CompTIA Project+ Study Guide Authorized Courseware E-Book

Kim Heldman

• Herausgeber: John Wiley & Sons
• Kategorie: Wissenschaft und neue Technologien
• Sprache: Englisch

Seitenzahl: 601

Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2010

Beschreibung

Prepare for CompTIA's newly updated Project+ certification exam CompTIA is offering the first major update to its Project+ certification in six years, and this in-depth study guide from project management industry experts Kim and William Heldman is the perfect preparation for the new exam. You'll find complete coverage of all exam objectives, including key topics such as project planning, execution, delivery, closure, and others. * CompTIA's Project+ is the foundation-level professional exam in the complex world of project management; certified project managers often choose to go on and obtain their Project Management Professional (PMP®) certifications as well * Provides complete coverage of all exam objectives for CompTIA's first update to the Project+ exam in six years * Covers project planning, execution, delivery, change, control, communication, and closure * Demonstrates and reinforces exam preparation with practical examples and real-word scenarios * Includes a CD with Sybex test engine, practice exams, electronic flashcards, and a PDF of the book Approach the new Project+ exam with confidence with this in-depth study guide! Note: CD-ROM/DVD and other supplementary materials are not included as part of eBook file. (PMP and Project Management Professional are registered marks of Project Management Institute, Inc.)

Leseprobe

Contents

Cover Page

Title Page

Copyright Page

Introduction

Assessment Test

Chapter 1: Initiating the Project

Defining the Project

Understanding Organizational Structures

Validating the Project

Understanding the Project Management Knowledge Areas

Understanding the Role of the Project Manager

Summary

Exam Essentials

Key Terms

Review Questions

Answers to Review Questions

Chapter 2: Project Process Groups and the Project Charter

Project Life Cycles and Process Groups

Project Process Groups

Receiving a Project Request

Project Stakeholders

Creating the Project Charter

Summary

Exam Essentials

Key Terms

Review Questions

Answers to Review Questions

Chapter 3: Planning a Project

Holding the Kick-Off Meeting

Documenting the Scope Management Plan

Writing the Project Scope Statement

Creating the Work Breakdown Structure (WBS)

Decomposing the Major Deliverables

Summary

Exam Essentials

Key Terms

Review Questions

Answers to Review Questions

Chapter 4: Schedule Planning

Defining Activities

Activity Sequencing

Logical Relationships

Activity Duration Estimates

Creating the Project Schedule

Duration Compression

Summary

Exam Essentials

Key Terms

Review Questions

Answers to Review Questions

Chapter 5: Communicating the Plan

Communications Planning

Resource Planning

Human Resources Planning

Procurement Planning

Chapter 6: Defining the Cost, Quality, and Risk Plans

Cost Estimating

Cost Budgeting

Quality Planning

Risk Planning

Project Management Plan Sign-off and Transition

Summary

Exam Essentials

Key Terms

Review Questions

Answers to Review Questions

Chapter 7: Executing the Project

Forming and Developing the Project Team

Project Kickoff

Organizational Governance

Summary

Exam Essentials

Key Terms

Review Questions

Answers to Review Questions

Chapter 8: Processing Change Requests

Implementing Change Control Systems

Other Plan Changes

Monitoring and Controlling Project Work

Risk Monitoring and Control

Establishing Performance Measures

Summary

Exam Essentials

Key Terms

Review Questions

Answers to Review Questions

Chapter 9: Controlling the Project

Controlling Quality

Controlling Cost with Earned Value Measurement

Earned Value Measurement

Managing Stakeholder Expectations

Summary

Exam Essentials

Key Terms

Review Questions

Answers to Review Questions

Chapter 10: Closing the Project

Preparing for Project Closure

Steps in Closing Out a Project

Summary

Exam Essentials

Key Terms

Review Questions

Answers to Review Questions

Appendix About the Companion CD

What You’ll Find on the CD

System Requirements

Using the CD

Troubleshooting

Download CD/DVD content

Glossary

Index

Wiley End User License Agreement

Guide

Cover

Table of Contents

Begin Reading

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CompTIA

Project+™

Study Guide

Kim HeldmanWilliam Heldman

Acquisitions Editor: Jeff Kellum

Development Editor: Alexa Murphy

Technical Editors: Vanina Mangano and Jared Rundell

Production Editor: Rachel McConlogue

Copy Editor: Kim Wimpsett

Editorial Manager: Pete Gaughan

Production Manager: Tim Tate

Vice President and Executive Group Publisher: Richard Swadley

Vice President and Publisher: Neil Edde

Media Project Manager: Laura Moss-Hollister

Media Associate Producer: Marilyn Hummel

Media Quality Assurance: Shawn Patrick

Book Designers: Judy Fung and Bill Gibson

Proofreader: Candace English

Indexer: Ted Laux

Project Coordinator, Cover: Lynsey Stanford

Cover Designer: Ryan Sneed

Copyright © 2010 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Indianapolis, Indiana

