institute Website

Download .pdf version

PMP Examination to Be Updated in August 2011

Wed, 03 Aug 2011 00:00:00 -0400

The PMP exam will be updated as of 31 August. This means that the last day to take the current PMP exam in 30 August. For those you out there thinking of taking the PMP exam this year, it’s worth remembering that a new version of the exam will be issued. So if you’re planning on taking the PMP exam on 30 August or after that date, you will be doing a significantly different exam!

Why is this? These modifications are based on updates to the professional role of a PMP credential holder recently found in PMI's Role Delineation Study (RDS).

Every 5-7 years the Project Management Institute (PMI) reviews the PMP credential to ensure it is up to date with the current needs and trends of project management practices. After collecting information from more than 3,000 certified PMP’s, PMI have produced an updated version of the exam.

In this blog post I’ll run through some of the major changes in the PMP exam and in doing so answer some of the commonly asked questions we’ve being getting here at Velopi.

Although the role has changed and the exam content will change a bit to reflect the updated role, the education and experience eligibility requirements for the PMP remain the same.

Following the latest update to the PMP exam, approximately 30% of the exam will change. If you already hold PMP certification, fear not! The new changes will not affect your current credential. According to the PMI, the eligibility criteria and application process for the PMP exam will also remain unchanged. Only the multiple-choice examination content of the exam will be amended.

One of the major updates involves the Professional and Social Responsibility content area (Domain 6). This will now be tested in every domain rather than as a separate domain. Or to quote the PMI, “PMI’s Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct is now integrated into the day-to-day role of a project manager, emphasizing its importance in each phase of the project lifecycle.”

Candidates should, however, continue to study the Fourth Edition of the PMBOK Guide. The update to the exam will not affect the study guide. A new version of the PMBOK guide is scheduled to be released sometime in 2012.

Participants in Velopi’s training courses who may be affected by the exam changes will be fully briefed by a certified PMP tutor. You can read more about this topic on the PMI website.

Remember, do not hesitate to contact us in a variety of ways: facebook, twitter, email or by phone!

Delivery of PMP Exam Results

Wed, 27 Jul 2011 00:00:00 -0400

As you know, the new Project Management Professional (PMP)® examination will be released on 31 August 2011 as a result of the recent Role Delineation Study (RDS). The PMP® RDS is the foundation on which this professional certification is based.

The RDS defines what project managers do, how often they do it and how important their work is. As the RDS is updated, there are resulting updates to the examination questions and process areas in the PMP examination application.

PMI strongly recommends PMP candidates who have prepared for the current exam to schedule their exam on or before 30 August.

Delivery of Exam Results

As PMI transition to the new examination, they must update the examination reporting processes. This means for a short period of time examination results will not be available immediately following the examination. There will be a 4–6 week period between taking the examination and receiving the results via email. The delay is necessary any time an exam changes to validate the new examination structure. In particular, please note the following details about the delivery of the examination results.

• PMP candidates who take the updated computer-based examination on or after 31 August will not receive immediate results at the Prometric testing center.

• PMP candidates taking the updated paper-based examination can also expect a delay in receiving their examination results.

• Once PMI validates the new examination structure (by mid-October) we will be able to resume providing individuals with immediate results at the Prometric testing center.

• Each PMP candidate will receive a communication to notify them when their results are available at PMI.org.

• All candidates can expect to receive their examination results by mid-October.

If you have any further queries, please contact us.

seamus.collins@velopi.com

Changes to PMP Application

Wed, 27 Jul 2011 00:00:00 -0400

For candidates who are getting ready to apply for the PMP, the application will be updated to reflect the current role of the project manager revealed in the new RDS.

• In the past, PMI has required PMP candidates to track and report their hours of experience leading and directing projects for each task within the RDS.

• On 31 August, PMI will update the PMP application to require candidates to track and report their hours for each domain (Process Group) within the RDS.

• Any candidates who have an application in progress at the time the change is made will have their experience hours migrated to the new application, so that no data is lost.

• Please refer to the PMP Handbook on PMI.org for more detailed instructions.

If you have any further queries, please contact us

info@velopi.com

The value of a concise Project Management Professional (PMP)Â® Cheat Sheet

Tue, 05 Jul 2011 00:00:00 -0400

There are a number of areas in the PMP® Exam where questions are based on mathematical equations. To succeed in these question areas, all you need is to know the formulas and understand their application. Velopi’s PMP® Formulas Cheat Sheet provides a quick visual reference of all of the key formulas required for the PMP® Exam.

This information is also very useful for a PMP® braindump. When you are sitting in the exam centre prior to beginning the PMP® exam, you will have 15 minutes to get used to the environment. You can use this time to quickly dump all of the information onto the paper provided in the examination centre.

By learning Velopi’s PMP® Exam Cheat Sheet, you will be able to quickly replicate the PMP® Formula Cheat Sheet from memory. This will help you succeed in relevant PMP® exam questions.

If you would like a copy of our Free PMP® Exam Cheat Sheet, please email info@velopi.com.

If you have any queries or require further help with Velopi’s PMP® Cheat Sheet please contact

Seamus Collins
seamus.collins@velopi.com

PMBOK® Guide, PMP®,PMI® are registered trademarks of the Project Management Institute.

12 Step guide to completing the Project Management Institutes (PMI)Â® Project Management Professional (PMP)Â® online application correctly the first time.

Mon, 04 Jul 2011 00:00:00 -0400

Would you like to apply for PMP® Certification? Do you need help filling out the PMP® application form? This can be a daunting task, especially as PMI® request that the majority of applications are processed online. Unless you are properly prepared, it can take a lot of time and effort to collate and organize the information required. Consequently, mistakes are easily made and often result in applications being audited. This article will explain how to fill out a PMP® application form correctly.

One solution to this is to use a PMP® sample application form. Velopi's PMP® Experience calculator is an excellent tool to help organise, prepare and edit your project management experience. It guides you through the PMP® application process ensuring that the data you enter into the online PMP® application form makes sense.

Email us at info@velopi.com for a copy of our free PMP® Experience Calculator.

The following 12 steps will take you through our PMP® Application help process;

PMP Application Form Preparation;

Step 1 – Download the following items
• Velopi’s PMP® Experience Calculator.
• PDF version of PMI’®s PMP® Credential Application form and print a hardcopy. (Always complete in hardcopy prior to online application process.)

Step 2 - Start by completing page 1 of the PMP® exam application form by giving your name. Please ensure that you use the same name as the valid identification you will bring to the exam. If your passport states “John J. Smith” then use this on the PMP® application form. When adding a billing address, ensure that it matches the billing address on your credit card statement.

Step 3 – Add Educational information. Only use the highest level of education attained at the time of preparing your PMP® credential application.

Step 4 – Select projects you are using for your PMP® application and complete Section 1 of the Experience calculator. This section will calculate the total hours spent on each project. Next fill in grey cells with project start and finish dates, name of project and duration of project (months).

Be careful not to include time spent working on two projects in parallel – do not double count hours. All overlapping projects must have the correct amount of hours allocated to each project. If your total hours do not meet the following criteria then you do not have sufficient experience to apply for the PMP® credential

• With a baccalaureate degree – 4500 hours
• Without a baccalaureate degree – 7500 hours

Figure 1 – Section 1 (Project Details) of Velopi’s PMP® Experience Calculator

Step 5 – You can now move to Section 2 where you will need to input the hours you have spent on each project leading and directing project tasks in each of the project management process groups. Take each project task for each project and estimate the hours you spent completing this task and enter the value into the grey cells in the spreadsheet. Do this for all tasks working your way down through each process for every project. This takes some time but once complete the PMP® Application form is nearly finished.

Figure 2 – Section 2 (Project Tasks) of Velopi’s PMP® Experience Calculator

Step 6 – Section 3 will give you a summary and enable you to check the hours you have entered. Take your time to ensure that the hours totaled for each project match in each section. Errors here will probably result in your application being audited.

Figure 3 – Section 3 (Experience Summary) of Velopi’s PMP® Experience Calculator

Step 7 - Once you have completed the experience verification you will need to summarise the project tasks that you led and directed on each project in a short 500 character description in the hardcopy application form.

PMI Application Hardcopy Preparation

Step 8 - Complete step 4 & 5 for all projects using the results from Velopi’s PMP® Experience Calculator.

Step 9 - Complete Project Management Education section with minimum of 35 hours project management training/education.

PMI Online Application Form Completion

Step 10 - Once you have completed the hardcopy, check it against the spreadsheet and ensure that all hours allocated to project tasks match and that the sub-totals are correct.

Step 11 - Carefully transfer information from hardcopy PMP® Application Form to the PMP® Online Application Form.

Step 12 - Finally complete and submit Online PMP® Application Form.

This PMP® Experience calculator is not endorsed by PMI® and is provided to assist in the collation of data while preparing the PMP® application form.

If you have any queries or require further help with the PMP® Application forms please contact

Seamus Collins
seamus.collins@velopi.com

PMBOK® Guide, PMP®,PMI® are registered trademarks of the Project Management Institute.

Job Opportunity - Experienced Project Manager

Fri, 01 Jul 2011 00:00:00 -0400

Velopi Ltd requires an experienced project manager is required to lead a new project in Galway

THE ROLE:

An experienced project manager is required to lead a new project.
The role includes the following:
Usual project management activities (e.g. Scope, Time, Cost, quality, HR, Communications, Risk) within the project
Implement best practice tools and techniques in project management
Lead continuous improvement projects to drive better execution of product development projects
Compile Project Files
Support the overall project management infrastructure in the business

REQUIREMENTS:

3rd level Degree or better with previous experience in project management.
PMP certification preferred
Good communication, organisational, presentation, and leadership skills
Good team skills with a high level of enthusiasm and motivation.
Skilled in MS project, Powerpoint

If interested, send your CV to vacancies@velopi.com or call Seamus 086 8102111

Job Opportunity - Equipment Validation Engineers

Fri, 01 Jul 2011 00:00:00 -0400

Velopi Ltd requires Equipment Validation Engineers to supplement existing team for contracts on client sites.

We require 2 engineers for 5 month contract in Cork.

Typical duties include:

* Write, review, execute all documentation associated with equipment (URS, Specs, protocols, Reports etc) in a Medical Device company
* Typical equipment includes sealing m/c's, crimping, fishman dispenser etc.

