Webinar Series: Scrum at Scale with Hands-on Practical Applicability

In a recent article for Scrum at Scale – CIPSA Key Roles and Goals, I wrote about the power of simplicity. I also said simple is beautiful and simplicity sticks. It's applicable in all walks of our lives. You can read it here.

Simple people are liked more, trusted more. Simple things are easily remembered and hence followed. Simple, elegant dresses are natural and indeed, beautiful. Simple manners, for example just a simple and genuine 'thank you' goes a long way many times with the right people in the right environment. 

In any human endeavor, simplicity is a powerful tool. A simple message is more effective and efficient than a long, complicated message. A simple person or organization is easier to work with than a complicated one. However, to make things simple is not that simple. In fact, it' very hard, long-drawn and has to be cultivated. 

The Certified In Practical Scaled Agile (CIPSA) framework strives to be simple. I believe it's the simplest possible framework for Agile at Scale in the world. In addition, it's the only practical Scaled Agile framework in the world.

As shown above, the CIPSA Scrum Framework extends team-level Scrum in a minimal possible way. There are no layers of and layers of backlogs, layers and layers of roles and events. If you read the CIPSA Guide – free to download and use, you’d immediately notice these:

• The roles are just two.
• The goals are just two.
• The events are just a few.
• The artifacts are just three.

Considering multiple Individual Scrum Teams and agile at scale, it’s a simple, yet powerful framework. If you know the Scrum approach, you’ll understand quickly under CIPSA Scrum Framework. In addition, the CIPSA framework can use any software tool, including MS Project Agile. 

In my upcoming webinar series conducted by Mastering Project for Unlimited Growth (MPUG), you’ll learn about scaling, aspects of scaling, other scaling frameworks, the CIPSA Framework (specifically the CIPSA Scrum Framework), various parts of the framework and more. In the final part, we will also see practical, hands-on demonstrations. 

Join me in these three-part webinar series to know more on Scrum at Scale using the CIPSA Framework. The links are noted below. Registration is currently open. 

Below are the event details.

Part - 1: Understanding Scaling with Scrum

• Date: March 12, 2025
• Time: 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM ET, US
  10:30 PM - 11:30 PM, IST, India
• Event Brief: https://mpug.com/event/scaling-scrum-with-hands-on-applicability-understanding-scaling-with-scrum-part-1/

Part - 2: Scrum at Scale with the CIPSA Framework

• Date: March 19, 2025
• Time: 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM ET, US
  10:30 PM - 11:30 PM, IST, India
• Event Brief: https://mpug.com/event/scaling-scrum-with-hands-on-applicability-scaled-scrum-with-cipsa-framework-part-2/

Part - 3: Scrum at Scale with CIPSA and MS Project Agile

• Date: March 26, 2025
• Time: 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM ET, US
  10:30 PM - 11:30 PM, IST, India
• Event Brief: https://mpug.com/event/scaling-scrum-with-hands-on-applicability-hands-on-scaled-scrum-with-ms-project-part-3/

Note: You need not have in-depth knowledge of Scrum to understand Scrum at Scale with CIPSA. Also, if you don’t know anything at all about Scrum, you can join, too. We will have a brief discussion on Scrum. 

Join from the first series onward to really understand. 

References

[1] New Practical Scaled Agile Framework - The CIPSA Framework, by Satya Narayan Dash

[2] Understanding the CIPSA Scrum Framework, by Satya Narayan Dash

[3] Certified In Practical Scaled Agile (CIPSA) course, by ManagementYogi.com

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) – PfMP Live Lessons Course and PfMP Online Exam Prep Course

 

This is in continuation of the following posts:

• PfMP Live Lessons – Guaranteed Pass or Your Money Back
• PfMP Online Exam Prep – With Full Money-Back Guarantee
• Course Comparison – PfMP Online Exam Prep Vs. PfMP Live Lessons, Guaranteed Pass

These are the frequently asked questions (FAQs) on ManagementYogi’s PfMP Online Exam Prep and PfMP Live Lessons courses. In this post, I’ve tried to answer as many questions as I can for both the above courses.

If you have any other questions, please send a mail to managementyogi@gmail.com. 

*******

Question – 1: Is Project Management Professional (PMP®) mandatory to be a Portfolio Management Professional (PfMP®)?

Answer: This, perhaps, is one of the most frequent questions I receive. The short answer is NO.

It’s not mandatory to be a PMP (or PgMP®) to be a Portfolio Management Professional (PfMP). You can directly go for the PfMP certification. This is also noted in the PfMP handbook, albeit tacitly. I’ve seen professionals who went directly for PfMP and successfully cleared it.

Along with education (secondary diploma or bachelor’s degree) and business work experience of 8 years, you need to have 48 months (for bachelor’s degree) or 84 months (for secondary diploma) of portfolio management experience. 

Question – 2: What standards, books or guides etc. are followed in both the courses – PfMP Live Lessons and PfMP Online Exam Prep?

Answer: The main standard followed is the Standard for Portfolio Management from Project Management Institute (PMI®). Both the courses are compliant with this standard. In addition, there are a number of reference books, which are used while preparing the courses. 

The PfMP Live Lessons course also refers to the Risk Management Standard in Portfolios, Programs and Projects, the Standard for Program Management Standard and the PMBOK Guide, whenever needed. 

