PDU Archive

Free Webinar & PDU (The Lean BA)

– February 3, 2011Posted in: Agile, Project Management

I believe if you’re trying to maintain your credential, particularly the PMP, you should not pay a dime for Professional Development Units (PDUs). Seriously, paying for 60 PDU’s (the amount required per 3-year cycle) could break the bank.

I know people make a living by selling products and services to others who are looking for an easy path to maintaining their PMP. Though it frustrates me that people want to get PDUs without wanting to learn, it frustrates me more that there is an ecosystem supporting it. So, this is my small attempt to continually disrupt the current system. Below is information on 1 free webinar worth 1 free PDU.

The Lean BA

Tuesday, February 08, 2011

12:00 pm Eastern Time
11:00 am Central Time
10:00 am Mountain Time
9:00 am Pacific Time

This is a 1 hour seminar and attendees will be awarded 1 PDU for participating.

Seminar Description:

The lean business analysis web seminar starts by explaining the foundations of lean IT before getting into the impacts of how lean IT affects business analysis. The presentation discusses how some existing approaches work well and others present more challenges to lean business analysis and projects.

Seminar Presenter:

ASPE-SDLC instructor Jake Calabrese

Registration is open Register for this FREE web seminar

I am in no way being compensated for listing this free webinar, unless you count the satisfaction of knowing somebody out there is going to click this link and learn something (and get a free PDU). It’s that simple.

Like the drawing? Find it here, on Pictofigo

Popularity: 2%

Tags: Agile, PDU, PMI-ACP, PMP

Free PMI (Agile) PDUs

Derek Huether

– January 12, 2011Posted in: Agile, Project Management

One of the points of contention that I’ve heard, when interviewing both current and former Project Management Professionals (PMPs), is the difficulty of reporting Professional Development Units (PDUs). I know people who chose to NOT renew their PMP and their memberships with PMI becuase of the process of collecting and submitting PDU information was too arduous, outweighing the value the accreditation and membership provided.

The result I’ve seen is people paying to get PDUs in bulk or paying for the process to be easier. I think this is a bit of a tragedy. So, I want help you get 1 PDU for free. All you have to do is click the link, enter a little contact information, and you’ll get a link to a free 1 hour webinar.

From September through December, VersionOne offered a series of free Agile webinars. There are a total of 6 Agile centric webinars, all free of charge. Because I am a strong Agile proponent, I want more Project Managers exposed to Agile concepts. This is a perfect opportunity for those looking to learn more about Agile to also earn a few PDUs. To make it easy on you, I’ve added the PDU information below.

The Role of the Project Manager in Modern Agile Projects

https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/556452601

Many groups adopting an agile development approach fail in ways that can be traced back to the missing project manager role. In other words, they didn’t understand what good project managers do in the first place. In this talk, Dr. Cockburn starts from ten critical project success factors, relates those to PMI project phases and to the overall value and purpose of a project manager, leading to what a good project manager provides to even the most rabidly agile team (and also other project teams, of course).

PMI PDU Category: 4
Program/Title description: The Role of the Project Manager in Modern Agile Projects
Process: Initiating, Planning, Executing, Closing
Knowledge area: Scope, Risk, Communications
Industry: Information Systems
Provider name: Dr. Alistair Cockburn / VersionOne
Address: 6220 Shiloh Road, Suite 400
City: Atlanta
State: Georgia
Zip: 30005
Country: United States

PDUs: 1

Popularity: 10%

Tags: Agile, PDU, PMI, PMI-ACP, PMP

Those PMI PDUs

Derek Huether

– December 20, 2010Posted in: PMP, Project Management

OK, so you got your certification or accreditation through the Project Management Institute (PMI). Now you need to plan on getting 60 PDUs over the next 3 years. Is this too much to ask? I don’t think so. How would you feel if your doctor never learned anything new, upon graduating from medical school? Stakeholders should feel that same about people managing or leading projects.

Over the course of the last few years, I’ve witnessed quite a few people who don’t actually work as project managers get their PMP. I know, you’ve heard me rant about this before. But, since these people were able to navigate the system, what can the system do? Well, I see the PDU as a mechanism that can continually attempt to separate the wheat from the chaff. For some who really aren’t contributing to the profession, and were just looking for three initials for a resume, the added cost and effort might not be worth it. To be fair, I also know people who are very experienced and knowledgeable in the area of project management. Requiring them to seek out and log PDUs is just an added deterrent to getting the PMP.

Back on topic, I break down the people getting PDUs into 2 groups. Those who earn their PDUs over the course of 3 years and those who buy theirs. Since I watch at least 1 free project management related webinar every other week, I ask myself why anyone would ever pay for them. But, I digress. Upon hearing the PMI was introducing a new PDU category structure as of 1 March 2011, I figured I would take a look. What was once 15 categories will now be 7. Without going into grotesque detail, I’m going to give you the 50,000 foot review. In plain English, I like it.

Not only did the PMI modernize the language to include blog, webinar, and podcast, but they also grouped the PDU categories into 2 divisions.

1. (Receiving) Education

2. Giving Back to the Profession

I particularly like the language of “giving back”. When I think of the PMI, being charitable or giving back isn’t really one of the first things that comes to mind. I see this category naming as a step in the right direction. I noted my disappointment in the lack of giving back in October (2010), when I was comparing the AgileDC conference and the PMI North American Congress.