Published simultaneously in Canada

ISBN: 978-0-470-58592-4

No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, scanning or otherwise, except as permitted under Sections 107 or 108 of the 1976 United States Copyright Act, without either the prior written permission of the Publisher, or authorization through payment of the appropriate per-copy fee to the Copyright Clearance Center, 222 Rosewood Drive, Danvers, MA 01923, [phone], fax [phone]. Requests to the Publisher for permission should be addressed to the Permissions Department, John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 111 River Street, Hoboken, NJ 07030, [phone], fax [phone], or online at www.wiley.com/go/permissions.

Limit of Liability/Disclaimer of Warranty: The publisher and the author make no representations or warranties with respect to the accuracy or completeness of the contents of this work and specifically disclaim all warranties, including without limitation warranties of fitness for a particular purpose. No warranty may be created or extended by sales or promotional materials. The advice and strategies contained herein may not be suitable for every situation. This work is sold with the understanding that the publisher is not engaged in rendering legal, accounting, or other professional services. If professional assistance is required, the services of a competent professional person should be sought. Neither the publisher nor the author shall be liable for damages arising herefrom. The fact that an organization or Web site is referred to in this work as a citation and/or a potential source of further information does not mean that the author or the publisher endorses the information the organization or Web site may provide or recommendations it may make. Further, readers should be aware that Internet Web sites listed in this work may have changed or disappeared between when this work was written and when it is read.

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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Heldman, Kim.

CompTIA project+ study guide (PK0-003) / Kim Heldman, William Heldman.—1st ed.

   p. cm.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

ISBN 978-0-470-58592-4 (paper/cd-rom : alk. paper)

1. Electronic data processing personnel—Certification. 2. Project management—Examinations—Study guides.3. Information technology—Management—Study guides. I. Heldman, William. II. Title.

QA76.3.H423 2010

004.068’8—dc22

2010005947

TRADEMARKS: Wiley, the Wiley logo, and the Sybex logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of John Wiley & Sons, Inc. and/or its affiliates, in the United States and other countries, and may not be used without written permission. CompTIA and Project+ are trademarks or registered trademarks of Computing Technology Industry Association, Inc. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners. Wiley Publishing, Inc., is not associated with any product or vendor mentioned in this book.

10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

The logo of the CompTIA Authorized Quality Curriculum (CAQC) program and the status of this or other training material as “Authorized” under the CompTIA Authorized Quality Curriculum program signifies that, in CompTIA’s opinion, such training material covers the content of the CompTIA’s related certification exam. CompTIA has not reviewed or approved the accuracy of the contents of this training material and specifically disclaims any warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose. CompTIA makes no guarantee concerning the success of persons using any such “Authorized” or other training material in order to prepare for any CompTIA certification exam.

The contents of this training material were created for the CompTIA Project+ exam covering CompTIA certification objectives that were current as of 2010.

How to become CompTIA certified:

This training material can help you prepare for and pass a related CompTIA certification exam or exams. In order to achieve CompTIA certification, you must register for and pass a CompTIA certification exam or exams.

In order to become CompTIA certified, you must:

1. Select a certification exam provider. For more information please visit http://www.comptia.org/certification/general_information/exam_locations.aspx.

2. Register for and schedule a time to take the CompTIA certification exam(s) at a convenient location.

3. Read and sign the Candidate Agreement, which will be presented as the time of the exam(s). The text of the Candidate Agreement can be found at http://www.comptia.org/certification/general_information/candidate_agreement.aspx.

4. Take and pass the CompTIA certification exam(s).

For more information about CompTIA’s certifications, such as its industry acceptance, benefits or program news, please visit http://www.comptia.org/certification/.

CompTIA is a not-for-profit trade information technology (IT) trade association. CompTIA’s certifications are designed by subject matter experts from across the IT industry. Each CompTIA certification is vendor-neutral, covers multiple technologies and requires demonstration of skills and knowledge widely sought after by the IT industry.