It’s pertinent to note that the PfMP exam will be based on the Exam Content Outline (ECO). Both the courses diligently follow the domains and tasks as outlined in the ECO.

Question – 3: What are the applicability and validity of these courses?

Answer: Considering applicability, both these courses for Portfolio Management Professional (PfMP) exam are based on the Standard for Portfolio Management. 

PfMP Online Exam Prep: The price of the course is $299 USD (Rs 25,549) for 6 months access or $449 (Rs 38,549) for 1-year access. The duration of the course is for 6 months or 1-year from the date of purchase. 

PfMP Live Lessons: The price of the course is $499 USD (Rs 42,449) for 6 months access or $749 (Rs 63,669) for 1-year access. The duration of the course is for 6 months or 1 year from the date of purchase.

Question – 4: What are the durations and number of videos for these courses?

Answer: Both these courses have the necessary and needed content to prepare well for the PfMP exam. 

PfMP Online Exam Prep: The course has a duration of 12 hours (approx.). It has 188 videos with the needed coverage. Considering all (lesson-end questions, full-length Q&A sets), the total learning will be over 30 hours.

PfMP Live Lessons: The course has a duration of 27 hours (approx.). It has 380 videos with exhaustive coverage. Considering all (lesson-end questions, full-length Q&A sets), the total learning will be over 60 hours.

Question – 5: What are full money back guarantees for these courses?

Answer: Both courses come with full money-back guarantees.

PfMP Online Exam Prep: This course comes with a full money back guarantee for 15 days. Entire course content with all questions will be available to you. You can evaluate the course for 15 days. If you don’t like the course, I’ll refund your full money.

To know more, watch this video: https://youtu.be/-EcaxtcWJEE

PfMP Live Lessons: This course comes with a full money-back guarantee linked to you passing the PfMP exam. You go through the course and give the exam. In case you couldn’t clear the exam, I’ll refund your full money. 

To know more, watch this video: https://youtu.be/Su2YGIJx5as

To know more comparisons between these courses, please refer:

Course Comparison: PfMP Online Exam Prep Vs. PfMP Live Lessons

Question – 6: Does the course PfMP Online Exam Prep provide any contact hours? Is there any requirement for contact hours for the PfMP exam?

Answer: NO. There is no need for any contact hours for your PfMP exam, unlike the PMP, RMP or ACP examinations. 

The PfMP Online Exam Prep is not a mandatory contact hours course. It’s a preparatory course for your PfMP exam.

Question – 7: Why should I opt for these courses instead of classroom training?

Answer: Because, these trainings are:

• Convenient - you can learn at your own time with your own speed. You can watch the content as many times as you want.
• Longer duration - 6 months of duration (not just 4 or 5-days of training)
• Low cost - much lower than classroom training. 

Also, if you are going for a classroom training, but the training is useless because you understood little to nothing, then where is the value? I've seen many such cases where aspirants suffer. 

Question – 8: What is ManagementYogi’s Course Completion Certificate for these courses?

Answer: After you’ve completed the courses (either PfMP Live Lessons or PfMP Online Exam Prep), an end-course assessment will be conducted. Post the assessment, you’ll be eligible to get ManagementYogi’s Course Completion Certificates. You can use this certificate to claim multiple professional development units (PDUs).

A step-by-step document will be shared with you to get the PDUs and you can submit your PDU application to PMI.

Question – 9: Are there any plan of action(s) on how to complete these courses?

Answer: Yes, absolutely. Both courses come with a plan of action to complete. The plan will be shared with you when you purchase the course. Plans will be different for respective courses of PfMP Live Lessons and PfMP Online Exam Prep.

You will receive a plan of action which illustrates the course structure, hours per individual lessons, number of videos, and number of questions – both lesson end practice questions and full-length questions. Based on it, you have to follow a simple plan on completing the course and take your PfMP exam. 

Question – 10: How can you provide PfMP training when not an ATP or REP?

Answer: This is one of the biggest misconceptions that only Authorized Training Partners (ATPs) or Registered Education Providers (REPs) can give PfMP training. It is just not true. PMI clearly informs that there are multiple options to get the training. 

• PMI Registered Education Providers (R.E.P.s)
• PMI Authorized Training Partners (ATPs)
• PMI chapters
• Employer/company-sponsored programs
• Training companies or consultants (e.g., training schools)
• Distance-learning companies, including an end-of-course assessment
• University/college academic and continuing education programs

Also, there are no requirements for the contact hours and hence the question of being an ATP or REP, in fact, does not arise.

Question – 11: What are Evaluation – 1 and Evaluation – 2 for the PfMP exam?

Answer: Simply put following are the details.

• Evaluation – 1 is the Panel Review. It’s an initial evaluation with respect to your submitted application. A panel of portfolio managers will assess your application.
• Evaluation – 2 is the Actual PfMP Exam. Here, you’ll have to take the exam to be PfMP certified. It’s after Evaluation – 1.

You’ll know more about it when you subscribe to either of the courses.

Question – 12: What are 48-84 notations used while filling the PfMP Exam application forms?

Answer: This is a figurative way of saying. It means 48 months of portfolio management experience, if you're a bachelor's degree holder. On the other hand, you need to have 84 months of portfolio management experience, if you're a high-school diploma holder.

