In this book, best selling author, Paul Sanghera, offers cohesive, concise, yet comprehensive coverage of all the topics included in the PgMP exam. With a laser sharp focus on the exam objectives, the
Study Guide goes beyond just being an `exam cram.` The material is presented in a logical learning sequence: a section builds upon previous sections and a chapter on previous chapters. All concepts, simple and complex, are defined and explained when they appear the first time. There is no hopping from topic to topic and no technical jargon without explanation. Because no prior knowledge of program management is assumed, this book will be useful for both: those new to program management, as well as individuals with years of experience. Although the primary purpose of the book is to help you pass the PgMP exam, it will also serve as a great reference for the program managers before and after the exam.
Special Features: Hundreds of review questions with fully explained answers A complete practice exam with fully explained answers The real world scenarios to help you deal with the program management issues in the real world and also to answer the scenario based questions in the exam Notes and tips to highlight the crucial points Exam?s Eye View section at the end of each chapter to emphasize the important points from the exam?s perspective Key Terms section at the end of each chapter that lists the important terms and concepts introduced in the chapter along with their definitions The exam objectives fully explained before their coverage in each chapter
User review
Helped me pass the exam
I just passed the PgMP exam and this book definitely helped. It was a useful companion to the PgMP PMI standard. Caution - be sure to obtain the correct version of the standard, the exam is now still based on the 'old' version. This study guide is based on the old standard and was easier to read. In general it is great supplemental program management resource. I also bought the flash cards and found them useful. The exam is scenario based so my program management experience was key also. Good luck!
User review
Fine Material
I took and Passed the PgMP using this book, the Program Standard, the Crosswind Book and the Aileen Ellis online questions. While this book is fine for prepping, as are the others, nothing can really prepare you for this exam! I doubted some of the other comments like 'When it comes to the exam, you're on your own', but I must concede they were right. This exam cannot be taken lightly. It is exponentially tougher than the PMP exam! The questions in the exam are way tougher than any contained in the above-mentioned materials.
Some of the harsher criticisms of this book must not be taken seriously! This book has its value as a study aide - it's well structured and covers the necessary topics to master the theoretical component of the 'Standard'. A further suggestion for PgMP prepping - know the PMBOK well! Good hunting!
User review
Very Useful and Helpful Book
I have found this book the best of all the available PgMP Study Guides. This is the only study guide that is organized around the official PgMP exam objectives by PMI. I also noticed that this is the only book that covers the tools and techniques for each program management process (Exam objectives require you to know the tools and techniques). All of us are entitled to our opinions, but I would take those reviews with a grain of salt that blast (trash) this book to advertise the competitor products. Here is my balanced view: you will do yourself a great service if you go through this book very carefully before taking the exam. Of course, you can use other resources and products as well. There are two other things that this book does and no other book on this topic does: 1.) It integrates the otherwise scattered information within the scope of the PgMP exam into one place and makes sense of it all (as some other reviewers noticed); 2.) The material is presented in such a logical way that while preparing for the exam, you also learn the basics of program management.
That said, I agree with another reviewer that PgMP is a difficult exam. None of the resources is going to substitute for your experience.
I highly recommend this book for the exam and also just for learning the basics of program management.
User review
Would not recommend this book
The was the first book I started my prep with, and although each topic was covered theoretically, the flow of information between knowledge areas, process groups, processes, etc was not logical.
I passed my PgMP exam today - I realized a week ago that this book was very inadequate. I switched to another book which was much more effective and prepared me more in one week, than using this book for more than a month.
In hindsight, I'm glad I made the decision to stop using this book
User review
Good PgMP Exam prep
Hats off to Dr. Sanghera for writing a very well structured PgMP exam study guide. I thoroughly read through this book twice and used the flashcards to prepare for the exam. I also took the ESI course (highly recommended for the 4x 170 question prep exams), read through the PgMP Exam Spec twice, and pretty much memorized the PgMP Standard.
I used this book during the early stages of my study routine. I am not PMP certified (not a requirement for the PgMP) and was looking for a book that would integrate the necessary PMP material with the PgMP standard and identify the bare PMP necessities required for the exam. I feel that this book accomplished this task very well.
Why get the PgMP without the PMP? Good question - I guess I love challenges. In hindsight, I would not recommend this approach to others.
Back to the book - I found the preparation questions extremely simple and not indicative of the exam questions at all. The exam is very difficult. Most of the questions are scenario based and test your judgement and real world experience - I found many of them to be quite subjective. I would say that about 30% of the questions come directly from the study material.
BTW,,.I just received my PgMP certification last week (the long wait time for the MRA results suck!). This book helped me to obtain my certification.
