Book Image

CompTIA Project+ Certification Guide

By : J. Ashley Hunt
Book Image

CompTIA Project+ Certification Guide

By: J. Ashley Hunt

Overview of this book

The CompTIA Project+ exam is designed for IT professionals who want to improve their career trajectory by gaining certification in project management specific to their industry. This guide covers everything necessary to pass the current iteration of the Project+ PK0-004 exam. The CompTIA Project+ Certification Guide starts by covering project initiation best practices, including an understanding of organizational structures, team roles, and responsibilities. You’ll then study best practices for developing a project charter and the scope of work to produce deliverables necessary to obtain formal approval of the end result. The ability to monitor your project work and make changes as necessary to bring performance back in line with the plan is the difference between a successful and unsuccessful project. The concluding chapters of the book provide best practices to help keep an eye on your projects and close them out successfully. The guide also includes practice questions created to mirror the exam experience and help solidify your understanding of core project management concepts. By the end of this book, you will be able to develop creative solutions for complex issues faced in project management.
Table of Contents (13 chapters)

Chapters and corresponding domains

Here the details of the chapters and the corresponding domains that they cover:

Chapter 1: Introduction to the CompTIA Project+ Exam (PK0-004)

Understanding what CompTIA is and the value of Project+ certification

  • How to apply for the Project+ exam
  • Having a good understanding of the best study tips and tricks to pass the exam the first time
  • Review question types pertaining to the chapters to help target your studies

Chapter 2: Project Initiation

Project basics

  • Defining organizational structures and influencing factors on projects
  • Recognizing the different knowledge areas that can be utilized on projects
  • Understanding the role of the project manager including skills like communication and problem solving

Project constraints

  • Understanding the development of a business case and how projects are selected

Chapter 3: Project Roles and Responsibilities

Project basics

  • Defining the different roles on a project team and what each role is responsible for
  • Understand the different types of PMO and why they are important to the project

Project basics, communication, and change management

  • Understanding the importance of managing stakeholder needs and interests on the project

Project tools and documentation, communication, and change management

  • Creating a stakeholder matrix and determining a strategy for managing stakeholder engagement

Chapter 4: Developing a Project Charter

Project basics

  • Understanding the different types of life cycles and process groups in project management

Project constraints

  • Knowing the necessary information to build a comprehensive project charter

Project constraints, project tools, and documentation

  • Listing the steps to gain formal approval of the project charter

Project communication and change management

  • Recognizing the elements of an effective kickoff meeting

Chapter 5: Creating a Work Breakdown Structure (WBS)

Project Constraints, Project Tools, and Documentation

  • Recognizing the importance of creating a scope-management plan
  • Identifying acceptance criteria and performance measurements
  • Developing a scope statement
  • Developing a work breakdown structure and WBS dictionary

Chapter 6: Developing a Project Schedule

Project Basics and Project Constraints

  • Creating and navigating a network diagram
  • Understanding different techniques to estimate duration

Project Basics

  • Identifying the different types of resources that can affect duration
  • Review the importance of a schedule baseline

Project Basics, Project Tools, and Documentation

  • Navigate critical path methods and how schedule-compression works

Chapter 7: Resource Management Planning and Communication Considerations

Project Tools and Documentation

  • Using matrix, hierarchical, and text-based documentation to determine resource needs

Project Basics

  • Recognizing different conflict-management techniques and when they are appropriate
  • Reviewing team-building and motivation techniques

Project Basics, Project Tools, and Documentation

  • Determine ways to monitor team performance throughout the project

Chapter 8: Budget and Contingency Plans for Risk

Project Basics

  • Demonstrating different ways to estimate costs based on the situation

Project Constraints, Project Tools, and Documentation

  • List the typical information found in a cost baseline

Project Basics, Project Tools, and Documentation

  • Using earned value formulas to track performance

Project Constraints

  • Best practices for identifying, analyzing, and responding to risk

Chapter 9: Monitoring and Controlling Project Work

Communication and Change Management

  • Understanding the change-control system and how to process changes through formal change-control systems

Project Tools and Documentation

  • Understanding the procurement process and the different types of contracts
  • Reviewing how sellers are selected and the project manager's role in procurement

Chapter 10: Formal Project or Phase Closure and Agile Project Management

Project Basics

  • Identifying best practices for closing out a project
  • Understanding different project-ending types
  • Understanding the basics of Agile project management
  • Hybrid project management

Project Tools and Documentation

  • Learning how to create lessons learned
  • Preparing a final project report