Again, you’ll know more about it when you subscribe to either of the courses. 

Question – 13: Why should I go with Management Yogi, compared to others?

Answer: Indeed, there are many providers who provide PfMP training. 

However, usually they do not have any real-world portfolio management experiences. They work on an aggregator model and have no real contribution of their own with respect to the domain of portfolio and portfolio management. They are primarily focused on high profit. They sell at throwaway prices so that they will get more subscribers and make more money. You don’t get anything of real value.

There are also many providers, who sell the courses at thousands of dollars (at least a thousand dollars or closely in that range). But they don’t actually have the needed capability or expertise. 

I’m engaged in portfolio management, continuously writing on it, contribute towards it. The courses are continuously upgraded based on the feedback from successful PfMPs. I’ve also enabled many PfMPs by checking their application forms. 

So, you decide – whom to choose:  Aggregator model with no real portfolio management passion or from someone who is continuously engaged in portfolio management domain and have created many successful PfMPs?

The training can be provided by PfMPs, but beyond the training, they won't be able to commit as they do other work. I'm completely involved in your PfMP journey.

Simply speaking, decide whom would you choose – their high profit (and many times useless training) or your probable success?

You can also compare this course with courses provided by any other provider on these aspects:

• Price
• Quality
• Content
• Coverage

Question – 14: What happens when my application is selected for audit? What will be needed?

Answer: As per Project Management Institute (PMI®), in the event of an audit, the candidate would need to supply proof of the education in the form of a transcript, and/ or a certificate of completion.

PMI can also ask signatures from your supervisor/manager from the projects and/or programs recorded in your application.

The audit happens post the PfMP application submission. PMI audits take time. I’ve also seen it to be completed in a few days.

Question – 15: Will you help if my application is selected for audit?

Answer: Yes, absolutely. You’ll get the support.

Question – 16: Will there be any support if any questions arise during the learning of PfMP course(s)?

Answer: Yes, definitely. Please send an email to managementyogi@gmail.com and your questions will be answered within 3 working days or 72 hours.

This, in fact, is one of the biggest advantages you will have compared to other providers. As they are just course aggregators, they don’t have the domain knowledge. I’ll be involved with you throughout your PfMP journey.

Question – 17: What is your success rate for the PfMP exam, who have taken the courses or classes?

Answer: The success rate of people who have sincerely prepared with the PfMP course and/or content, is high.

The Online Courses have been launched for the first time. These are reflections of my teachings. It has also much more details, e.g.,

• 100s of videos and exercises (one of its kind)
• A number of full-length Q&A set on Portfolio Management
• A number of lesson-end practice questions
• Detailed end-course assessment

These are not possible with classroom sessions.

I believe these courses will give you better learning, practice for your exam and prepare you well for the PfMP exam. I also believe if you sincerely do this course, your chance of success in the exam is high.

Notes:

• You can evaluate over 2o and/or 25 videos before paying any money, for PfMP Online Exam Prep and PfMP Live Lessons courses, respectively. 
• Both these courses come with full money back guarantee, as noted earlier.

Question – 18: How many full-length practice question sets do these courses have?

Answer: The number of full-length question sets for both the PfMP courses are noted below.

PfMP Online Exam Prep: You will get two full-length questions with detailed answers. In total, you have over 400 practice questions, including lesson-end questions.

PfMP Live Lessons: You will get four full-length questions with detailed answers. In total, you have over 1,000 practice questions, including lesson-end questions and Smart Cards.

For more details, please refer:

Course Comparison: PfMP Exam Prep Online Vs. PfMP Live Lessons

If you have any other questions or clarifications, please send a mail to managementyogi@gmail.com. If this course has those features, I’ll inform you with all the details. If it does not, then also, you will be clearly informed. There won’t be any round-about answers, tricky lines or deceptive answers.

PfMP Live Lessons - Guaranteed Pass:

• PfMP Live Lessons – Guaranteed Pass or Your Money Back

PfMP Online Exam Prep:

• PfMP Online Exam Prep - Full Money Back Guarantee

Book for PfMP Exam:

• Book for PfMP Exam Prep: I Want To Be A PfMP

Course Comparison – PfMP Online Exam Prep Vs. PfMP Live Lessons

As announced earlier, two new course are now available for the Portfolio Management Professional (PfMP) exam – PfMP Online Exam Prep and PfMP Live Lessons. Next, a genuine and pertinent query is to know the differences. This post informs on it. It addresses these two questions:

• Which course to go for: PfMP Online Exam Prep or PfMP Live Lessons? 
• What are the differences between the two courses?

Do note that both these courses are unique and are ONLY such courses in the world. No one gives money-back guarantee (but everyone claims to give!), without a number of terms and conditions (T&Cs). Both these courses come with full money-back guarantee. There are no tricks or deceptive lines. These are simple, direct and upfront money-back guarantees. 

Fundamental Difference

At the fundamental level, these two PfMP courses vary with their goals and objectives and associated mottos. 

For PfMP Online Exam Prep, we have:

1. One Goal: Get the PfMP hours of learning with complete satisfaction. 
2. One Objective: Get the PfMP Online Exam Prep Certificate.
3. One Motto: Don’t just get casually trained on PfMP exam. Understand fully, learn strongly and prepare well for your PfMP exam.