To contact CompTIA with any questions or comments, please call 630-678-8300 or email [email protected].

Dear Reader,

Thank you for choosing CompTIA Project+ Study Guide from Sybex, a proud Authorized Gold Partner in the CompTIA Authorized Partner Program (CAPP) for content developers. The learning material in this book, which meets the exacting standards of CompTIA’s content assurance program, was written by an outstanding author who combines practical experience with a passion for teaching.

Sybex was founded in 1976. More than 30 years later, we’re still committed to producing consistently exceptional books. With each of our titles, we’re working hard to set a new standard for the industry. From the paper we print on to the authors we work with, our goal is to bring you the best books available.

I hope you see all that reflected in these pages. I’d be very interested to hear your comments and get your feedback on how we’re doing. Feel free to let me know what you think about this or any other Sybex book by sending me an email at [email protected]. If you think you’ve found a technical error in this book, please visit http://sybex.custhelp.com. Customer feedback is critical to our efforts at Sybex.

Best regards,

Neil Edde

Vice President and Publisher

Sybex, an Imprint of Wiley

To Kate and Juliette, project managers in the making.

Acknowledgments

Thank you for buying the CompTIA Project+ Study Guide to help you study and prepare for the CompTIA Project+ exam. We believe this book is a good introduction to the in-depth world of project management and certification and will open up many opportunities for you.

We would like to thank all the great team members at Sybex who were part of this project: Jeff Kellum, acquisitions editor; Alexa Murphy, development editor; Rachel McConlogue, production editor; and all those behind the scenes who helped make this book a success. They are terrific to work with, as always, and we appreciate their keen eyes and insightful ideas and suggestions.

Special thanks goes to Vanina Mangano for her work as technical editor. We appreciate her diligence and great suggestions that helped make the content stronger. Thank you to Jared Rundell as well for providing the final technical review.

And a thank-you, as always, goes to our family for their understanding of our crazy schedules. Kate and Juliette, you’re the best!

About the Authors

Kim Heldman, MBA, PMP, is the chief information officer for the Colorado Department of Transportation. Kim is responsible for managing projects with information technology (IT) components ranging from small in scope and budget to multimillion-dollar, multiyear projects. She has more than 20 years experience in IT project management. Kim has served in a senior leadership role for more than 12 years and is regarded as a strategic visionary with an innate ability to collaborate with diverse groups and organizations, instill hope, improve morale, and lead her teams in achieving goals they never thought possible.

Kim has extensive experience in the government sector managing projects of various size and scope. Currently, Kim is working with the Governor’s Office of Information Technology assisting in the oversight of one of the largest projects ever undertaken in the State of Colorado.

In addition to her project management experience, Kim also has experience managing application development, web development, network operations, infrastructure, security, and customer service teams.

Kim is the author of the PMP Project Management Professional Exam Study Guide, Project Management JumpStart, and Project Manager’s Spotlight on Risk Management, as well as coauthor of Excel 2007 for Project Managers. Kim has also published several articles and is currently working on a leadership book.

Kim writes on project management best-practices and leadership topics, and she speaks frequently at conferences and events. You can contact Kim at [email protected]. She personally answers all her email.

Bill Heldman teaches computer science, game programming, and 2D/3D digital animation at a career- and technical-education high school in Lakewood, Colorado, called Warren Tech. You can find more information about Warren Tech at www.warrentech.org.

Prior to becoming a schoolteacher, Bill had a long career in information technology with progressively responsible positions. Thanks to the volatility of the IT marketplace (read: frequent layoffs), Bill decided to pursue a different career path and was very, very lucky to find work as a teacher, a career path he loves.

In addition to teaching school, Bill is working on new ideas for digital-technology academies and game-programming camps and pursuing his PhD in educational leadership and educational technology.

You can reach Bill at [email protected], read his blogs at blog.billheldman.com, or connect with him on Facebook.

Introduction

Have you ever wondered how the pyramids were built? Or the Eiffel Tower? How did someone have the organizational skills to put all those people together and create such magnificent structures? Coming forward to recent times—how is Microsoft capable of putting together the literally millions of lines of code that became Windows Server 2008? The answer to all of these is project management.