Person Specification:

* Education in Engineering or equivalent
* 5+ yrs Industry experience in Medical Device or Pharmaceutical industry in validation role
* Experience with GAMP 5 guidance
* Good estimation ability to scope subsequent validation work.
* Candidate should be proactive and work on their own initiative
* Accurate and methodical
* Strong communication skills – written and oral

If interested, send your CV to vacancies@velopi.com or call Seamus 086 8102111

Job Opportunity - System Test Engineer with Finance

Fri, 01 Jul 2011 00:00:00 -0400

We require a System Test engineer with Finance application experience for a Cork contract role:

Skill Set & experience required:

A minimum 5 years of overall Test or QA experience with at least 3 years of experience working for the Financial Services sector.
Deep technical experience performing System Test activities on mainframe type systems
Significant experience in creating testing strategies, writing and executing system test cases

Personal Skill Set Required:

High standards of accuracy
Good time management and the ability to work to tight deadlines
Quality assurance mentality

If interested, send your CV to vacancies@velopi.com or call Seamus 086 8102111

Project Management Institute (PMI)Â® Credentials â Professional Certification for Project Managers

Tue, 21 Jun 2011 00:00:00 -0400

Professional certification in Project Management can lead to increased career and employment opportunities. The Project Management Institute (PMI)^® offers a wide range of Certifications to suit every level of project management practitioner. Achievement of PMI^® certification demonstrates a candidate’s knowledge and experience and provides formal internationally recognized acknowledgement of their project management abilities.

The Project Management Certifications offered by the Project Management Institute are;

• Project Management Professional (PMP)^®
The Project Management Professional (PMP)^® credential is an internationally recognized certification which demonstrates a Project Managers ability to effectively lead and direct projects. It is the standard certification for most practicing Project Managers and increases their marketability to employers and career options.

• Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM)^®
The Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM)^® credential is aimed at project team members and is considered an entry-level certification. It is suitable for project team members who require an understanding of the fundamentals of project management based on the Project Management Institutes, A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge, (PMBOK^® Guide) - Fourth Edition, Project Management Institute, Inc., 2008

• Program Management Professional (PgMP)^®
The Program Management Professional (PgMP)^® credential is aimed at experienced program managers. Achievement demonstrates a proven aptitude in program management and the ability to manage multiple complex projects simultaneously.

• PMI Scheduling Professional (PMI-SP)^®
The PMI Scheduling Professional (PMI-SP)^® credential is a specialized certification aimed at specialized project scheduling. It is internationally recognized and demonstrates excellent scheduling abilities

• PMI Risk Management Professional (PMI-RMP)^®
The PMI Risk Management Professional (PMI-RMP)^® credential is a specialized certification aimed at specialized Project Risk Management.

Velopi Ltd provide Project Management Training courses in preparation for all of the above PMI^® project management credentials. If you have any further questions relating to PMI^® Certification or training courses in preparation for the PMI^® exams, please contact us for further information.

We run regular Project Management and PMP^® Exam Preparation courses in Cork, Dublin, Galway and Limerick, so take that next step in your career, secure a Project Management credential and open the door to your future!

PMBOK, PMP, PgMP, CAPM, PMI-SP and PMI-RMP are registered marks of the Project Management Institute, Inc.

Project Management Professional (PMP)Â® Examination to Be Updated in August 2011

Thu, 16 Jun 2011 00:00:00 -0400

The PMP^® exam will be updated as of 31 August. This means that the last day to take the current PMP^® exam of 30 August. For those you out there thinking of taking the PMP^® exam this year, it’s worth remembering that a new version of the exam will be issued. So if you’re planning on taking the PMP^® exam on 30 August or after that date, you will be doing a significantly different exam!

Why is this? These modifications are based on updates to the professional role of a PMP^® credential holder recently found in PMI^®'s Role Delineation Study (RDS).

Every 5-7 years the Project Management Institute (PMI)^® reviews the PMP^® credential to ensure it is up to date with the current needs and trends of project management practices. After collecting information from more than 3,000 certified PMP^®’s, PMI^® have produced an updated version of the exam.

In this blog post I’ll run through some of the major changes in the PMP^® exam and in doing so answer some of the commonly asked questions we’ve being getting here at MyPMP.ie.

Although the role has changed and the exam content will change a bit to reflect the updated role, the education and experience eligibility requirements for the PMP^® remain the same.

Following the latest update to the PMP^® exam, approximately 30% of the exam will change. If you already hold PMP^® certification, fear not! The new changes will not affect your current credential. According to the PMI^®, the eligibility criteria and application process for the PMP^® exam will also remain unchanged. Only the multiple-choice examination content of the exam will be amended.

One of the major updates involves the Professional and Social Responsibility content area (Domain 6). This will now be tested in every domain rather than as a separate domain. Or to quote the PMI^® , “PMI^®’s Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct is now integrated into the day-to-day role of a project manager, emphasizing its importance in each phase of the project lifecycle.”

Candidates should, however, continue to study the Project Management Institutes, A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge, (PMBOK^®Guide) - Fourth Edition, Project Management Institute, Inc., 2008. The update to the exam will not affect the study guide. A new version of the PMBOK^® Guide is scheduled to be released sometime in 2012.

Participants in Velopi’s training courses who may be affected by the exam changes will be fully briefed by a certified PMP^® tutor. You can read more about this topic on the PMI^® website.

Remember, do not hesitate to contact us in a variety of ways: facebook, twitter, email or by phone!

PMBOK, PMP, PgMP, CAPM, PMI-SP and PMI-RMP are registered marks of the Project Management Institute, Inc.

Project Management Professional (PMP)Â® Exam Topic - HR - Teamwork

Wed, 15 Jun 2011 00:00:00 -0400

HR (Human Resources) is considered to be one of the “easier” exam topics – however still requires attention before sitting your PMP^® Exam as it is a frequently asked question in the exam. At our recent Limerick PMP^® Exam Preparation Course, we discussed some of the following aspects of HR for the PMP^® Exam.

What are the characteristics of an effective team?
Here are just a few attributes of a successful team:
• High level of commitment to common and inspiring goals/vision
• Team are innovative and creative
• Roles and responsibilities are clearly defined
• Conflict can lead to better results
• Effective communication systems
• Trust and co-operation exist
• Everyone opinion is heard and valued
• Project members are empowered
• Appreciation and praise is the norm
• Success is celebrated

What are the characteristics of an ineffective team?
Some of the features of a problem team:
• No direction – lack of clear objectives
•Divergent outlooks
•Team leadership issues
•Communication issues
•Frustrations and issues raised outside meetings
•Decisions are slow and imposed
•No listening – score settling
•Politics & Gossip
•New ideas rejected – people stop suggestions
•A few talk the mostErrors are punished

If you have any other Project Management related questions that you would like us to answer just ask us on Velopi on Facebook, follow us on twitter or drop us an email info@velopi.com

PMBOK, PMP, PgMP, CAPM, PMI-SP and PMI-RMP are registered marks of the Project Management Institute, Inc.

Project Management Professional (PMP)Â® Exam - Types of Questions

Fri, 10 Jun 2011 00:00:00 -0400

Today, we’re going to run through some of the different types of questions you may be asked in the PMP^® project management exam. The ability to recognize and deal with each type of question will significantly increase your chances of attaining PMP^® certification. All PMP^® sample questions on our exam simulator are based on these question types.

Formula Based Questions:
Obviously, these questions are based on the approximately 50 formulas one must know for the PMP^® exam. It is very important to learn these formulas inside out and to actively practice using the formulas. Our courses will give you methods to understand these formulas. These techniques will make them easy to remember. Formula based questions are really good in multiple-choice PMP^® questions in that there is a right answer once you plug the values into the formula.

Situational Based Questions:
These questions test your ability to apply theoretical knowledge to real life project management scenarios. They can be quite long, involve a lot of reading and therefore, time. It’s important to quickly recognize what is important in the question and be able to ignore the unnecessary information that will almost certainly be thrown in to confuse you.

Knowledge Based Questions:
These questions may ask you to identify the meaning of a project management scenario based on the information provided. They are quite broad in nature. For example, you could get a question where you are asked to find the exception within the four answers given or you may be asked to name a type of chart or diagram. E.g. The Pareto Chart.

Interpretational Questions:
Interpretational questions give you a description of a situation and ask you about the best options to take. For example, they could give you a situation where a project is behind schedule and ask you to pick the best option a project manager should take to make up the lost time.

Remember: If you have any other Project Management related questions or comments, just write under this blog, ask us on Velopi on Facebook or follow us on twitter!

PMBOK, PMP, PgMP, CAPM, PMI-SP and PMI-RMP are registered marks of the Project Management Institute, Inc.

Job Opportunity - Equipment Validation Engineers

Thu, 02 Jun 2011 00:00:00 -0400

Velopi Ltd requires Equipment Validation Engineers to supplement existing team for contracts on client sites.

We require people for 3 and 6 month contracts in Cork.

Typical duties include:

Write, review, execute all documentation associated with equipment (URS, Specs, protocols, Reports etc)

Person specification:

Education in Engineering or equivalent
5+ yrs Industry experience in Medical Device or Pharmaceutical industry in validation role
Experience with GAMP 5 guidance
Good estimation ability to scope subsequent validation work.
Candidate should be proactive and work on their own initiative
Accurate and methodical
Strong communication skills – written and oral

If interested, send your CV to vacancies@velopi.com or call Seamus 086 8102111

Project Management Professional (PMP)Â® Exam Topic - Conflict Management

Mon, 30 May 2011 00:00:00 -0400

Conflict Management is a frequently asked question under the Human Resources section of the PMP^® Exam.

Some of the most common sources of conflict in a project team environment include schedules, project priorities, resources, technical opinions, administrative procedures, cost and personality.

What are some of the most commonly used Conflict Management Techniques?

• Withdrawing/Avoiding: Retreating from an actual or potential conflict situation.

• Smoothing/Accommodating: Emphasizing areas of agreement rather than areas of difference.

• Compromising: Searching for solutions that bring some degree of satisfaction to all parties.

• Forcing: Pushing one’s viewpoint at the expense of others, offers only win-lose solutions.

• Collaborating: Incorporating multiple viewpoints and insights from differing perspectives; leads to consensus and commitment.