You learn more on it, watch this video: https://youtu.be/-EcaxtcWJEE 

For PfMP Live Lessons too, we have:

1. One Goal: You clear the PfMP exam. 
2. One Objective: Crack the PfMP exam in 6 months.
3. One Motto: Learn deeply to clear the PfMP exam.

You learn more on it, watch this video: https://youtu.be/Su2YGIJx5as 

With this background, let's see the other main differences.

Other Main Differences

I've included goal and objectives as the first two. Other main differences follow in the below two tables. Actually, it’s one table, but I’ve segregated them into two in order to have better visibility and understanding.

The second part of this table is noted below.

*Note* Price for courses:

• For PfMP Online Exam Prep: $299 USD/ Rs 25,549 (6 months access) [details]
• For PfMP Live Lessons: $449 USD/ Rs 42,449 (6 months access) [details]

Time Vs. Money 

I keep on saying: Time is more important than money. Cost can be recovered, resources can be hired, scope can be added, risks can be mitigated, but you can’t recover the lost time. Once gone, it’s gone forever. It can never be recovered. It's not only true for portfolio-program-project management, but also in our own personal lives. Time is the most precious of them all.

A high-quality course with high quality questions takes enormous time to prepare. To prepare for these courses, I've learned and practiced for years. These courses have taken me months to prepare, research and build. As a reader or learner, this is the time (the time I spent working on the course and content) you save. The time saved for you will be in years.

Conclusion

I’ve enabled many PfMPs, who have used my book, I Want To Be A PfMP and/or articles. 

When you purchase the courses, I’m also involved with you throughout your PfMP journey. Most providers in the marketplace can’t do that, because they don’t have the subject matter understanding. In fact, many have not even used a single Portfolio Management software tool. They are merely course aggregators. They can bring PfMP certified coaches, but they can't be involved beyond the training as they do other work.

For these two new PfMP courses, I've informed the goals, objectives and mottos. I've also outlined other main differences. These, I believe, will help you to choose the course of your choice.

With either of these courses, I firmly believe that you:

• Get the best value for your money.
• Will have the content with the latest standards, references and practices.
• Will understand the content clearly and deeply, which will boost your confidence. 

Above all, if you prepare sincerely, you have a fair chance to clear the PfMP exam and be a certified PMI-PfMP.

PfMP Live Lessons - Guaranteed Pass:

• PfMP Live Lessons – Guaranteed Pass or Your Money Back

PfMP Online Exam Prep:

• PfMP Online Exam Prep - Full Money Back Guarantee

Book for PfMP Exam:

• Book for PfMP Exam Prep: I Want To Be A PfMP

PfMP Online Exam Prep – Full Money-Back Guarantee

  

I’m pleased to announce the availability of the PfMP Online Exam Prep video course:

PfMP ONLINE EXAM PREP – FULL MONEY-BACK GUARANTEE

The Portfolio Management Professional (PfMP®) certification is the highest-level certification from Project Management Institute (PMI®). It’s pursued by C-suite and top executives, (senior) managers, entrepreneurs, among others. 

Many portfolio management practitioners want to understand portfolio management in a professional way and want to have a formal education on it. There are aspiring portfolio management professionals, who want to prepare for the PfMP Exam, but at their own paces and in their own time. This course is for them.

Is there any contact hours requirement for the PfMP Exam?

Unlike Project Management Professional (PMP®) 35 contact hours, Risk Management Professional (RMP®) 30 contact hours or Agile Certified Practitioner (ACP®) 21 contact hours mandatory learning as informed by PMI, there is no contact-hours requirements to appear for the PfMP exam. However, this course can be considered to be an equivalent of that. 

This course has over 12 hours of video duration, two full-length Q&A sets (each set with 170 questions and detailed answers) as well as a large number of practice questions. In total, you’ll have over 30 hours of learning. 

Important Note: PMI checks PfMP applications thoroughly and rejections happen. This course provides support for the PfMP Application Form preparation. 

Top Features: PfMP Online Exam Prep Course 

• Total Video Duration: 12+ hours 
• Number of Videos: 180+ 
• Number of Lessons: 11 (+1) 
• Two full-length Q&A Sets: Each with 170 Q&As 
• Total number questions with detailed answers: 400+
• Number of practice questions, including lesson-end questions
• End-course assessment and course completion certificate 
• Usage of software tools such as Primavera Portfolio Management, MS Project.
• Compliant with the Standard for Portfolio Management (SPfM) and PfMP Exam Content Outline 
• Support throughout your PfMP exam preparation. Support for your application form fill-up.

Course Breakdown: PfMP Online Exam Prep Course 

• Welcome (8 videos): 16m 45s [16 minutes 45 seconds]
• Lesson 1 – About the PfMP Exam (10 videos): 26 m 27s
• Lesson 2 – Introduction (15 videos): 46m 52s
• Lesson 3 – Portfolio Management and Organization (14 videos): 41m 40s
• Lesson 4 – Portfolio Management Process Groups (13 videos): 44m 31s
• Lesson 5 – Portfolio Strategic Management (24 videos): 1h 14m 47s
• Lesson 6 – Portfolio Governance Management (31 videos): 2h 15m 24s
• Lesson 7 – Portfolio Performance Management (23 videos): 1h 50m 37s
• Lesson 8 – Portfolio Communication Management (23 videos): 1h 42m 44s
• Lesson 9 – Portfolio Risk Management (25 videos): 2h 06m 40s
• Lesson 10 – Portfolio Management Maths and Graphs
• Lesson 11 – Final Talk (2 videos): 05m 05s
• Lesson 12 - Two Full-Length Question and Answer Sets (Each with 170 Q&As)

The details on it this course, with information on additional features, are available also available at:

https://www.managementyogi.com/p/pfmp-online-exam-prep.html

What is Full Money-Back Guarantee for the PfMP Online Exam Prep Course?

