Preparing for certification exams is hard work.  We are looking for the shortest route to certification, and we run into a well-known concept in the project management field – the Triple Constraint.The Triple Constraint - Quality, Time, Cost – applies very well to preparing for the exam. Each candidate has a different proportion of these resources, and this will lead to different decisions on study plan and training.  Here are some considerations with the tradeoffs:
Quality
There are lots of free resources our there.  However, they are not all of the same quality.  Some might be good, but some might also be bad. In addition, you will probably need to spend some time researching and experiencing, to find out what is good and bad.  Which brings us to the second constraint…
Time
We all have a limited amount of time, but there are certain things that we tend to have more time for at different periods of our lives and under different circumstances. For example, a 20 year old typically has lots of time to explore and try different things, including the experience and learning that is done in school.  Someone that is 30 years old typically has less time for that, as some time is often relegated to earning a living and perhaps raising a family.  Thus, someone older might be willing to opt for something that costs more as a tradeoff for taking less time. Which brings us to the third constraint…
Cost
Going full circle back to Quality, if we can afford to take a risk on quality, we might save on cost. If we are willing to spend more time, we also can obtain training for a lower cost. But the more we are willing to spend, the greater the quality we will receive, and likely the less time we will spend. This is true with offerings like the many boot camp training offerings, where, for several thousand dollars, you can train for 5 days and likely pass the exam. The quality is probably good. The time it takes to become certified – 5 days from the start of the course – is low, but there is also a time consideration of time away from work and home.
If you are contemplating PMP certification or any other certification, consider your own instance of the triple constraint.  It may be a ‘different equation’ for you that it was the last time you considered something like this. Also, keep in mind that the world is not 100% efficient! With some work and luck, it is possible to find a more optimal proportioning of the triple constraint than you thought possible.
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John Reiling, PMP
Project Management Training Online
Lean Six Sigma Training Online
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