• Confronting/Problem Solving: Treating conflict as a problem to be solved by examining alternatives; requires a give-and-take attitude and open dialogue.

If you have any other Project Management related questions or comments, just write under this blog, ask us on our Velopi on facebook page or follow us on twitter!

PMBOK, PMP, PgMP, CAPM, PMI-SP and PMI-RMP are registered marks of the Project Management Institute, Inc.

Project Management Professional (PMP)Â® Exam Topic - Human Resources

Fri, 27 May 2011 00:00:00 -0400

HR (Human Resources) is considered to be one of the “easier” exam topics – however still requires attention before sitting your PMP^® Exam as it is a frequently asked question in the exam.

At our recent Dublin PMP^® Exam Preparation Course, we discussed some of the following aspects of HR for the PMP^® Exam.

What are the different Leadership Styles?

* Directing: Telling others what to do
* Facilitating: Co-ordinating the input of others
* Coaching: Instructing others
* Supporting: Providing assistance during the project
* Autocratic: Making decisions without input
* Consultative: Inviting ideas from others
* Consensus: Problem solving within group; decision making based on group agreement

What does the Human Resource Plan Include?

HR Plan includes Enterprise Environmental Factors, Organisational Process Assets and Activity Resource Requirements.

The following are just a couple of definitions found in the Human Resource Plan:

RAM - Responsibility Assignment Matrix: RAM is used to illustrate connections between work packages and project team members.

RACI - Responsible, accountable, consult, inform: Shows all the activities associated with one person and all people associated with one activity.

OBS - Organizational Breakdown Structure: Hierarchical-type chart which is arranged according to an organization’s existing departments, units, or teams with the project activities or work packages listed under each department.

Resource Histogram - Illustrates resource utilization over time.

These are just two aspects of the HR section of the PMP^® Exam. Remember to cover this section of the course before you sit your PMP^® Exam. Best of Luck!

Don’t forget to follow us on twitter!

PMBOK, PMP, PgMP, CAPM, PMI-SP and PMI-RMP are registered marks of the Project Management Institute, Inc.

Project Cost Management - Exam Topic

Mon, 09 May 2011 00:00:00 -0400

There are usually a number of questions on the Project Management Professional (PMP)^® exam relating to a Project Cost Management. This article will explain some terms relating to the Project Cost Management section of the course.

What is Project Cost Management?
Project Cost Management includes the process involved in the planning, estimating, budgeting & controlling costs so that the project can be completed within the approved budget. A project manager must:
• Estimate Costs
• Determine Budget
• Control Costs

What are “Resources”?
Resources are:
• People
• Equipment
• Materials
• Estimation involves determining
• What type of resources are required
• What resource rates
• What resource quantities
• Where will the resources come from
• Alternative strategies to obtain critical resources

What are the different Types of Costs?
Sunk Costs: A cost that has already been incurred whether action is taken or not. Sunk costs should not be considered when deciding whether to continue with a project.

Variable Costs: Any cost that changes with the amount of work e.g. materials, wages

Fixed Costs: Costs that do not change as production changes e.g. Set-up, rental etc

Direct Costs: Costs directly associated with the project
Wages, team travel, cost of materials.

Indirect Costs: Overhead items incurred for the benefit of more than 1 project. Examples include Taxes, cleaning, lighting and so on.

Remember, Project Cost Management is a commonly asked question in the PMP^® Exam. In order to achieve the PMP^® certification a project manager must be familiar with the Project Cost Management.

If you have any other questions that you would like us to answer, just comment under this blog, ask us on facebook or tweet @velopi on twitter!

PMBOK, PMP, PgMP, CAPM, PMI-SP and PMI-RMP are registered marks of the Project Management Institute, Inc.

Quality Planning Tools for Quality Management Plan

Fri, 06 May 2011 00:00:00 -0400

Yesterday on Twitter, we were asked about Quality Planning and so, thought it might be useful if we posted some information here, on this topic.

Quality Planning Tools is a commonly asked question on the Project Management Professional (PMP)^® Exam. It is crucial that a Project Manager would be familiar with all aspects of Quality Planning Tools on the course in order to gain PMP^® Certification.

What is Quality?
• “Quality is fitness for use” – Juran
• “Quality means conformance to requirements” – Crosby
• “Quality is the degree to which a set of inherent characteristics fulfil requirements” – Project Management Institutes, A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge, (PMBOK® Guide) - Fourth Edition, Project Management Institute, Inc., 2008 & ISO9000: 2000
• Quality is meeting customer expectations

What are the Quality Planning Tools?
Quality Planning Tools form part of the Quality Management Plan. There are six tools:

1. Control Charts
• Purpose is to determine whether or not a process is stable or has predictable performance
• Data gathering tool to show when a process is subject to a special cause variation
• Illustrate how a process behaves over time
• E.g. Project: Used to monitor cost or schedule variances. Product: Used to determine if the number of defects found during testing are acceptable or unacceptable
• Upper & lower control limits

2. Cost-Benefit Analysis
• Consider the cost-benefit trade off
• Benefit is less re-work, higher productivity, increased stakeholder satisfaction
• Cost is the expense associated with project quality mgmt activities

3. Benchmarking
• Comparing actual or planned project activities to those of other projects
• Generate ideas for improvement
• Provide a basis to measure performance
• Can be internal or external projects

4. Design of Experiments (DOE)
• Statistical method that helps identify which variables have the most influence on the product or process
• “What if” analysis to determine what variables will impact product quality
• Also plays a role in optimization of product or process
• E.g. Car manufacturers use DOE to determine which combination of tires and suspension give the most desired ride characteristics at a reasonable cost

5. Cost of Quality
• Looking at how the cost of conformance & non-conformance to quality will cost the project and creating a balance
• Prevention costs
• Appraisal costs
• Failure costs
• Internal
• External

6. Additional Tools
• Flowcharting
A diagram showing how parts of a process or system relate
Used in Quality Planning to analyze potential future quality problems
Used in Quality control to analyze quality problems
Cause and effect
• Ishikawa diagrams
• Fishbone diagram
Brainstorming, Affinity Diagrams, Force field analysis

Remember, Quality Planning Tools is a commonly asked question in the PMP^® Exam. In order to achieve the PMP^® certification a project manager must be familiar with the Quality Planning tools.

If you have any other Project Management related questions that you would like us to answer, just comment under this blog, ask us on facebook or tweet @velopi on twitter!

PMBOK, PMP, PgMP, CAPM, PMI-SP and PMI-RMP are registered marks of the Project Management Institute, Inc.

Time Managment

Thu, 05 May 2011 00:00:00 -0400

During one of our recent Project Management Professional (PMP)^® Exam preparation courses we were asked a few questions about Time Management, so we thought it may be useful to post the answers to these questions on our blog.
Time Management is a commonly asked question in the PMP^® Exam. In order to achieve the PMP^® certification a project manager must be familiar with all aspects of Time Management on the course.

What is time management?
Project Time Management includes the process required to complete timely completion of the project:
• Define Activities
• Sequence Activities
• Estimate Activity Resources
• Estimate Activity Durations
• Develop Schedule
• Control Schedule

What is the Critical Path Method?
Critical Path Method calculates early/late start/finish dates without considering resource limitations. It is done by forward and backward pass through the schedule network paths. Activities on critical path are called “critical activities”
What are the advantages of the Critical Path Method (CPM)?
Critical path and activities are identified which:
• Allows for risk management focus on these activities
• Focus for management intervention E.g. Add resources to critical activities
• Teases out activity interaction and path to completing the work
• A project can have multiple critical paths. That means, the project is more complex to handle

What is a Milestone?
• Represents a major project date, deliverable, beginning or completion of a piece of work
• Examples include contractual obligations, sign-off dates, major block of WBS completion dates
• Represented by black diamond shape
• Has zero duration

If you have any other Project Management related questions that you would like us to answer, just comment under this blog, ask us on facebook or tweet @velopi on twitter!

PMBOK, PMP, PgMP, CAPM, PMI-SP and PMI-RMP are registered marks of the Project Management Institute, Inc.

Work Breakdown Structure

Wed, 04 May 2011 00:00:00 -0400

There are usually a number of questions on the Project Management Professional (PMP)^® exam relating to a Work Breakdown Structure. This article will explain what a work breakdown structure is and why a project manager would use one.

What is a Work Breakdown Structure?
In project management a key tool to ensure project scope is fully defined, is a Work Breakdown Structure (WBS)
A Work Breakdown Structure:
• Organises, defines and displays the total scope of the project
• Progresses downward from general to specific
• Sub-divides the project work into smaller, more manageable pieces of work
• Converts projects objectives into specific deliverables
• Does not show dependencies

Why use a Work Breakdown Structure?

• Graphical; easy readable form of all project work
o Clearly defined project scope; identify gaps and duplication
o Important for responsibility delegation
o Input to risk management
o Input to communications, quality, HR, contract planning
• Easy to see work package relationship and connection to end product
• Provides structure for organizing
o Cost, Budget
o Work Package Management and tracking
o Input to schedule
• Ease of management of project

The WBS is a commonly asked question in the PMP^® Exam. In order to achieve the PMP^® certification a project manager must be familiar with a WBS and how to use it.

PMBOK, PMP, PgMP, CAPM, PMI-SP and PMI-RMP are registered marks of the Project Management Institute, Inc.

Access to Velopi.com

Wed, 27 Apr 2011 00:00:00 -0400

We would like to apologise to any of our customers who may have experienced some difficulty accessing our website over the past 24 hours.

Our web hosting company had a failure in one of their Storage Area Networks (SAN) yesterday, and so resulted in our website being out of action. This problem was out of our control and we are happy to confirm the problem is now resolved.

Please contact us if you encountered technical problems while you were doing exam(s) on our website.

We sincerely apologise for any inconvenience this has caused.

Project Management Professional (PMP)Â® Boot Camp

Tue, 19 Apr 2011 00:00:00 -0400

Velopi will be holding a PMP^® exam preparation boot camp in various locations around the country.

These 2 day boot camps will cover all the material required to pass the PMP^® exam. All users will also get access to 800 PMP^® exam sample questions in the exam simulator.

Course Duration: 2 Days + Exam Simulator Access

Cork: June 16, 17
Dublin: May 31, June 1
Limerick: June 21, 22

For more details, please Contact Us!