There are no little tricks, such as – “terms and conditions apply”, “** conditions apply”, as you would have seen in many places. What you see and read here is exactly what you will get. 

The premise is simple.

Go through the complete course for 15 days. 100% video content, practice questions, all Q&A Sets – yes, all of them – will be available to you. 

If you don’t like the course anytime during the 15 days, I’ll refund your full money. No questions asked at all.

The below video explains more on the full money-back guarantee.

Note: You can also evaluate the videos before paying any money. Twenty (20) videos will be available for your evaluation, even before your purchase. 

Applicability and Validity

• Guides and Books: Based on the Standard for Portfolio Management, PfMP Exam Content Outline (ECO)
• Software Used: MS Project, Primavera Risk Analysis, among others.
• Valid Date for Guarantee: 15 days (two weeks) from the date of purchase
• Course Duration: 6 months or 1 year from the date of purchase
• Price: $299 USD / Rs 25,549 (for 6 months)
                $449 USD / Rs 38,549 (for 1 year)
• Payment Link: paypal.me/managementyogi
  (Login, Send your payment to paypal account of ndsatya@gmail.com,
  Enter the amount; Invoice will be generated after payment)
  OR, you can pay via Bank Transfer or Payment. For this, please send a mail to
  managementyogi@gmail.com to get account the details.
• Available: From March, 2025
• Primary Format: Video 
• Course Extension: As per your need
  (Price calculation will be pro-rata)
• Status: Available
  (accessible via laptop/desktop)

Detailed Course Breakdown

The detailed course breakdown for the PfMP Online Exam Prep Course is shown below. It details hours of learning, number of videos and various exercise details. You can scroll to see the full content. 

You can also view the complete course index in the below link.

Complete Course Index: PfMP Online Exam Prep - With Money-Back Guarantee

If you want to buy this course or have any questions, please send an email to managementyogi@gmail.com.

Try Before You Buy: 

[1] Complete (Sample) Video Playlist: PfMP Online Exam Prep Videos

[2] Choose to Play a Video: PfMP Online Exam Prep Sample Video List

Guaranteed PfMP Pass:

• PfMP Live Lessons - Guaranteed Pass or Your Money Back

PfMP Exam Prep Book (since 2023):

• PfMP Exam Prep Book - I Want To Be A PfMP, the plain and simple way 
  (has enabled many to be PfMP certified)

 

PfMP Live Lessons – Guaranteed Pass or Your Money Back

 

I’m pleased to announce the availability of the PfMP Live Lessons video course for aspiring portfolio management professionals (PfMP®):

PfMP LIVE LESSONS – GUARANTEED PASS OR MONEY BACK 

It’s an in-depth video course for aspiring PfMPs and currently practicing portfolio management practitioners, who want to be PfMPs in a short time-window and crack the exam with certainty. This course has been requested by aspiring PfMPs in recent months. It has been prepared with inputs from many successfully certified PfMPs, worldwide.

This is the only such course in the world with full money-back guarantee, linked to your passing the PfMP exam. There are no terms and conditions, except you giving the exam.

PfMP is the highest-level certification offered by Project Management Institute (PMI®). You need not be a Project Management Professional (PMP®) or a Program Management Professional (PgMP®) to go for PfMP. Rather, you can directly go for the PfMP certification. 

PfMP Certification is pursued by C-suite executives, top executives (presidents, VPs, directors), senior managers, among others. I've also seen entrepreneurs pursuing it. These roles demand strategic management and driving the strategic direction of an organization. 

Portfolio and portfolio management drive the intent, direction and progress of an organization. It’s only with portfolios you can bridge the gap between strategy and implementation. Without portfolios, it’s just fire and then forget.

Now, though PfMP certification is a fast growing one, still many aspiring PfMPs struggle to get certified. The Standard for Portfolio Management (SPfM) is not exactly an easy to understand. In addition, the senior executives don’t have much time to go through complicated concepts and wait for months or years. The cost is also substantial for PfMP preparatory courses in the marketplace. Hence, this course, which comes with a 6-months timeline and at a much lower cost.

The PfMP Live Lessons course – also called Guaranteed PfMP Course – makes the concepts very easy to understand, gives numerous examples with figures and graphical interactions with a large number of flow diagrams. It aces with a large number of practice questions. 

This course also has over 26 hours of video duration, four full-length Q&A sets (each set with 170 questions and detailed answers) as well as a large number of practice questions. In total, you’ll have over 60 hours of learning. 

Important Note: PMI checks PfMP applications thoroughly and rejections happen. I’ve seen such cases (and have enabled approval for many after modifications). This course provides complete support for the PfMP Application Form preparation, fill-up and submission. 

