Anyone got Prince2 / Project management quals?

[Cara van Man]

V8mate said:

CVM - you said a mate did the APMP course and exam. Did he say how he felt the two courses compare?

He said the courses were very similar as P2 is a fall out from APMP.....such as management stages with slightly differing names.

He said it was possibly a disadvantage being familiar with P2 as he had all the P2 stuff in his head and the APMP stuff was a lot to take in in such a short time.

Exam wise he said it was a nightmare because it is written rather than MC and he's sure he has failed.

[judas]

Cara van Man said:

judas said:

Oh boy. Just read through the whole thread. Doing foundation & practitioner over five days in a couple of weeks and am now officially bricking it. I've spent today trying to read through the pre-course material but by God it's hard to concentrate on anything that dry for long

You spent today reading?

I read the book for several weeks before.....I suggest you do a little more

[Cara van Man]

judas said:

Cara van Man said:

judas said:

Oh boy. Just read through the whole thread. Doing foundation & practitioner over five days in a couple of weeks and am now officially bricking it. I've spent today trying to read through the pre-course material but by God it's hard to concentrate on anything that dry for long

You spent today reading?

I read the book for several weeks before.....I suggest you do a little more

seriously, i read the thing from cover to cover.....it was horrendous especially as i didn't really know what it meant.

Pay lots of attention to 'themes', annex A and annex C.

Then when you do the course it will fall into place a whole lot more.

one of the guys on my course that "flicked through the book" the night before the course crashed and burned badly.

[judas]

I've not got the official OGC book(s) yet (they get supplied on day 1 of the course), just a 120 page intro document written by the training company. I've got some background in project management already, though none of it formal (think fire-fighting and you won't be far wrong )

The biggest problems I have with what I've read so far is the lack of context - it's all very abstract - and the inconsistency in terminology/descriptions used - there's too little commonality of phrases/language choice in the quizzes at the end of each section to make the mental connection. No doubt if the reader was already experienced with PRINCE2 it would make sense, but for someone coming to it new it's a big omission.

[Cara van Man]

judas said:

I've not got the official OGC book(s) yet (they get supplied on day 1 of the course), just a 120 page intro document written by the training company. I've got some background in project management already, though none of it formal (think fire-fighting and you won't be far wrong )

The biggest problems I have with what I've read so far is the lack of context - it's all very abstract - and the inconsistency in terminology/descriptions used - there's too little commonality of phrases/language choice in the quizzes at the end of each section to make the mental connection. No doubt if the reader was already experienced with PRINCE2 it would make sense, but for someone coming to it new it's a big omission.

No book until the course?

Gosh.

Read what you can then and do the Qs.

During the course do at least 3 hours in the evenings as well. It'll pay off.

Having a bit of background knowledge will help.

[Pulse]

My biggest difficulty is that the organisation I work for don't use Prince2, so as a current PM, I'm finding it hard learning the idealistic view of Prince2 when I keep comparing it to my current practice.

I've almost got through the book and my exams are next week. I had been planning on reading the book twice, getting a few practice exams in, and marking up the book... Are you allowed to mark up the book for use in the Practitioner exam?

[Cara van Man]

Pulse said:

My biggest difficulty is that the organisation I work for don't use Prince2, so as a current PM, I'm finding it hard learning the idealistic view of Prince2 when I keep comparing it to my current practice.

I've almost got through the book and my exams are next week. I had been planning on reading the book twice, getting a few practice exams in, and marking up the book... Are you allowed to mark up the book for use in the Practitioner exam?

yes. you can write what you want in it and add 'tabs' to differentiate between each chapter(a must), but you cannot add pages in.

Any additions or diagrams must be on the blank pages in the book.

[Pulse]

Cara van Man said:

Pulse said:

My biggest difficulty is that the organisation I work for don't use Prince2, so as a current PM, I'm finding it hard learning the idealistic view of Prince2 when I keep comparing it to my current practice.

I've almost got through the book and my exams are next week. I had been planning on reading the book twice, getting a few practice exams in, and marking up the book... Are you allowed to mark up the book for use in the Practitioner exam?

yes. you can write what you want in it and add 'tabs' to differentiate between each chapter(a must), but you cannot add pages in.

Any additions or diagrams must be on the blank pages in the book.

Brill, thanks. Oddly, this isn't really mentioned anywhere!