I only have 2 recommended changes, if PMI would consider making a modification to the PDU requirements of the future. First, I would ask PMPs to get PDUs in all 5 process groups. I think people tend to get PDUs in process group or knowledge areas they are already proficient. Second, now that the PMI has identified giving back to the profession, perhaps in a few years they’ll add giving back to the community?

Like the image? Find it at Pictofigo

Popularity: 1%

Tags: PDU, PMI, PMP

The Critical Path Week Ending February 28

Derek Huether

– February 28, 2010Posted in: Project Management

Due to working crazy off hours in preparation for my v1.0 launch, I not only forgot to do a week in review on the 20th, I also missed meeting my writing commitment on the 24th and 25th. Whatever the excuses, I was feeling a little burned out. I have to remember this is a marathon and not a sprint. Writing a daily blog takes a lot of discipline. Though I have so much to say, it can escape me if I don’t get the idea captured quickly. Wow, it’s hard to believe it’s almost March. At least there should be viewer posts about snow removal.

2/26/2010

Putting Things In Perspective

I had mild chest and shoulder pains this morning. I am in the ER waiting to see the doctor. I’ll let you know the outcome and my status shortly…

2/23/2010

Satisfying Needed Scope Versus Wants

There are many templates and means to ensure your project meets the requirements. But I can’t stress enough how important it is to ensure you’re working to satisfy the requirements (or scope) first…

2/22/2010

The Hateful Cycle of Apathy Hits a Nerve

Have you ever stuck your neck out and get no support? Did the trust among that team start to break down? I’ve seen it happen first hand and Geoff Crane wrote an awesome post over at Papercut Edge about it…

2/21/2010

How To Prevent Your Project From Hemorrhaging

This post is in response to a post written by Jennifer Bedell on the PMStudent blog about goldplating. Goldplating is very common in application development and can be very expensive…

2/20/2010

How Owners Managers and Leaders Differ

I was asked a very interesting question today, requiring me to stop and think. How do I believe being an entrepreneur and a business owner differ? It’s a very good question because…

2/19/2010

What You Need Is Some Kaizen

While sitting in a governance meeting the other day, I heard how (before I joined the team) a vendor brought in some high paid six sigma black belts to…

2/18/2010

How to Thank a Managed Camel

I was informed I am the winner of the very first Freedom of Speech February (FOSF) giveaway from How to Manage a Camel. My comments last week on a blog post by Gary Holmes earned me a free copy of the Method123 Project Management Methodology (MPMM™) Professional from their partners at Method123…

2/17/2010

Creeping Ever So Closer To Closure

As my startup project is creeping ever so closer to its closure and the actual launch of the product happens, I’m feverishly completing activities late into the night. It’s not easy working crazy hours to get this done. My family goes to bed, I drink a pot of coffee, and get to work…

2/16/2010

Interesting PMI Perspective On Claiming PDUs

…Based on the telephone conversation I had, if you’ve worked as a PM for at least 6 months, you can claim 5 PDUs. Otherwise, if you are able to say you spend more than 1,500 hours per calendar year in that roll, you also qualify to claim the 5 PDUs…

2/15/2010

Getting Exactly What You Want

I just wrapped up a week long logo design project at 99Designs, with an intellectual property transfer agreement. Flash back to August 2009, when I was watching Episode 13 of This Week in Startups…

Interesting PMI Perspective On Claiming PDUs

Derek Huether

– February 16, 2010Posted in: Project Management

After one of my readers asked me about PMP PDU claims, I made a telephone call to PMI. The question revolved around Category 2H and the proper way to prove you have met the criteria of the PDU. In the past, I purposely formatted round-table discussion agendas a certain way to make it easy on the PMPs to claim PDUs. So, what proof do we need to claim category 2H PDUs? And, how many PDUs can you claim for being employed as a project manager?

Category: 2H
Description: Practitioner of project and/or program management services for more than 1,500 project hours per calendar year.
Maximum PDUs: Time in service 6 months: 5 PDUs Maximum 15 PDUs may be earned per cycle (3 years).

What does that mean? Based on the telephone conversation I had, if you’ve worked as a PM for at least 6 months, you can claim 5 PDUs. Otherwise, if you are able to say you spend more than 1,500 hours per calendar year in that roll, you also qualify to claim the 5 PDUs. Within your Continuing Certification Requirements (CCR) cycle, which is now 3 years, you can do this 3 times. Do the math and you have a total of 15 maximum PDUs, if you’re a full time PM. That’s not bad! You’re 1/4 the way to meeting the goal of 60 required PDUs per CCR and you haven’t spent a dollar on training.

What about proof? When claiming PDUs for something like a round-table discussion, the only proof you need is an agenda or something similar. But, I was really surprised by they answer I got from PMI for Category 2H. You don’t need any proof. When I was audited, prior to taking my exam, I provided a detailed account of my project experiences and areas of focus. None of this is necessary to maintain your credential. I was very specific how I framed my question to PMI.

Me: Please confirm, yes or no, if I have my PMP certification and I show up to work every day with the title of PM, I rate 5 PDUs a year? Nothing else is required?

PMI Answer: Yes, that is correct

I have to admit, I don’t agree with this. What’s the point of telling people to follow a process if you have no mechanism in place to verify they are following it correctly?

What do you think?

Popularity: 1%

Tags: 2H, ccr, PDU, PMI, PMP