I started recently studying project management academically, but without taking any academic courses. Not really to learn how to manage projects, but more precisely to learn a standard for project management which is the ANSI PMI 99-001-2004. Of course after a month or two I’m willing to get the PMP certification not just pass it !
Project Management Body Of Knowledge third edition or PMBOK, is around 400 pages and very general and complete. The book talk about any kind of project things that make it much more interesting for me. The only problem that I’m currently working in a Weak Matrix organisation, so there is no real project management, just anything that could be changed anytime, and could be compared to anything but project management. Hopefuly I’m not the PM here !
Anyway, many consider the book difficult or not very well written, it’s very technical I agree. Maybe because I used to read more complex engineering things in university that I don’t conisder it that hard. In both cases, you can’t imagine that the PMBOK becomed ANSI easily, and standard are not always the solution but it is just tools that could serve in real life.
Have a look and if you think passing the exam, just enjoy the PMBOK !