[V8mate]

judas said:

The biggest problems I have with what I've read so far is the lack of context - it's all very abstract -

It's always abstract. That's why it's such a load of bks and fails to deliver results time after time after time.

Pulse said:

My biggest difficulty is that the organisation I work for don't use Prince2, so as a current PM, I'm finding it hard learning the idealistic view of Prince2 when I keep comparing it to my current practice.

If you don't work in an organisation which supports P2, there's little-to-no point in trying to use it. You should simply gain a general understanding of project management through something like the APMP course and try and use best practice within your own team.

[Pulse]

V8mate said:

judas said:

The biggest problems I have with what I've read so far is the lack of context - it's all very abstract -

It's always abstract. That's why it's such a load of bks and fails to deliver results time after time after time.

Pulse said:

My biggest difficulty is that the organisation I work for don't use Prince2, so as a current PM, I'm finding it hard learning the idealistic view of Prince2 when I keep comparing it to my current practice.

If you don't work in an organisation which supports P2, there's little-to-no point in trying to use it. You should simply gain a general understanding of project management through something like the APMP course and try and use best practice within your own team.

I agree, but I am using this to move on to another role. Work are paying for it, and I missed out on a role recently because I didn't have Prince2, so it's worth getting it done. I also think that while it's a bit full on, there are some elements in there that I am grateful for, and it will improve my current practice. (I'm very new to the game)

I fully intend to compliment Prince2 with my APMP at a later stage.

[Cara van Man]

V8mate said:

judas said:

The biggest problems I have with what I've read so far is the lack of context - it's all very abstract -

It's always abstract. That's why it's such a load of bks and fails to deliver results time after time after time.

Pulse said:

My biggest difficulty is that the organisation I work for don't use Prince2, so as a current PM, I'm finding it hard learning the idealistic view of Prince2 when I keep comparing it to my current practice.

If you don't work in an organisation which supports P2, there's little-to-no point in trying to use it. You should simply gain a general understanding of project management through something like the APMP course and try and use best practice within your own team.

But having a basis which to use can't be a bad thing. I'm not saying stick to it rigidly, but have some guidance to underpin your soft skills when new to it all?

[V8mate]

Cara van Man said:

... but have some guidance to underpin your soft skills when new to it all?

WTF are 'soft skills'? Are you going to stroke your project to completion?

[Cara van Man]

V8mate said:

WTF are 'soft skills'? Are you going to stroke your project to completion?

Not heard that term?

[Pulse]

Soft Skills - The skills that enable you to be soft to the touch, such as wearing padding underneath a velvet jacket.

[Cara van Man]

Pulse said:

Soft Skills - The skills that enable you to be soft to the touch, such as wearing padding underneath a velvet jacket.

I was thinking more along the lines of being charming, persuasive and convincing to get what I want.

Then shouting and using my fists when plan 'A' fails.

[Pulse]

Haha yep. I'm surprised V8 even questioned that. This is what you're always talking about. Skills to actually lead, rather than a methodology that doesn't make you a good PM. Soft skills are those that aren't proven with a bit of paper. Personal skills, people person, good leader, etc. Oh and I totally agree cvm. I think prince2, with me being new to the game, has taught me a few things and will hopefully bring more organisation and structure to my planning.

[Tuna]

adycav said:

I have PRINCE2.

It's very highly regarded in the public sector/local government.

Given the current economic situation, this would worry me.

[V8mate]

Pulse said:

Haha yep. I'm surprised V8 even questioned that.

I think that qualifies you for a bit of a 'whoosh' there, chap.

[Pulse]

V8mate said:

Pulse said:

Haha yep. I'm surprised V8 even questioned that.

I think that qualifies you for a bit of a 'whoosh' there, chap.

No woosh at all. I just thought you would say something about how good it is, rather than questioning it, considering how you keep harping on about it.

[V8mate]

Pulse said:

V8mate said:

Pulse said:

Haha yep. I'm surprised V8 even questioned that.

I think that qualifies you for a bit of a 'whoosh' there, chap.

No woosh at all. I just thought you would say something about how good it is, rather than questioning it, considering how you keep harping on about it.

Ok. Now either I'm double-confused or you need two whooshes

I was simply taking the piss out of CVM's use of the term. I'm very much a believer that people deliver projects, not methodologies, hence my disdain for most of these courses.