The CompTIA Project+ exam will test your knowledge of the concepts and processes involved in project management. There are several project management methodologies you can follow, each with their own processes and procedures, but at the foundation of each one is sound project management principles and techniques. This edition of the CompTIA Project+ Study Guide reflects CompTIA’s commitment to the Project Management Institute (PMI) and its associated project management practices. These project management practices are detailed in PMI’s publication, A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge (Guide to the PMBOK), Fourth Edition. The five domains measured in CompTIA’s 2010 version of the Project+ exam map to the five process groups that are the foundation of the PMBOK Guide: Initiating, Planning, Executing, Monitoring and Controlling, and Closing.

In the CompTIA Project+ Study Guide, you’ll find plenty of discussion of project management concepts such as defining the requirements, creating the project charter document, creating the scope document, planning the project, assessing and managing risk, and closing out the project. You’ll also find exam questions in categories such as team building and personnel management, quality management, status reporting, and more, and we discuss these areas as well.

The Project+ certification used to be centered on information technology (IT) projects and was called the IT Project+ exam. Many projects involve IT in one way or another, so you’ll find references in this book to IT-related projects. We should also mention that both of our backgrounds are firmly rooted in IT, and many of our examples are drawn from real-life experiences. Regardless of the industry you work in, it’s likely some segment of IT software and hardware directly affects your business.

Where should you go beyond taking your Project+ test? If you find that you’re interested in all things project management, you should enroll in a good university-level class that takes you through the heavier stages of project management. This book and this test only touch the surface of project management techniques. You’ll find there is much more to learn and that it’s possible to make a career out of managing projects.

Don’ t just study the questions and answers in this book; the questions on the actual exam will be different from the practice ones included in the book and on the CD-ROM. The exam is designed to test your knowledge of a concept or objective, so use this book to learn the objective behind the question.

What Is the Project+ Certification?

CompTIA’s mission is to create tests and certifications that aren’t company-specific. For example, you can take a server test that deals with the elements of servers and server operation but doesn’t ask you specifics about Dell, HP, or IBM equipment. CompTIA got its start with what is now an industry standard, the A+ exam. This is a test designed to quiz you on your understanding of the guts of a PC and its associated connection to a network. But there are other tests as well: Network+, Linux+, and others.

Why Become Project+ Certified?

Certification in project management has increasingly become a requirement for those interested in full-time careers in this field. It improves your credibility with stakeholders and customers. Becoming certified demonstrates your intent to learn the processes associated with project management and provides you with opportunities for positions and advancements that may not otherwise be possible.

Here are some reasons to consider the Project+ test and this study guide:

Demonstrates proof of professional achievement Certification demonstrates to current and potential employers that you are knowledgeable and well grounded in project management practices and have taken the initiative to prove your knowledge in this area.

Increases your marketability If you take a moment to surf job postings for project management positions, you’ll often find that certification is either highly desirable or required. The CompTIA Project+ certification will help you stand out from other candidates and demonstrate that you have the skills and knowledge to fulfill the duties required of a project manager.

Provides opportunity for advancement You may find that your Project+ certification is just what you need to get that next step up the ladder. People who study and pass certification tests prove, if nothing else, that they have the tenacity to get through a difficult subject and to prove their understanding by testing on the subject.

Provides a prerequisite for advanced project management training If you’re considering a project management career, the Project+ exam is a great way to start. Studying for this exam gives you the background on what project management is really all about, not simply what one company or organization thinks it’s about. After passing the exam, you should consider obtaining the Certified Associate Project Management (CAPM) or the Project Management Professional (PMP) certification through the Project Management Institute. This study guide follows the principles and processes outlined by PMI and is a great introduction to its certifications.

Raises customer confidence because it raises your confidence Customers who know you’re certified in project management and who hear you speak and act with confidence are more confident in the company you represent. If you’re able, for example, to identify and describe the four categories of risks to prepare for on a project, your customer gains confidence in you.

How to Become Project+ Certified

First, study the topics and processes outlined in this book, and make certain to answer all the end-of-chapter questions and take the extra bonus exams included on the CD.

Then go to the CompTIA website (www.comptia.org) to find the list of testing sites where the exam is currently conducted. At the time of this printing, Pearson VUE centers and Prometric offer the Project+ exam. You can find links to both of them at www.comptia.org. See the website for details regarding the price of the exam.

Prices and testing centers are subject to change at any time. Please visit CompTIA’ s website for the most up-to-date information: www.comptia.org.