Here are a few of the top benefits with Guaranteed PfMP course:

• Comes with full money-back guarantee. No T&Cs except you giving the exam. You've literally nothing to lose.
• Complete support for your application fill-up, till its approval.
• A variety of practice questions so that you not only clear the PfMP exam, but also ace it. 

Top Features: Guaranteed PfMP Course (PfMP Live Lessons)

1. Total Video Duration: 26+ hours 
2. Number of Videos: 380 
3. Number of Lessons: 14 (+1) 
4. Four full-length Q&A Sets: Each with 170 Q&As 
5. Total number questions with detailed answers: 1,000+
6. Number of Smart Card Questions: 80
7. Process and ITTO Exercises (videos): 150+ 
8. End-course assessment and course completion certificate 
9. A large number of flow exercises (40+) across the lessons.
10. A large number of tips and tricks - hundreds of them throughout the course.
11. Usage of software tools such as MS Project, Primavera Portfolio Management, Primavera Risk Analysis, MS Excel etc., whenever needed. 
12. Fully compliant with the Standard for Portfolio Management (SPfM), PfMP Exam Content Outline.
13. Coverage of all advanced features in Portfolio Management: Portfolio Monte-Carlo analysis, PEF, PfEVM, Portfolio Bubble Charts, Portfolio Radar Charts, Portfolio Burndown/up charts etc.
14. Content includes PMI recommended reference books for the PfMP exam. There are quite a few reference books.
15. Complete support throughout your PfMP exam preparation, including application fill-up (till its approval).

Course Breakdown: Guaranteed PfMP Course (PfMP Live Lessons)

• Welcome (10 videos): 23m 45s [23 minutes 44 seconds]
• Lesson 1 – About the PfMP Exam (18 videos): 58m 36s
• Lesson 2 – Introduction to Portfolio and Portfolio Management (29 videos): 1h 43m 34s
• Lesson 3 – Portfolio Management and Organization (25 videos): 1h 29m 00s
• Lesson 4 – Portfolio Management Process Groups (23 videos): 1h 42m 53s
• Lesson 5 – Portfolio Strategic Management (44 videos): 2h 35m 12s
• Lesson 6 – Portfolio Governance Management (59 videos): 4h 18m 41s
• Lesson 7 – Portfolio Performance Management (48 videos): 3h 40m 49s
• Lesson 8 – Portfolio Communication Management (47 videos): 3h 33m 02s
• Lesson 9 – Portfolio Risk Management (51 videos): 4h 00m 30s
• Lesson 10 – Portfolio Management Maths and Graphs (A number of Q&As)
• Lesson 11 – Portfolio Management Flow Exercises (17 videos): 1h 37m 56s
• Lesson 12 – How to be a PMI-PfMP (A set of simple steps to be PMI-PfMP)
• Lesson 13 - Four Full-Length Question and Answer Sets (Each with 170 Q&As)
• Lesson 14 – Final Talk (2 videos): 06m 27s

The details on it this course, with information on ALL benefits, ALL features etc, are available also available at:

https://www.managementyogi.com/p/pfmp-live-lessons.html

What is Full Money-Back Guarantee for the Guaranteed PfMP course?

There are no little tricks, such as – “terms and conditions apply”, “** conditions apply”, as you would have seen in many places. What you see and read here is exactly what you will get. 

The premise is simple.

You have six months and two attempts to clear the PfMP exam. Give the exam and clear the exam. Be a PfMP. You WIN. 

If you can’t, I’ll refund your full money. You still WIN because you’ve the entire content free of cost for 6 months. You’ll also get the course completion certificate from ManagementYogi. Both of these are WINs for you.

The below video explains more on the full money-back guarantee. 

Note: You can also evaluate the videos before paying any money. Thirty (30) videos will be available for your evaluation, even before your purchase.  

Applicability and Validity

• Guides and Books: Based on the Standard for Portfolio Management, PfMP Exam Content Outline (ECO), a number of PfMP reference books
• Software Used: Multiple software – MS Project, Primavera P6 PPM, Primavera Portfolio Management, MS Excel, Primavera Risk Analysis, among others.
• Valid Date for Guarantee: 6 months or 1 year from the date of purchase
• Number of attempts: Two 
• Course Duration: 6 months or 1 year
• Price: $499 USD / Rs 42,449 (for 6 months)
                $749 USD / Rs 63,669 (for 1 year)
• Payment Link: paypal.me/managementyogi
  (Login, Send your payment to paypal account of ndsatya@gmail.com,
  Enter the amount; Invoice will be generated after payment)
  OR, you can pay via Bank Transfer or Payment. For this, please send a mail to managementyogi@gmail.com  to get the details.
• Available: From February, 2025
• Primary Format: Video 
• Course Extension: As per your need
  (Price calculation will be pro-rata)
• Status: Available
  (accessible via laptop/desktop)

Detailed Course Breakdown

The detailed course breakdown for the Guaranteed PfMP Course is shown below. It details hours of learning, number of videos and various exercise details. You can scroll to see the full content. 

You can also view the complete course index in the below link.

Complete Course Index: PfMP Live Lessons Course - Guanteed Pass

If you want to buy this course or have any questions, please send an email to managementyogi@gmail.com.