PMBOK, PMP, PgMP, CAPM, PMI-SP and PMI-RMP are registered marks of the Project Management Institute, Inc.

The Project Management Professional (PMP)Â® Certification

Mon, 18 Apr 2011 00:00:00 -0400

Studies indicate that only one-quarter of all projects world-wide succeed in achieving quality, cost and schedule objectives. With the ever increasing pressure to manage costs and an equally aggressive market space for quality products delivered to scheduled dates; the need for certified project managers is increasing.

The Project Management Professional (PMP)^® certification is the most widely recognised certification available to Project Managers worldwide.

Professionally Certified Project Managers are a benchmark for excellence in terms of performance and productivity in their profession and also bring a repeatable, consistent quality to the projects they manage.

Project Management Certification gives project managers a competitive edge in job opportunities, promotions and they also retain higher salaries than those without certification. This course is geared towards achieving PMP^® certification.

For more information on our PMP^® Exam Preparation Courses or our PMP^® Exam Boot Camps Click Here

PMBOK, PMP, PgMP, CAPM, PMI-SP and PMI-RMP are registered marks of the Project Management Institute, Inc.

Project Management Professional (PMP)Â® Project Charter and Project Management courses in Ireland.

Tue, 05 Apr 2011 00:00:00 -0400

You have just been assigned the position of project manager to a new project. What is the name of the document that formally authorizes the project?
A. The project assignment
B. The project charter
C. The project description
D. The statement of work

As you probably guessed from the title of this blog, the answer is B – the project charter! The project charter will contain the name of the project manager. Exam wise, it is part of the project initiation phase and the Project Management Institute (PMI)^® state that a project cannot start without a project charter. Once the shareholders are satisfied, the document can be signed off and the project can get started. These high level requirements must be accurately documented as they will be used to create the Project Scope document.

The project charter should be created by external parties and by the people who are to perform the tasks within it, for example, the project manager in collaboration with the client or sponsor. The project charter is usually a fairly broad document that will not need to be changed too often. A more detailed description of the project will be contained within the scope statement.

We have several 4 day and 2 day PMP^® courses scheduled in the upcoming months. For those of you interested in the Dublin based courses, there is a 4 day PMP^® Exam preparation course on June 28th, 29th and July 5th, 6th as well as a 2 day course on May 31st and June 1st. A Limerick based 4 day PMP^® course is scheduled for May 18th, 19th, 25th and 26th and the 2 day Limerick PMP^® course is on June 21st and 22nd. Due to high demand, we have also added a 2 day PMP^® Exam preparation course in Cork on June 16th and 17th.

Everything a person needs to obtain Project Management Professional (PMP)^® certification will be covered on these courses from the PMP^® application process right through to the PMP^® certification exam. Participants also gain unlimited access to the 800 PMP^® exam questions in the exam simulator. Click here for more information on these courses.

PMBOK, PMP, PgMP, CAPM, PMI-SP and PMI-RMP are registered marks of the Project Management Institute, Inc.

Project Management Professional (PMP)Â® Exam Topic â The Code of Ethics

Fri, 01 Apr 2011 00:00:00 -0400

This blog is focussed on the PMI^® Code of Ethics. Unusually, the PMI^® Code of Ethics is not covered in the Project Management Institutes, A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge, (PMBOK^® Guide)- Fourth Edition, Project Management Institute, Inc., 2008. However, you can find the PMI^® Code of Ethics on the PMI^® Website. It is essential that you download and study the Code of Ethics because typically the PMP^® exam will contain 10-15 questions on the subject.

The code itself is based on project management ethics and the specifically the values that a responsible project manager should use in his/her business practices. Central to the code are the ideas of responsibility, respect, fairness and honesty.

Most PMP^® questions on the subject will describe a hypothetical situation where you are asked to make a decision about certain situations or opportunities that you may encounter as a project manager. For example: “You have evidence that co-workers have been involved in illegal activities that violate the company’s rules of conduct. What action will you take?” Like all PMP^® questions, you will be given four possible answers. It is not necessary to learn the code of conduct verbatim but it is crucial to have a thorough understanding of its principles.

Upcoming dates for our Dublin PMP^® exam preparation course are April 6th, 7th, 13th and 14th. Everything a person needs to gain Project Management Professional certification will be covered in this 4-day course from the PMP^® application process right through to the PMP^® certification exam. People who attend will also get unlimited access to 800 PMP^® exam questions in the Velopi PMP^® exam simulator. See here for more info.

Places on our 2 day PMP^® Exam Preparation course are going fast. The dates are as follows: Cork: May 12th, 13th; Dublin May 31st, June 1st; Limerick: June 21st and 22nd. Click here for more information, course fees and bookings.

PMBOK, PMP, PgMP, CAPM, PMI-SP and PMI-RMP are registered marks of the Project Management Institute, Inc.

Project Management Professional (PMP)Â® Question Strategies and Upcoming Dublin PMP Course

Mon, 14 Mar 2011 00:00:00 -0400

Today we’ll take a look at strategies for answering PMP^® Exam questions even if you are not entirely sure of the answer. This is an important skill because you should answer every single question on the PMP^® Exam.

The format of the PMI^® PMP^® exam is as follows: 200 Multiple choice questions where each question has four possible answers labelled A, B, C or D. Each correct answer is worth one point. Here’s the key point: If you don’t answer a question, it is considered incorrect and you get nothing but if you take an educated guess, you are increasing your chance of getting those valuable points. Incorrect answers are not marked negatively so it’s always worth taking a gamble even if you are unsure of the answer.

Make sure you read and understand the question and the four possible answers. Many PMP^® questions will contain superfluous information which you can ignore. The possible answers will also contain 1 or 2 choices that will be blatantly incorrect. Use your project management knowledge to filter what is relevant from what is not relevant. Once you have completed this process of elimination, it’s a simply a case of making a choice.

Our Exam simulator is a great resource for practicing and perfecting these techniques. See here for more info.

Just a quick reminder that places are at a premium on our upcoming four day Dublin PMP^® training course! The dates are April 6th, 7th, 13th and 14th. The course fee also includes access to our PMP^® Exam simulator.

PMBOK, PMP, PgMP, CAPM, PMI-SP and PMI-RMP are registered marks of the Project Management Institute, Inc.

Project Management Professional (PMP)Â® Exam Question Types

Tue, 01 Mar 2011 00:00:00 -0500

Today, we’re going to run through some of the different types of questions you may be asked in the PMP^® project management exam. The ability to recognize and deal with each type of question will significantly increase your chances of attaining PMP^® certification. All PMP^® sample questions in our Exam Simulator are based on these question types.

Formula Based Questions:
Obviously, these questions are based on the approximately 50 formulas one must know for the PMP^® exam. It is very important to learn these formulas inside out and to actively practice using the formulas. Our courses will give you methods to understand these formulas. These techniques will make them easy to remember. Formula based questions are really good in multiple-choice PMP^® questions in that there is a right answer once you plug the values into the formula.

Situational Based Questions:
These questions test your ability to apply theoretical knowledge to real life project management scenarios. They can be quite long, involve a lot of reading and therefore, time. It’s important to quickly recognize what is important in the question and be able to ignore the unnecessary information that will almost certainly be thrown in to confuse you.

Knowledge Based Questions:
These questions may ask you to identify the meaning of a project management scenario based on the information provided. They are quite broad in nature. For example, you could get a question where you are asked to find the exception within the four answers given or you may be asked to name a type of chart or diagram. E.g. The Pareto Chart.

Interpretational Questions:
Interpretational questions give you a description of a situation and ask you about the best options to take. For example, they could give you a situation where a project is behind schedule and ask you to pick the best option a project manager should take to make up the lost time.

PMBOK, PMP, PgMP, CAPM, PMI-SP and PMI-RMP are registered marks of the Project Management Institute, Inc.

The Stages of Project Team Development

Tue, 22 Feb 2011 00:00:00 -0500

A very important topic you will need to know for the Project Management Professional (PMP)^® Exam is Team Development, specifically the five stages a team goes through as it develops. The stages a team generally goes through are: forming, storming, norming, performing and adjourning. As a project manager, a good understanding of these stages will help you guide a team from infancy to maturity. It is also a very common PMP^® exam question.

Forming:
The initial stage is the forming stage. At this point, team members are generally concerned about their role in the team and who calls the shots. As a project manager, you will have a dominant role in team building and people will be looking to you for guidance and reassurance. This stage can be relatively short in comparison to the other stages and may only last a meeting or two.

Storming:
At this stage, the team addresses the problems they are going to solve and how they are going to function as a unit. Team members will become more open with each other as they express their own ideas and thoughts and will often confront the project manager about certain aspects of the project.

Norming:
Team members will begin to settle to the task at hand. Conflicts will be resolved and they will develop “norms” around how they work together. A hierarchy is established and the project will start to progress at greater pace with less emphasis placed on team development.

Performing:
At this stage, the project manager’s job is easier. Team members will work together as a unit and significant progress will be made. Project management will focus on the delegation of work and on future team building. Less supervision will be required as the team will be highly motivated and independent.

Adjourning:
The final stage is adjourning or as it’s sometimes referred to as, “mourning”. This is when the team is finished its project and is expected to break apart. The project manager should afford the team members time to celebrate a (hopefully) successful project. It is likely that there will be sadness and anxiety in a successful group who must finish their time together.

PMBOK, PMP, PgMP, CAPM, PMI-SP and PMI-RMP are registered marks of the Project Management Institute, Inc.

5 Essential Project Management Professional (PMP)Â® Exam Tips

Fri, 18 Feb 2011 00:00:00 -0500

1. Although you may have many years of project management experience behind you, your answer must be based on the Project Management Institutes, A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge, (PMBOK^® Guide) - Fourth Edition, Project Management Institute, Inc., 2008. At Velopi.com, we provide additional condensed material and notes for you to read. Our questions have a justification for the right answer and in many cases a PMBOK^® Guide page reference to back it up. So if you need to, you can read the relevant section of the PMBOK^® Guide and not have to search the whole document for the answer.

2. Get the help of a certified PMP^® tutor who specializes in helping people pass the exam. The PMP^®exam is a multiple choice exam and you will benefit greatly from the advice of somebody who delivers project management courses and knows the “language” and format of the PMP^® exam inside out.

