What books to refer in PMI?

If you are preparing yourself for PMI certification examinations or are intending to gather a general intuition then it is certainly a good idea to get hold of some books as reference materials. A good reference book might also help to give you a clear and deep idea on PMI and how it works. OF course you can get thousands of websites and hundreds of general people's opinion on the subject matter but a good book would definitely be of great use to you because it would guarantee the legitimacy of the matter at hand. Along with seeking expert advice or talking with people who have knowledge on the subject at hand and seeking help from the internet you can certainly make yourself much clearer with a good book.

The books that you must refer to get the general concept of the matter are:

  • A Guide to Project Management Body OF Knowledge or PMBOK Guide: This is the book which provides the outlines and necessary guidelines for Project Management issues. This book was first published by the PMI in 1996. The knowledge and practices described in this book are practically applicable to most projects. It also focuses on how general knowledge on project management issues and application of such knowledge and skills can aid in the enhancement of various projects.

It is a process- based guide which has the definition of work as something accomplished through processes. The processes are described as such:

  • Inputs: it includes documents and designs

  • Techniques and tools: It includes the mechanisms applied to the input.

  • Outputs: Includes documents plans and designs.

This guide illustrates 47 different processes that fall into 5 basic process groups and 10 knowledge areas which are trademarks of most projects. The 5 process groups include

  • Initiation, where the processes which are performed to start a new project and define a new project are included.

  • Planning, where the processes needed to establish the general concept of the project, fix its objectives are defined.

  • Executing, where the processes needed in the implementation of various plans are described.

  • Monitoring: The processes needed to regulate the performances and progress of the project. Identification of places where the project needs improvement and areas in which the requirement in the change in field in felt.

  • Closing: It includes those processes performed to end all tasks across various project groups.

Along with this it also includes 10 knowledge areas.

It is used as a general guide for the management of most projects. This PMBOK Guide is used as a reference for the preparation of the Project Management Institute (PMI) certifications.

  • Identifying and Managing Project Risk: It is a book by Tom Kendrick on how to identify and manage risks on projects. Kendriks aligns the chapters of this book to the A Guide to Project Management Body OF Knowledge or PMBOK Guide. This book is used for references in PMI certification examinations and PMP. Tom Kendrick on this book has collected sample elements from various clients and projects they have collected to illustrate the risk factors in project management. This book is ordered to follow the PMBOK Guide's five stages of projects. The initial chapters lay the foundation for the people who are new to the concept of project and risk management. He defines the concept of risk in project management stretches the subject further more. The various risks factors are described in this book. The different risks which act as constraint to projects are classified as

  • Scope Risk

  • Schedule Risk

  • Resource Risk

He then describes the concept of constraint management and quantifying and analysis of activity risk.

The concept of closing project is described at the end. Whether a project is to be considered a failure or success is to be documented, illustrated and reviewed.

  • Project Management: A Systems Approach to Planning, Scheduling, and Controlling by Harold Kerzner

This book considered by many as the best book to PMI certification examination has moved its content more closer to the PMBOK guides. This is an excellent guide to PMI examinations.

This book by Andrew Stellman is with latest certification objectives and latest principles that lie in THE PMBOK GUIDE. It provides a unique and exciting perspective to the guide. This book will help you get ready for PMI examinations and PMP certification examinations in a way that seems to agree with your thinking. It will help you to learn the underlying concepts of PMOs and understand its principles an get cent percent updates on latest principles. You may also explore the subject matters through games, puzzles and other entertaining methods.

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