Try Before You Buy: 

[1] Complete (Sample) Video Playlist: Guaranteed PfMP Pass Videos

[2] Choose to Play a Video: Guaranteed PfMP Pass Sample Video List

PfMP Exam Prep Book (since 2023):

• PfMP Exam Prep Book - I Want To Be A PfMP, the plain and simple way 
  (has enabled many to be PfMP certified)

 

Primavera P6 Pro Live Lessons Advanced – Work Breakdown Structure (WBS) and Earned Value (EV)

Work Breakdown Structure (WBS) is a key element for project management. In program management too, you'll need a WBS - a program WBS. Earned Value (EV) and its associated measurement techniques and metrics are advanced areas to know in project (also in program and portfolio) management. Many don’t know how intricately WBS and EV work together and hence, this post. The content of this post is from the Primavera P6 Pro Live Lessons course. 

Work Breakdown Structure  

As noted in this article, the work breakdown structure (WBS) can be defined as:

A WBS is a hierarchical decomposition of the total scope of work to be carried out by the project team to accomplish the project objectives and create the required deliverables.

The above definition is deceptively simple, but packs a punch with information and key terms such as hierarchical structure, decomposition, deliverables and above all, meeting the project objectives. To know more, you can read the above linked article.

Coming to Primavera P6 software, the importance of WBS can’t be starker. Without WBS, you can NOT have:

• Activities added into the work packages in the right manner.
• Proper planning and tracking of your project.
• Formal control with respect to the project considering earned value.
• Cost management at the control account level, among others. 

In fact, you as the project manager should FIRST develop the WBS, and then assign activities to the WBS elements in order to perform the work!

To build the WBS, go to Project > WBS and add elements one by one. When completed along with the associated activities, it’ll come as shown below. This is taken from a live project of Primavera P6 Live Lessons course. (Click on the image to enlarge) 

As shown, we not only have the WBS Codes and WBS Names, but also the At Completion Cost and At Completion Duration for the WBS elements.

Earned Value (EV)

Earned Value is a well-known and widely used technique in all aspects of management – project or program. It’s also one of the key techniques in portfolio management. For example, in portfolio management, while managing benefits and value from the portfolio components (aggregated at the portfolio level), you can apply EV techniques. 

Earned Value is a technique integrates scope, schedule and cost and the measurement happens with respect to the performance measurement baseline (PMB) as noted in this article.  

Now, coming to Primavera P6, the first setting for earned value management will happen in the WBS window! If you’ve not done the proper settings, then your calculations with respect to earned value will be incorrect. 

WBS and Earned Value

To have proper earned value setting and hence calculation, you’ve to enable the WBS details by right clicking anywhere inside the WBS window and choosing “WBS Details”. (Click on the image to enlarge) 

This will enable WBS details in the bottom panel, if it’s not already visible. Next, to have the settings for Earned Value, go to WBS Details Pane > Earned Value tab. There you can make the setting related changes in two areas:

• Techniques for computing performance percent complete
• Techniques for computing Estimate to Complete (ETC). 

This is shown below. (Click on the image to enlarge) 

The default setting w.r.t to technique for computing performance percent complete will work with “Activity percent complete”.

The complications arise with the default setting w.r.t technique for computing ETC. 

Performance Factor (PF) and Estimate to Complete (ETC)

The relationship between PF and ETC must be well-understood before use the ETC technique. I noted the following in this elaborated article, published in 2015:

“ETC is the cost needed to complete the remaining work. It’s driven by a performance factor or performance index. Putting it into an equation, you get:

ETC = Work remaining / Performance factor

or

ETC = (Budget at Completion – Earned Value) / Performance factor

or

ETC = (BAC – EV) / Performance factor

The performance factor could be the cost performance factor or the cost performance index (CPI). It can also be a combination of CPI and schedule performance index (SPI) or a weighted combination of CPI and SPI.”

The default one used in the standard calculation for ETC is the Cost Performance Index. In this case the performance factor (PF) follows this equation.

Performance Factor = 1 / Cost Performance Index, or

PF = 1 / CPI

This setting should reflect while you manage your project with Primavera P6 software. Hence, in your project, it should come as shown below. (Click on the image to enlarge)  

Video Demonstration

The below video [duration: 03m: 27s] gives a live demonstration on the settings. Detailed explanation for earned value, its calculations and association with WBS are part of the Primavera P6 Pro Live Lessons. Plug-in your headphones and go full-HD to have a better experience. 

Conclusion

The calculations in earned value can vary based on the % complete as the above video explains. Primavera P6 gives a number of options to calculate. In order to master Primavera P6, you need to be familiar with them. 

And only with proper settings at the WBS level for earned value, you should go for earned value calculations. 

Check the Videos (Before Buying): 

[1] Complete Playlist: Primavera P6 Pro Live Lessons Sample Videos

[2] Choose to Play a Video: Primavera P6 Pro Live Lessons Sample Video List

References

[1] Primavera P6 Pro Live Lessons Online Course, by ManagementYogi.com

[2] Practical PMP with Oracle Primavera P6, by ManagementYogi.com

[3] Work Breakdown Structure (WBS) in Traditional and Agile Life Cycles with MS Project, by Satya Narayan Dash

[4] Calculating EAC and ETC for Forecasting, by Satya Narayan Dash

[5] Estimate to Complete (ETC) Calculation – Formulas for ETC (Composite), by Satya Narayan Dash

Primavera P6 Pro Live Lessons – Fundamentals of Calendars

Calendars in Primavera P6 is a very important concept, yet highly misunderstood and widely misused. When applied correctly, it brings immense value to your schedule and resource management as well as visualization in the grpahical side, e.g., Gantt Chart view. In this post, content of which is taken from Primavera P6 Pro Live Lessons course, we will learn the fundamentals of Primavera P6 Calendars. 