3. Use PMP^® sample questions. This will help you get to grips with the structure of the exam and will give you the extra confidence you need when it’s time to sit the real thing.

4. Develop your own study plan and keep to it. People often say study “hard” but it’s also wise to study “efficiently”. Take study breaks as necessary and review the previous session’s material at the start of the next session. Study in the morning or study in the evening; whatever suits you! Everybody studies differently. Find the method that best suits you and stick to it!

5. One final piece of good advice for the PMP^® exam is to try and decide what the right answer is before looking at the 4 options. You have done the study; you have the project management real-life experience; you have stored some information so you could leverage these sources first to come up with the right answer. This will prevent you from becoming confused by the alternatives. We always advise you look at all alternatives and see if there is any merit in the answer. But if you tend to get confused by the alternatives; try this advice.

PMBOK, PMP, PgMP, CAPM, PMI-SP and PMI-RMP are registered marks of the Project Management Institute, Inc.

Upcoming Changes to the Project Management Professional (PMP)Â® Exam!

Thu, 17 Feb 2011 00:00:00 -0500

For those you out there thinking of taking the PMP^® exam this year, it’s worth remembering that a new version of the exam will be issued on August 31st 2011. So if you’re planning on taking the PMP^® exam on or after that date, you will be doing a significantly different exam! Why is this? Every 5-7 years the Project Management Institute (PMI)^® reviews the PMP^® credential to ensure it is up to date with the current needs and trends of project management practices. After collecting information from more than 3,000 certified PMP^®’s, PMI^® have produced an updated version of the exam. In this blog post I’ll run through some of the major changes in the PMP^® exam and in doing so answer some of the commonly asked questions we’ve being getting here at Velopi.com.

Following the latest update to the PMP^® exam, approximately 30% of the exam will change. If you already hold PMP^® certification, fear not! The new changes will not affect your current credential. According to the PMI^®, the eligibility criteria and application process for the PMP^® exam will also remain unchanged. Only the multiple-choice examination content of the exam will be amended.

One of the major updates involves the Professional and Social Responsibility content area (Domain 6). This will now be tested in every domain rather than as a separate domain. Or to quote the PMI^®, “PMI’s Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct is now integrated into the day-to-day role of a project manager, emphasizing its importance in each phase of the project lifecycle.”

Candidates should, however, continue to study the Project Management Institutes, A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge, (PMBOK^® Guide) - Fourth Edition, Project Management Institute, Inc., 2008. The update to the exam will not affect the study guide. A new version of the PMBOK^® Guide is scheduled to be released sometime in 2012.

Participants in Velopi’s training courses who may be affected by the exam changes will be fully briefed by a certified PMP^® tutor. You can read more about this topic on the PMI^® website.

PMBOK, PMP, PgMP, CAPM, PMI-SP and PMI-RMP are registered marks of the Project Management Institute, Inc.

Preparing your Project Management Professional (PMP)Â® Application

Fri, 11 Feb 2011 00:00:00 -0500

One of the first tasks involved in doing the PMP^® exam is filling out the PMP^® exam application form. You might assume this to be a simple task but many aspiring Project Management Professional’s find filling in the PMP^® Exam form to be a time-consuming and complicated burden! If your application form isn’t filled out correctly you may get rejected so it’s a good idea to put some effort into getting this process right first time.

A common tip is to prepare yourself before you go online. Why not print out the necessary section of the PMP^® Handbook and go through the details with a hardcopy before you go online? Make sure you understand every aspect of what is required before you log on and fill in the real thing. Remember to provide valid information because the Project Management Institutes (PMI)^® may contact you to verify your project management experience. It is also important to have references you can easily contact as they will be required to sign the audit forms if you do get audited.

Trying to work out the number of project management hours and tasks you have completed in the past is a potential stumbling block for many applicants. It might be helpful to record the hours you've worked against each of the 30 tasks for the 6 process groups in an excel spreadsheet. This information could be transferred to the application form as you fill it in. We provide a template for this to all attendees of our Project Management courses. This ensures no double counting of hours and compiles your Project Management experience in a format the on-line PMP^® application requires. This saves many hours of effort and reduces the chances of audit or rejection of your PMP^® application.
Tip: Ensure that your first name and last name matches with government documentation. E.g. Passport or driving license.
Also, it’s worth remembering when you filling your PMP^® application form you can save your progress and come back at a later time if you think you need a break. You will not need to do this if you have the Excel file with your Project Management experience ready. You can just login and submit your data in one go.
The application fee must accompany the application. These rates are available from the PMI^® website (www.pmi.org). If you meet the eligibility requirements, you will receive an e-mail explaining how to schedule your PMP^® exam.
You can download the application form here. All participants of Velopi training courses are instructed on how to fill in the application form correctly.

Hope this helps!

PS. If you have attended one of our courses and want the latest version of the Excel PMP^® experience template, please contact us and we will e-mail it you.

PMBOK, PMP, PgMP, CAPM, PMI-SP and PMI-RMP are registered marks of the Project Management Institute, Inc.

Project Management Courses Limerick

Thu, 27 Jan 2011 00:00:00 -0500

Velopi will be delivering our Project Management course in Limerick on the following dates

February 8,9,15 & 16th 2011.
Cost 1095 euro

This project management course is based on the Project Management Institutes, A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge, (PMBOK^® Guide) - Fourth Edition, Project Management Institute, Inc., 2008 and will cover everything a Project Manager needs to know to go for Project Management Professional (PMP)^® certification.

The program covers the PMP^® application process, the core Project Management material from the PMBOK^® Guide and provides PMP^® exam questions. The PMP^® exam questions are completed after each module to ensure the Project Manager is learning the PMI^® concepts in the training. After the training course, access to provided to our web-accessible PMP^® exam simulator which has 800 PMP^® exam questions. This simulation of the real PMP^® exam ensures you pass the PMP^® exam on the first attempt.

Here are some testimonials from Project Managers who recently attended our PMP^® Project Management training course.

“The PMP^® certification program with Velopi was high quality. Very engaging on site training focusing on the most relevant material coupled with example based exam prep. The Velopi web based PMP^® exam's were extremely useful providing realistic simulation of the exam conditions and content. Velopi provided excellent end to end service with follow up and advice that I would highly recommend.” January 18, 2011

Martin Faherty, PMP^®, Medtronic

“I recommend Velopi for PMP^® exam preparation. With Velopi's help I passed the PMP^® exam first time round. Besides the PMP^® exam preparation, the training was extremely useful in helping me and my team deliver projects to our multinational clients.” January 25, 2011

William Hearne O'Sullivan, PMP^®, SeabrookGroup

PMBOK, PMP, PgMP, CAPM, PMI-SP and PMI-RMP are registered marks of the Project Management Institute, Inc.

Project Management Professional (PMP)Â® course in Dublin in April

Tue, 18 Jan 2011 00:00:00 -0500

The current PMP^® exam preparation classes in Dublin are full.

The next PMP^® course in Dublin with places available is scheduled for April 6,7,13 & 14th. Please contact Velopi if you want to more details on this program which will ensure you pass the PMP^® exam.

Access to our exam simulator is also included in this PMP^® exam preparation program

PMBOK, PMP, PgMP, CAPM, PMI-SP and PMI-RMP are registered marks of the Project Management Institute, Inc.

Project Management Professional (PMP)Â® course in Cork in March

Mon, 17 Jan 2011 00:00:00 -0500

With the February course already full, we have started to advertize the March dates for the 4 day PMP^® exam preparation program. The dates for Cork in March are:

March 8,9,22 & 23rd.

The Project Management course also includes everything from the PMP^® application process right through to the PMP^® certification exam. Our PMP^® exam simulator containing 800 PMP^® sample questions is the best preparation tool and is also included in the program.

For more details on the PMP^® program which ensures passing the PMP^® exam first time, please contact Velopi

PMBOK, PMP, PgMP, CAPM, PMI-SP and PMI-RMP are registered marks of the Project Management Institute, Inc.

Velopi in the Sunday Business Post

Fri, 26 Nov 2010 00:00:00 -0500

The Sunday Business Post had an article on Velopi last weekend - November 21^st 2010.

http://www.thepost.ie/peopleinbusiness/tailored-training-system-is-paying-off-52953.html

Our blended learning solution for Project Management Professional (PMP)^® certification is working extremely well. We take Project Managers from the application process right through to the PMP^® certification exam. Our PMP^® program; which combines 4-day classroom training, a PMP^® exam simulator and continuous support is reducing the study time required and is making the process easier for Project Managers.

PMBOK, PMP, PgMP, CAPM, PMI-SP and PMI-RMP are registered marks of the Project Management Institute, Inc.

Dublin & Cork Project Management Professional (PMP)Â® courses scheduled for Q1 2011

Fri, 12 Nov 2010 00:00:00 -0500

New dates have been added for the Project Management Professional (PMP)^® Exam Preparation course in Q1 2011 in Dublin & Cork.

The 4-day classroom dates are scheduled as follows:

Dublin: January 25,26, February 1,2.
Cork: February 8,9,15,16

The course will take Project Managers from the PMP^® application process right through to the PMP^® certification exam. Included in the course is unlimited access to 800 PMP^® exam questions in our exam simulator. The program costs 1200 euro. This covers all training, exam simulator, materials & support until you get the PMP^® certification. For more information contact Velopi

PMBOK, PMP, PgMP, CAPM, PMI-SP and PMI-RMP are registered marks of the Project Management Institute, Inc.

Project Management Professional PMPÂ® Course Cork

Mon, 11 Oct 2010 00:00:00 -0400

If you need to get your PMP^® before Christmas, then time is starting to run out. Our upcoming Cork PMP^® exam preparation course is scheduled over 4 days - 9/10/16/17 of November.

We are already working with those who have signed up to complete their PMP^® application forms and get that step completed. Once the application is accepted and as soon as they have the PMP^® course attended they will be able to go ahead and sit the exam. They will use to time after the class to practice the exams on our PMP^® exam simulator which has 800 PMP^® sample questions. Getting the application completed and then just having the exam to focus on is working really well - based on feedback from people who passed in the last few weeks.

If you want to get your PMP^® certification process underway and get PMP^® certification completed in the quickest way possible, contact Velopi for advice on the options open to you.