You’ll need a driver’s license and one other form of ID when you arrive at the testing center. No calculators, computers, cell phones, or other electronic devices are allowed in the testing area. You’re allowed 90 minutes to take the exam, and there are 80 multiple-choice questions. You’ll be notified of your grade as soon as you finish the test.

Who Should Buy This Book?

You should buy this book if you’re interested in project management and would like to learn more about the topic. The Project+ exam is an ideal way to introduce yourself to project management concepts and techniques, and this book will immerse you in the basics of those techniques.

If you’ve never taken a certification test before, you’ll find that the Project+ exam is a very pleasant way to get your feet wet. The test isn’t overly complicated or riddled with trick questions; it simply covers the basics of project management. Once you pass the exam and gain confidence in your project management knowledge and skills, you’ll be ready to progress to other certifications and eager to learn the more in-depth topics involved in project management.

How to Use This Book and CD

We’ve included several testing features, found both in the book and on the companion CD-ROM. At the beginning of the book (right after this introduction) is an assessment test. Take this exam before you start reading the book. It will help you determine the areas you understand well and the areas where you may need more study. The answers to the Assessment test questions are on a separate page after the last question of the test. Each answer also includes an explanation and a note telling you where this material appears.

To test your knowledge as you progress through the book, there are review questions at the end of each chapter. As you finish each chapter, answer the review questions, and then check your work—the correct answers appear on the page following the last review question.

Every question on the Project+ exam is a multiple-choice format. We used this same format for all the questions and practice exams in this study guide.

In addition to the assessment test and chapter review questions, you’ll find two bonus exams on the book’s companion CD-ROM. Take these exams just as if you were actually taking the exams (that is, without any reference material). When you have finished the first exam, move on to solidify your test-taking skills with the second exam.

Also on the CD, you’ll find more than 150 flashcard questions for on-the-go review. Download them right onto your handheld device for quick and convenient reviewing.

Additionally, if you are going to travel but still need to study for the Project+ exam, you can take this entire book with you on your laptop computer. This book is in PDF (Adobe Acrobat) format on the CD so it can be easily read on any computer.

The majority of the examples used to demonstrate practical application of the material in this book focus on IT projects, because IT project managers were the original target audience for this exam. However, the techniques and concepts discussed in this book are not limited to IT projects. The information discussed in this book can be applied to projects in any industry.

Tips for Taking the Project+ Exam

Here are some general tips for taking your exam successfully:

Bring two forms of ID with you. One must be a photo ID, such as a driver’s license. The other can be a major credit card or a passport. Both forms must have a signature.

Arrive early at the exam center so you can relax and review your study materials, particularly tables and lists of exam-related information.

Read the questions carefully. Don’t be tempted to jump to an early conclusion. Make sure you know exactly what the question is asking.

Don’t leave any unanswered questions. Unanswered questions are scored against you.

There will be questions with multiple correct responses. When there is more than one correct answer, there will be a statement at the end of the question instructing to you select the proper number of correct responses, as in “Choose two.”

▪ When answering multiple-choice questions you’re not sure about, use a process of elimination to remove the incorrect responses first. This will improve your odds if you need to make an educated guess.

For the latest pricing on the exam and updates to the registration procedures, refer to the CompTIA site at

www.comptia.org

.

The Exam Objectives

Behind every certification exam, there are exam objectives. The objectives are competency areas that cover specific topics of project management. The introduction section of each chapter in this book lists the objectives that are discussed in the chapter.

Exam objectives are subject to change at any time without prior notice and at CompTIA’s sole discretion. Please visit the Certification page of CompTIA’s website (www.comptia.org) for the most current listing of Project+ exam objectives.

The Project+ exam will test you on five domains, and each domain is worth a certain percentage of the exam. The following is a breakdown of the domains and their representation in the exam.

Domain

% of Examination

1.0 Pre-Project Setup/Initiating

12%

2.0 Project Planning

29%

3.0 Project Execution and Delivery

23%

4.0 Change, Control and Communication

27%

5.0 Project Closure

9%

Total

100%

Assessment Test

1. Which of these terms describes a critical path task?

A. Hammock

B. Zero float

C. Critical task

D. Mandatory task

2. When would you use your negotiation skills on a project that’s in the Executing process group?

A. When you want a certain individual to work on your project team

B. When you’re running a high-level project in which you could augment the outcome by adjusting certain tasks