Average Rating: 
Rating:  - Essential for PMP candidates
This CD ROM contains is the electronic form (Adobe Acrobat format) of a set of guidelines that represent two things: (1) a De Jure standard for project management, which is the American National Standard classified as ANSI/PMI 99-001-2000 and (2) one of the primary resources that you need to thoroughly know in order to successfully pass the Project Management Professional(PMP)certification examination. NOTE: According to the Project Management Institute candidates seeking PMP certification in 2001 will also be responsible for the content in the older PMBOK dated 1996 also available from Amazon.com.What it contains: this CD ROM is identical in format and content as the hard copy versions of the PMBOK 2000 edition. Its 211 pages are divided into four sections that are comprised of 12 chapters and seven appendices. Section I consists of three chapters that introduce the guide and briefly describes terms and definitions. It also provides an overview of the nine knowledge areas and 39 processes embodied in the project management framework. Chapter 2 adds a brief piece on the role of project offices, which was not in the 1996 edition. Chapter 3 appears to have taken a few ideas from the British PM standard, PRINCE 2 (PRojects IN a Controlled Environment) because more attention appears to be given to phases and interactions among phases. Another interesting thing I noted about Chapter 3 is the inclusion (although brief) of iterative development. If you are in IT/IS you will recognize how this can be aligned to the Rational Unified Process or other iterative development approaches. The nine chapters in Section II address each of the nine knowledge areas and their associated processes. The knowledge areas are: project integration management, scope management, time management, cost management, quality management, human resources management, communications management, risk management and procurement management. The knowledge areas and processes in the 2000 edition have undergone some refinement and expansion from what is in the 1996 edition: Chapters 4 and 10 have a lot more material on earned value (I recommend Earned Value Project Management, 2nd edition as an augment to the PMBOK because the authors of that book were instrumental in adding earned value to the PMBOK), Chapter 6 touches on theory of constraints (a good book that extends this is Project Management in the Fast Lane by Robert Newbold), and Chapter 11, risk management, has been expanded to include six processes instead of four that were covered in the 1996 edition. Section III is a collection of seven appendices, of which Appendix G, Summary of Project Management Knowledge Areas, is the most valuable. Section IV is a glossary and index. It's a given that if you are pursuing PMP certification the PMBOK is a must. The burning question is whether or not you should get the hard copy or CD ROM version. I personally prefer the hard copy version because of the way I read (not to mention the eyestrain from reading off a monitor). However, the CD ROM version is a lot more portable, and you can print out the entire PMBOK or selected sections for offline reading. There is also something to be said for the way the CD ROM version is hyperlinked, making it a convenience. I have it in both formats, but you will have to decide which is most convenient for you - or spend the extra money and get the book and CD ROM.
Rating:  - A Requirement for PMP exam, but not everything.
I'm a a certified PMP and purchased this book because PMI says it is the basis for the exam. The problem is that it's incredibly boring and does not include all the information on the test! Although all the project management processes are detailed and the terms are defined, it does not really teach you on how to apply and understand project management. There are also no practice questions included in the PMBOK and this is an absolute requirement before you sit for the test. You must also purchase an independant study guide book. I recommend PMP Exam Prep by Rita Mulcahy. It is well written, an enjoyable read, and includes many topics that appear on the exam that are not included in the PMBOK (i.e. Professional Responsibility etc.).
Rating: - As the name says, a guide.
Project Management is not easy stuff, even though many people think all they need is to get a computer package and start using it in order to be project managers (I certainly used to think so). This book is almost an index of the topics you should cover when managing a project according to the Project Management Institute, as well as a guide for the Project Management Professional Certification (PMP). The book does not try to be fun; it is very technical and general. As I said before, it is almost an index: covers a lot of topics, does not get into the details of almost anything. I would have liked it to include an example of how to put all the techniques together. I had to read the 1996 edition for a course, and the 2000 edition in preparation for the PMP test. The first time it was a lot more difficult to finish the book. In between, I read "Information Technology Project Management" by Katy Schwalbe, and it helped a lot. It explains the PMBOK with anecdotes and stories, as well as examples and exercises, and after getting the basics the PMBOK is a lot more readable. I highly recommend reading Shwalbe's book first. And if you just want to start studying Project Management, I think "Fundamentals of Project Management", by Lewis, is almost a "Quick Guide", but ideal for busy people, since it is very short and easy to read. I rate the book four stars because it is not exactly a page-turner. It takes determination to read it from cover to cover.
|