PMBOK, PMP, PgMP, CAPM, PMI-SP and PMI-RMP are registered marks of the Project Management Institute, Inc.

Project Management Professional (PMP)Â® training course in Cork in November

Wed, 22 Sep 2010 00:00:00 -0400

We will be holding our next 4 day Project Management (PMP)^® exam preparation course in Cork on the 9/10/16/17th of November.

Full course details
www.velopi.com/training/4-day-pmbok-pmp-exam-preparation

The course includes classroom training and unlimited access to 800 PMP^® questions in the Velopi PMP^® exam simulator.

Price is 1250 euro per person. To reserve your place or to get further details please contact us.

PMBOK, PMP, PgMP, CAPM, PMI-SP and PMI-RMP are registered marks of the Project Management Institute, Inc.

Velopi will be at MEDTEC in Galway

Wed, 15 Sep 2010 00:00:00 -0400

Velopi will be at the MEDTEC event in Galway on the 22-23 September. If you are at the event, we would be delighted to meet with you at Stand 219 to discuss Computer systems validation services. We can also discuss how our range of training courses which include Project Management Professional (PMP)^® certification training, Computer systems validation, GAMP5 and Risk Management can have a positive impact on your business.

Project Management Professional (PMP)Â® training course in Dublin

Fri, 27 Aug 2010 00:00:00 -0400

The next PMP^® exam preparation course will be held in Dublin on the 13th to the 16th of September. Course outline can be viewed on our Project Management training page

COURSE DESCRIPTION

PMI^® requirements of candidates
The application process
Modules covering all Project Management Knowledge Areas: Scope, Time, Cost, Quality, HR, Risk, Communications, Procurement, Integration & Ethics
Hot topics high-lighted in each section
20 PMP exam questions after each section to confirm understanding
Exam makeup & Format
The course also includes follow- up support:
Access to 800 PMP^® exam questions at www.mypmp.ie . This will take you from the course right up to the certification exam
1 hour face-to-face coaching per person after 1 month to review progress towards certification goal using metrics from the exam simulator
E-mail and Phone support as necessary from PMP^® certified tutor

The cost for this course is €1250 and this course will provide you with the expertise and support to ensure that you achieve PMP^® certification.
If you require further details please contact Seamus Collins or Aisling Walsh on:

021 2406250 or on info@velopi.com

Project Management Professional (PMP)Â® training Cork

Fri, 20 Aug 2010 00:00:00 -0400

We have just delivered the 4-day PMP^® exam preparation course this week in Cork and due to demand we are scheduling another Project Management training course already. Our main centres for this course are Cork and Dublin but we have people from Limerick, Galway and Athlone also attending our Project Management training course. The next dates for the PMP^® exam preparation course for Cork are the 19th-20th October and the 2nd-3rd November. So the 4 day program will be delivered in 2 two day sittings.

As always, the classroom training is just part of the program. Our PMP^® exam simulator which contains 800 PMP^® exam questions will be available from the course right up to when you take the PMP^® exam. We also support you through the application process to the PMI^®. If you require more details on the course or wish to reserve your place, please contact Velopi.

PMBOK, PMP, PgMP, CAPM, PMI-SP and PMI-RMP are registered marks of the Project Management Institute, Inc.

Project Management Professional (PMP)Â® course in Cork filling up!

Fri, 23 Jul 2010 00:00:00 -0400

Our next Project Management PMP^® exam preparation course in Cork will be held from August 16th-19th 2010. The course is filling up! If you want to get PMP^® certification in the next few months; this is a managed end to end blended learning solution that increases your chances of PMP^® exam certification success.

For more details see:

http://velopi.com/training/4-day-pmbok-PMP^®-exam-preparation

The cost is 1250 euro per person.

If you have any specific questions or to reserve your place, contact Velopi.

Project Management Professional (PMP)Â® training course Dublin

Mon, 19 Jul 2010 00:00:00 -0400

Velopi have scheduled the next PMP^® exam preparation program dates for Dublin.

The Project Management training consists of classroom dates on 13/14/15/16^th of September. The program also gives unlimited access to a PMP^® exam simulator and support right up to the PMP^® certification exam.

Cost per person 1250 euro

So for people who want Project Management training based on the Project Management Institutes, A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge, (PMBOK^® Guide)- Fourth Edition, Project Management Institute, Inc., 2008 and/or want to pass the PMP^® exam in Q4 2010, this program is one of the best ways to do it. For more details or to book your place; please contact Velopi

PMBOK, PMP, PgMP, CAPM, PMI-SP and PMI-RMP are registered marks of the Project Management Institute, Inc.

Requirements for 21 CFR Part 11 Electronic Records and Electronic Signatures.

Tue, 06 Jul 2010 00:00:00 -0400

The questions about 21 CFR Part 11 comes up almost daily when doing computer system validation and software validation:

"What is 21 CFR Part 11?"
"Does 21 CFR 11 apply?"
"What about CFR 21 Part 11?" etc

So over the next few weeks; we are going to do a series of articles explaining this topic.

So lets start with some background on Part 11 and a definition from the guidance document:

In March of 1997, FDA issued final part 11 regulations that provide criteria for acceptance by FDA, under certain circumstances, of electronic records, electronic signatures, and handwritten signatures executed to electronic records as equivalent to paper records and handwritten signatures executed on paper.

"Part 11 applies to records in electronic form that are created, modified, maintained, archived, retrieved, or transmitted under any records requirements set forth in Agency regulations. Part 11 also applies to electronic records submitted to the Agency"

The original guidance raised many concerns that it did:

unnecessarily restrict the use of electronic technology in a manner that is inconsistent with FDA’s stated intent in issuing the rule,
significantly increase the costs of compliance to an extent that was not contemplated at the time the rule was drafted,
discourage innovation and technological advances without providing a significant public health benefit.

In 2003, the FDA issued a new guidance document : “Part 11, Electronic Records; Electronic Signatures – Scope and Application”. This guidance relaxed some of the earlier Part 11 criteria and is the one I will be basing the interpretation on. Even though the new guidance relaxed some criteria, predicate rules still apply.

The Part 11 requirements must be fulfilled where:

Quality Record or document specifying product or raw material is sent electronically.
Quality Record or document specifying product or raw material is stored electronically and no paper copy exists.
A Quality Record or document specifying product or raw material is stored electronically and a paper copy exists but the electronic copy is the one used it practice.
Data which will later be used to generate a Quality Record is stored electronically.
Data which will later be used to make Quality related decisions is stored electronically.
Any data or records sent electronically to the FDA.

Project Management Professional (PMP)Â® Course Cork

Mon, 21 Jun 2010 00:00:00 -0400

Our next Project Management PMP^® exam preparation course in Cork will be held from August 16th-19th 2010. This 4-day project management course will cover everything from the PMP^® application form, the material from Project Management Institutes, A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge, (PMBOK^® Guide) - Fourth Edition, Project Management Institute, Inc., 2008, PMP^® exam hot topics and give you access to the PMP^® exam simulator. This PMP^® exam simulator has 4 full length PMP^® exams; 800 PMP^® samples questions and it will help you prepare for the real-life exam. This on-line evaluation tool is available right up to the exam and it will track and monitor your progress towards the internationally recognised PMP^® certification. If you want to get PMP^® certification; this course is for you. Besides the PMP^® exam, the course will show you how to use project management best practices, tools and techniques in your work.

The cost is 1250 euro per person.

If you have any specific questions or to reserve your place, contact Velopi

PMBOK, PMP, PgMP, CAPM, PMI-SP and PMI-RMP are registered marks of the Project Management Institute, Inc.

Project Management Professional (PMP)Â® Exam questions free 1 week trial

Fri, 11 Jun 2010 00:00:00 -0400

We had a number of people who passed the PMP^® exam after taking our Project Management course and using our PMP^® exam simulator so far in 2010. If you want to try a full length PMP^® practice exam for free, please contact us and I will give you access for 1 week as a trial. This will quickly identify your areas of weakness and help you focus your study in preparation. This offer is available until the end of July 2010.

PMBOK, PMP, PgMP, CAPM, PMI-SP and PMI-RMP are registered marks of the Project Management Institute, Inc.

Project Management Courses Dublin

Fri, 14 May 2010 00:00:00 -0400

Our next public Project Management training course is scheduled for Dublin on the 19/20/23/24th of August 2010.

If you want to get Project Management certification or do some Project Management Professional (PMP)^® exam prep; then this Project Management course is for you. As well as covering the material in the Project Management Institutes, A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge, (PMBOK^® Guide) - Fourth Edition, Project Management Institute, Inc., 2008; we will also cover the PMP^® exam application process and 200 PMP^® exam questions. After the class you will have access to 800 PMP^® exam questions in our online exam simulator.

If you need more details, just call or e-mail Velopi.

PMBOK, PMP, PgMP, CAPM, PMI-SP and PMI-RMP are registered marks of the Project Management Institute, Inc.

Project Management Courses

Tue, 11 May 2010 00:00:00 -0400

So what is a Project Management Course? What does a Project Management training course cover? What does Project Management education give you? Will attendance of a Project management course help me in my career in Cork and in Ireland? Who should attend a Project Management course?

These are typical of the many questions we get asked. The answer can vary! It depends on what you and your organization are trying to do and your experience and capability.

Let me explain. If you are an experienced Project Manager and want some international certification to underpin your experience; we would advocate you get Project Management Professional (PMP)^® certification. There is a certain set of core material we need to cover with you based on the Project Management Institutes, A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge, (PMBOK^® Guide) - Fourth Edition, Project Management Institute, Inc., 2008. This Project Management certification will help you in your current job or attain another Project Management position. So; it will help in your career progression.

If you are working on projects and have problems with Scope creep, schedule slippage, cost over-runs; then you need Project Management training to provide you with best practices, tools & techniques to address these issues. So it is not a "one-size fits all". The course needs to address a problem you are having.

Or you may be a company which has no Project Management process and you want to get some best practices and a process / framework in place.

Project Management training will usually provide industry best practices in the following project management areas: Scope, Time, Cost, Quality, Human Resource, Communications, Risk, Procurement, Integration and Ethics.