If you’re using the above course, calendars and associated concepts are used across the lessons in a variety of ways. Now, let’s start with the need of Calendars.

Why Calendars?

We all work within a calendar, which you may or may not realize, but it happens daily! For example, the day has a calendar – a 24-hours calendar. Projects are no different. Resources are no different either. Calendars can also be used for activities. 

Hence, you now can say calendars can be created and assigned to:

• Each project (can be within a portfolio),
• Each resource within a project (or shared across),
• Each activity within a project.

Like our day has a 24 hours calendar, similarly a project calendar will have work hours, e.g., 8 hours a day. Like we have holidays, off-days, or partial working hours, so also will be for a project and/or its resources and activities.

Calendar assignments are important to have a proper schedule management, resource management, tracking and scheduling. It’s also used in resource leveling. 

Types of Calendars

Primavera P6 software comes with three types of Calendars:

• Global Calendars: Can be applied to all projects within a portfolio or the enterprise. 
• Resource Calendars: Can be Personal Resource Calendars or Shared Resource Calendars.
• Project Calendars: Specific to the project under consideration and execution. 

Primavera P6 calls these calendars being parts of Calendar Pools. For example, the Global Calendar Pool will have calendars that apply to all projects. Similarly, Resource Calendars are informed as Resource Calendar Pools and Project Calendar is informed as a Pool of Calendars for each project.

To visualize the calendar, go to Enterprise > Calendars. This will launch the Calendar Dialog Box.

Global Calendars

As shown below, the opened Calendar dialog box has three types of Calendars and the Global is the default selected one. 

    Under Global, you’ve a number of calendars such as 5×10, 6×24, 7×24, Corporate – Standard Full Time, among others. 

As you can see, we also have our own Project Calendar, which is WebMS Project Calendar. To make it as the default calendar, double on the check box shown next. This calendar has been made global so that resources, which are enterprise specific, can inherit the properties of this calendar.

To see the content of this Calendar, click on the “Modify” highlighted button shown to the right of the above figure. 

As shown above for WebMS Project Calendar:

• Week starts from Sunday (this can be changed).
• Total work hours/day = 8 hours (this can be changed).
• Two holidays = Oct 11 and Oct 29.
• The holidays and non-working days are greyed out.
• It’s not inherited from any other calendar.

This Calendar is a Global Calendar and all Resource Calendars will inherit the properties such as holidays, partial working days, specific non-working days etc. from this Global Calendar.   

Resource Calendars

This is our next Calendar to understand. In our case, we have two resource (labor) specific calendars as shown below. Both are Personal Resource Calendars. 

Considering CatherineR – Catherine Rice Personal Resource Calendar, you can see the content by clicking on the “Modify” highlighted button shown to the right of the above figure. 

As you can see, this Resource Calendar:

• Inherits its properties such as holidays and exceptions from WebMS Project Calendar.
• The project holidays of Oct 11 and Oct 29 are also the holidays for this resource calendar.
• The daily work hours, however, have been changed to 4 hours/day. 

One can not only change the daily work hours, but also other aspects such as resource holidays, work timings (e.g., from 1:00 PM to 5:00 PM), among others.

Project Calendars

When we created the WebMS Project Calendar, it was first a Project Calendar with project specific holidays, non-working days (e.g., organization’s off days), working hours and work timing. 

I’ve made it to be a Global Calendar so that resource calendars can inherit the properties.  

To make a calendar as a Global one, use the “To Global” button highlighted above. 

Video Demonstration

For a better understanding, a video [duration: 03m approx.] related to calendars, has been made available using Primavera P6 and a live project. This video is directly taken from Primavera P6 Pro Live Lessons. Plug-in your headphones and go full-HD to have a better experience.  

Additional information has been given in the above video. Watch and listen to learn more.

Conclusion

Now, we have created the calendars, but when did you apply this Calendar to our project? 

This is a very important question. In fact, many miss this part! You’ve to apply the created Calendar to the project. This can be done by going to the Projects window > Project Details (bottom part) > Defaults tab > Calendar. Click on the image to enlarge. 

As shown above, our WebMS Project Calendar has been applied to the project.

To learn in-depth about Calendars and many tricky areas, subscribe to the course of Primavera P6 Pro Live Lessons. This course has no terms and conditions (T&Cs). You don't like the course, I'll refund your full money. 

Check the Videos (Before Buying): 

[1] Complete Playlist: Primavera P6 Pro Live Lessons Sample Videos

[2] Choose to Play a Video: Primavera P6 Pro Live Lessons Sample Video List

References:

[1] Primavera P6 Pro Live Lessons Online Course, by ManagementYogi.com

[2] Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) – Primavera P6 Pro Live Lessons Online Course

[2] Practical PMP with Oracle Primavera P6, by ManagementYogi.com