These Project Management training courses aimed at PMP^® certification are usually for Project Managers, Section Managers and team leads. We find that team members can benefit greatly from attending Project Management courses. The team members are the people doing the project work; so it is important that they understand how to lock down scope, estimate activities and do proper risk analysis to name but a few areas. They are the best placed to give real value add. Some official training can bring real value and allow more efficient and effective communication with the project manager and team.

Our Project Management Courses list some of our typical content and durations. As discussed, all courses are tailored to suit your needs. Contact Velopi for more details.

PMBOK, PMP, PgMP, CAPM, PMI-SP and PMI-RMP are registered marks of the Project Management Institute, Inc.

Last chance to register for upcoming Project Management Professional (PMP)Â® exam prep class in Cork & Dublin

Fri, 23 Apr 2010 00:00:00 -0400

Our next public courses will not be scheduled for a number of months; so if you want to get your PMP^® certification program started now; register for one of our upcoming courses in Cork or Dublin.

Cork dates: 4-5-6-7 May
Dublin dates 10-11-12-13 May

These courses will take you from the PMI^® application right through to the PMP^® certification exam. Our PMP^® exam simulator will identify your areas of weakness and allow you to reduce the necessary study time to get this valuable Project Management certification.

PMBOK, PMP, PgMP, CAPM, PMI-SP and PMI-RMP are registered marks of the Project Management Institute, Inc.

Project Management Institute numbers continue to grow

Wed, 07 Apr 2010 00:00:00 -0400

According to the latest numbers released by the Project Management Institute, over 360,000 people world-wide now have the Project Management Professional (PMP^)® certification. Over 75,000 people passed the PMP^® exam in 2009. People complete project management certification for a variety of reasons. Some are using it to differentiate themselves in the job market, others are using this project management certification to underpin their project management experience or to get a promotion. There are over 3 million copies of the Project Management Institutes, A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge, (PMBOK^® Guide) - Fourth Edition, Project Management Institute, Inc., 2008 in circulation - make sure you are reading PMBOK^® Guide, Fourth Edition if you are doing project management courses or preparing to take the PMP^® exam!

PMBOK, PMP, PgMP, CAPM, PMI-SP and PMI-RMP are registered marks of the Project Management Institute, Inc.

Project Management Professional (PMP)Â® Exam preparation course in Dublin in May 2010

Wed, 31 Mar 2010 00:00:00 -0400

We are holding a 4 day PMP^® exam preparation course in Dublin on the 10/11/12/13th of May 2010. This Project Management course will prepare people for the PMP^® exam. We will cover all the PMP^® exam material and make 800 PMP^® sample questions available via our PMP^® exam simulator.

For more details contact Velopi.

PMBOK, PMP, PgMP, CAPM, PMI-SP and PMI-RMP are registered marks of the Project Management Institute, Inc.

Project Management Professional (PMP)Â® Exam preparation course in Cork in May 2010

Mon, 22 Mar 2010 00:00:00 -0400

The next dates for our PMP^® exam preparation course in Cork is the 4/5/6/7th May 2010.
This Project Management course is based on the Project Management Institutes, A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge, (PMBOK^® Guide) - Fourth Edition, Project Management Institute, Inc., 2008 and will prepare you for the PMP^® exam.

Everything a person needs to know for the PMP^® exam will be covered in this 4 day course. We will cover from the PMP^® application process right through to the PMP^® certification exam. People who attend will also get unlimited access to 800 PMP^® exam questions in the PMP^® exam simulator. For more details contact Velopi.

PMBOK, PMP, PgMP, CAPM, PMI-SP and PMI-RMP are registered marks of the Project Management Institute, Inc.

Project Management Professional (PMP)Â® exam preparation course to be subsidized for unemployed

Fri, 19 Feb 2010 10:47:41 -0500

Our upcoming PMP^® exam preparation course in Cork will be subsidized for unemployed Project Managers. This is great news if you want to get your PMP^® certification and differentiate yourself in the difficult job seekers environment. Contact info@velopi.com or call us on +353 21 240 6250 for more details .

PMBOK, PMP, PgMP, CAPM, PMI-SP and PMI-RMP are registered marks of the Project Management Institute, Inc.

New Project Management Professional (PMP)Â® exam questions loaded and available for users

Tue, 09 Feb 2010 10:52:39 -0500

A group of our PMP^® certified project managers have just completed additional PMP^® exam questions. These questions are now available to our customers and to people who will be attending our next PMP^® exam preparation course in March/April in Cork. These are exam standard questions and are based on the areas that are popular on the actual exam. Contact us if you want to test your PM knowledge and your PMP^® certification exam readiness.

PMBOK, PMP, PgMP, CAPM, PMI-SP and PMI-RMP are registered marks of the Project Management Institute, Inc.

Another Computer Systems Validation project successfully completed

Wed, 03 Feb 2010 10:53:57 -0500

We have just completed another computer systems validation project. In all these projects we use a 2-phase approach. In Phase 1, we review and audit the computer system with respect to:

US FDA: 21 CFR Part 820 Medical Devices Quality Systems Requirements
US FDA: General Principles of Software Validation; Final Guidance for Industry and Staff
US FDA: 21 CFR Part 11 Electronic Records; Electronic Signatures
US FDA: Guidance for Industry Part 11,— Scope and Application
ISPE: GAMP 5 A Risk Based Approach to GxP Compliant Computerized Systems

We use a risk based approach to assess the computer system and determine the impact to patient safety, data integrity and product quality.

We prepare a report and findings and present this to the customer. We also provide a validation or remediation proposal if needed. This outlines what effort is involved and what the scope of any required work is. This phased approach has proved very popular with our customers. For more information; please contact Velopi

Project Management Professional (PMP)Â® exam preparation course in Cork

Mon, 25 Jan 2010 10:50:25 -0500

Our next public course for PMP^® exam preparation is scheduled for the following dates; 8,9,10,31 March and April 1st in Cork.

The 5-day course is split into 2 blocks - this is based on feedback from the attendance; some of whom find it hard to take 1 full week off to attend Project Management training. This split delivery mechanism also users to review what they have learned and come back with specific questions at the second block of delivery.

The course will cover all the content of the Project Management Institutes, A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge, (PMBOK^® Guide) - Fourth Edition, Project Management Institute, Inc., 2008 and fully prepare people for the PMP^® exam. As part of the course; we also provide a web-accessible PMP^® exam simulator which will allow people to experience the actual PMP^® exam scenario. This is available to people from the training course right up to the PMP^® certification exam. Full-length PMP^® exams with exam standard questions are available. This will ensure you pass the PMP^® exam on your first attempt.

For more details; contact Velopi

PMBOK, PMP, PgMP, CAPM, PMI-SP and PMI-RMP are registered marks of the Project Management Institute, Inc.

Project Management Course in Cork

Mon, 16 Nov 2009 10:53:01 -0500

Our Project Management course is starting in Cork this week. This is a 4 day course for people who want to become Project Management Professional (PMP)^®. This course is based on the Project Management Institutes, A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge, (PMBOK^® Guide)- Fourth Edition, Project Management Institute, Inc., 2008. It is an excellent course for PMP^® exam prep and will help you pass PMP^® exam on your first attempt. The course is held on 2 days this week (18 & 19th) and 2 days next week (25 & 26th). So if you want to get your project management certification, contact Velopi for details.

PMBOK, PMP, PgMP, CAPM, PMI-SP and PMI-RMP are registered marks of the Project Management Institute, Inc.

Usability Testing of Software

Thu, 01 Oct 2009 10:54:09 -0400

The user experience is something we hear more and more about when new applications are released or when existing applications are no longer used. Usability test is the term used to detect software defects in a product or process prior to release.

What is usability? Usability is the effectiveness, efficiency and satisfaction with which specified users can achieve specified goals in particular environments” (ISO 9241)

Usability is a critical success factor!! If users find your systems unusable they will look for reasons not to use it and look elsewhere for solutions. Hence usability test is a critical part of your your software test cycle.

What is a usability fault? A potential problem in the appearance or organization of a system that makes it less easily used by its users

Operationally, a usability fault is a clear or evident violation of an established usability principle or guideline

Any aspect of a system that is likely to lead to confusion, error, delay or failure to complete some task on the part of the user.

What Problems do usability tests detect?

The aim of the usability tests is to expose difficulties that a user experiences when interacting with a system or web-site or whatever application they are using e.g.

Performing particular tasks using the system or process

Navigating a web-site to find information

Personalizing a web-site

We will look at a few examples in the next post.

Project Management Professional (PMP)Â® Exam prep course in Cork

Fri, 28 Aug 2009 10:51:44 -0400

We are holding a public PMP^® exam preparation course in Cork in November.

The 4 day course will take place on the 18,19,25 & 26th of November. We have spread the course over 2 weeks; so as not to take a person away from their work for a full week. This course will cover from the PMP^® exam application process right through to the certification exam. We will cover all the Project Management Process and Knowledge areas with specific focus on the exam hot topics. We also provide access to a PMP^® exam simulator that you can use after the class to help you prepare for the actual PMP^® exam. This PMP^® exam simulator has 800 PMP^® exam questions and it will quickly identify your areas of weakness. From this; you can maximize the use of your available study time. For more details, contact us at info@velopi.com

PMBOK, PMP, PgMP, CAPM, PMI-SP and PMI-RMP are registered marks of the Project Management Institute, Inc.

PMBOKÂ® Guide - Fourth Edition and the PERT formula

Wed, 19 Aug 2009 10:55:03 -0400

The new Project Management Institutes, A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge, (PMBOK^® Guide) - Fourth Edition, Project Management Institute, Inc., 2008 explicitly states the PERT formula in both Time and Cost Management chapters. PERT stands for Program Evaluation and Review Technique. It is used to provide a more accurate estimate by considering the estimation uncertainty and risk. PERT factor in best case (optimistic) and worst case (pessimistic) estimates. The PERT formula is: (O+4M+P)/6 Where O is the optimistic estimate, P is the pessimistic estimate and M is the most likely estimate The formula is easy to remember and will probably come up in the Project Management Professional (PMP)^® exam. So learn it and pick up easy points for it in the PMP^® certification exam.

PMBOK, PMP, PgMP, CAPM, PMI-SP and PMI-RMP are registered marks of the Project Management Institute, Inc.

Project Management Professional (PMP)Â® exam is made up as follows...

Fri, 07 Aug 2009 10:48:54 -0400

If you are studying for the PMP^® exam; you should know that the 200 question multiple choice exam is made up using Project Management questions from the following areas.

Initiation 11%

Planning 23%

Execution 27%

Monitor & Control 21%

Closing 9%

Ethics 9%

PMBOK, PMP, PgMP, CAPM, PMI-SP and PMI-RMP are registered marks of the Project Management Institute, Inc.

Project Managers with Project Management Professional (PMP)Â® certification is increasing

Wed, 29 Jul 2009 10:55:13 -0400

The latest numbers released by the Project Management Institute shows that the number of Project Managers with PMP^® certification is approaching 350,000 people. Of these, over 30,000 Project Managers achieved PMP^® certification this year alone. Yes; that means over 30,000 people passed the PMP^® exam so far this year. So whether you are looking to benchmark your Project Management skills in a job; seeking a promotion or looking to get into the workplace following redundancy - PMP^® certification will help differentiate you from the crowd. Sign up for your Project Management training program today with Velopi as your first step towards achieving PMP^® certification.

PMBOK, PMP, PgMP, CAPM, PMI-SP and PMI-RMP are registered marks of the Project Management Institute, Inc.

Growing number of Project Managers with Project Management Professional (PMP)Â® certification.

Tue, 21 Jul 2009 10:49:50 -0400

The number of Project Managers with PMP^® certification is close to 350,000. Over 30,000 people passed the PMP^® exam this year. Obviously people have various reasons for taking the PMP^® exam. We can be sure a majority of them see the PMP^® certification as a means to differentiate themselves in the current difficult jobs market. Many also take the PMP^® certification exam to benchmark their current level of Project Management expertize. There are others who need the PMP^® certification to stay in a job or get promoted. If you are interested in PMP^® certification, we can talk you through the process. Contact Velopi for PMP^® exam questions via the web-page

PMBOK, PMP, PgMP, CAPM, PMI-SP and PMI-RMP are registered marks of the Project Management Institute, Inc.

Project Management training courses now based on PMBOKÂ® Guide

Mon, 13 Jul 2009 10:48:36 -0400

The Project Management Institute (PMI) have released a new version of A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge, (PMBOK^® Guide) - Fourth Edition, Project Management Institute, Inc., 2008. This is the fourth edition and all Project Management Professional (PMP)^® exams are now based on this version from July 1st 2009. All our Project Management training courses and PMP^® exam preparation courses have been updated to reflect these changes. The PMBOK^® Guide itself lists the areas updated in this version. A sample of the changes are as follows:

The “Develop Preliminary Scope Statement” process has been merged into the “Define Scope” process, so Integration Management is now 6 processes.
Communications now has 5 processes. This is a result of Plan Communications being split into "Identify Stakeholders" and "Plan Communications"
Procurement has been reduced to 4 processes Plan Procurements, Conduct Procurements, Administer Procurements, and Close Procurements.
PERT estimate is back! Arrow Diagrams are gone and as a result so is GERT
The classic triple constraint has been expanded!

This is just a brief overview of changes. Check back with us over the coming weeks and we will be outlining the changes in each Project Management knowledge area and how this affects you PMP^® exam.

PMBOK, PMP, PgMP, CAPM, PMI-SP and PMI-RMP are registered marks of the Project Management Institute, Inc.

PMBOK, PMP, PgMP, CAPM, PMI-SP and PMI-RMP are registered marks of the Project Management Institute, Inc.

Additional software tester skills.

Wed, 01 Jul 2009 10:44:44 -0400

In a previous post, I listed the key skills that makes some software testers great. Besides those skills, there are other "softer" skills that a software tester needs to have. Software testers are part of a bigger development effort. What a lot of people fail to remember is that; finding the software defect is only the first part of the job; getting the defect fixed is an equally important part of the role. Hence the following skills are required.

Tact and Diplomacy: Finding a serious software defect very close to a release date is not always hailed as good news! So testers normally bring bad news to the development team. These situations need to be dealt with tactfully and professionally. Great testers have the communication and professional skills to deal with these situations.

Good Judgment: Normally squeezed for time, a great software tester needs to make decisions about what aspects of the software to test, how long it will take to test and have the ability to decide when enough testing is done.

Finally, software testers need to be persuasive.

Not all software defects get fixed. It may not be seen as a problem, not severe enough, not seen often enough or too late or dangerous to fix. Hence software testers need to be very clear on what the defect is and what the impact of it are to the customer. Then they need to follow through and support the organization in getting a fix in place.

What makes a great software tester?

Mon, 29 Jun 2009 10:51:28 -0400

In my many years working as a Software Test Manager, the question "What makes a good software tester?" came up again and again. Escaped defects cost money, they reduce customer confidence in your products. So you need your software testers to be great at their job. Some people are good software testers. Good is not enough, you need great software testers. What traits do they have? What skills do they have? What makes them great at their software test job. Here is my view of what skills they need to excel at:

Exploring: Loading new software, seeing what happens, how it works is exciting for them. They venture into the unknown in many cases and enjoy it.
Trouble-shooting: The ability to work out why a piece of software is not working or under what scenarios and conditions it is not working is a key skill for a software tester.
Relentless: Great software testers do not dismiss any software defects. They persue all possible options to re-create the defect. These hard to reproduce defects have a habit of showing up on customer sites! Great software tests prevent these escapes.
Creative: This skill is not one that people normally associate with software testers. The reality is that software testers need to be very creative. They need to think of ways to test software to reveal bugs. They need to come up with configurations to best uncover software defects. In many cases with budget cuts and lack of real equipment or late delivery; great software testers overcome the problems presented by being creative.

There are other "softer" skills that I believe are important. I will discuss these in the next article.

PMPÂ® Exam Topic â The Code of Ethics

Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 -0500

Velopi Ltd. News Feed

New dates for Dublin training course for Project Management Professional (PMP)Â®.

EGF Grants for Training

Velopi was recently approved by Further Education and Training Awards Council (FETAC) and the Project Management Institute (PMI).

6 Items to Achieve your PMP Certification

6 Items to Achieve your PMP Certification in 2012

1. PMP Credential Handbook

2. Time

3. A Study Plan and Schedule

4. Training Course/Intensive 2 Day Bootcamp

5. Use the FREE Resources provided by Velopi

6. Exam Practice on Exam Simulator - Questions. Questions. Questions.

Project Management Professional (PMP) & Software Validation Course Dates 2012

Updated list of services on Velopi.com

Testimonials: What they are saying about Velopi

2 Day PMP Certification Preparation Course Cork

PMP Bootcamp Refresher Course November 8th & 9th

Equipment Qualification (EQ)

Notes on Equipment Qualification

Principles of Equipment Qualification (EQ)

Installation Qualification (IQ)

Operational Qualification (OQ)

Performance Qualification (PQ)

Velopi at MEDTEC Cork Event

Ireland’s Only Event for the Medical Device Manufacturing Market

New PMP Exams available on MyPMP

New PMP Exams available on MyPMP

PMP Exam Changes

Project Management Professional (PMPÂ®) Courses Dublin, Limerick and Cork

Upcoming Project Management Professional (PMPÂ®) Courses

How to Become a Certified Project Management Professional (PMPÂ®)

PMP Examination to Be Updated in August 2011

Delivery of PMP Exam Results

Changes to PMP Application

The value of a concise Project Management Professional (PMP)Â® Cheat Sheet

12 Step guide to completing the Project Management Institutes (PMI)Â® Project Management Professional (PMP)Â® online application correctly the first time.

Job Opportunity - Experienced Project Manager

Velopi Ltd requires an experienced project manager is required to lead a new project in Galway THE ROLE:

REQUIREMENTS:

If interested, send your CV to vacancies@velopi.com or call Seamus 086 8102111

Job Opportunity - Equipment Validation Engineers

Job Opportunity - System Test Engineer with Finance

If interested, send your CV to vacancies@velopi.com or call Seamus 086 8102111

Project Management Institute (PMI)Â® Credentials â Professional Certification for Project Managers

Project Management Professional (PMP)Â® Examination to Be Updated in August 2011

Project Management Professional (PMP)Â® Exam Topic - HR - Teamwork

Project Management Professional (PMP)Â® Exam - Types of Questions

Job Opportunity - Equipment Validation Engineers

Project Management Professional (PMP)Â® Exam Topic - Conflict Management

Project Management Professional (PMP)Â® Exam Topic - Human Resources

Project Cost Management - Exam Topic

Quality Planning Tools for Quality Management Plan

Time Managment

Work Breakdown Structure

Access to Velopi.com

Project Management Professional (PMP)Â® Boot Camp

The Project Management Professional (PMP)Â® Certification

Project Management Professional (PMP)Â® Project Charter and Project Management courses in Ireland.

Project Management Professional (PMP)Â® Exam Topic â The Code of Ethics

Project Management Professional (PMP)Â® Question Strategies and Upcoming Dublin PMP Course

Project Management Professional (PMP)Â® Exam Question Types

The Stages of Project Team Development

5 Essential Project Management Professional (PMP)Â® Exam Tips

Upcoming Changes to the Project Management Professional (PMP)Â® Exam!

Preparing your Project Management Professional (PMP)Â® Application

Project Management Courses Limerick

Project Management Professional (PMP)Â® course in Dublin in April

Project Management Professional (PMP)Â® course in Cork in March

Velopi in the Sunday Business Post

Dublin & Cork Project Management Professional (PMP)Â® courses scheduled for Q1 2011

Project Management Professional PMPÂ® Course Cork

Project Management Professional (PMP)Â® training course in Cork in November

Velopi will be at MEDTEC in Galway

Project Management Professional (PMP)Â® training course in Dublin

Project Management Professional (PMP)Â® training Cork

Project Management Professional (PMP)Â® course in Cork filling up!

Project Management Professional (PMP)Â® training course Dublin

Requirements for 21 CFR Part 11 Electronic Records and Electronic Signatures.

Project Management Professional (PMP)Â® Course Cork

Project Management Professional (PMP)Â® Exam questions free 1 week trial

Velopi Ltd requires an experienced project manager is required to lead a new project in Galway

THE ROLE:

Project Management Institute (PMI)Â® Credentials â Professional Certification for Project Managers

Project Management Professional (PMP)Â® Exam Topic â The Code of Ethics

PMPÂ® Exam Topic â The Code of Ethics