Simple-PDH

Study. Learn. Earn. Simple.

professional development hour

Teaching and Learning

Recently, an acquaintance phoned me at about 9 am on a Wednesday. While I’m not 100% sure why, she asked if she had awoken me out of bed.  I’m assuming that because I work from home, she made a leap of judgement that I don’t really work and I get to sleep in every day.

The truth is that I’m usually working by 6:30 am and I often work past 9:30 pm.  Like others who have home offices, my breaks might include throwing a load of laundry into the washer or going running, but my work is equally intense.  In fact, I plan to continue teaching at the university and college level until I am too old or infirm to continue.

Teaching can be done from home for any online class.  A professor could ostensibly wear pajamas and slippers as office dwellers and offhand acquaintances might assume.  In my case, I shower and dress daily and when I make the short commute from the kitchen to my office, I enter my office with the same dedication to work as anyone else.  In this way, I can maintain a high commitment to education of students, colleagues, and clients.  I am as dedicated to being a good teacher as I am to being a good learner.

Teaching as Lifelong Learning

Teaching is the ultimate zenith in knowledge.  Not only do we have to understand a subject with both breadth and depth, we also have to be able to make the topic engaging enough for heterogeneous groups of students to find interest in the topic even for required, foundational classes.  Being able to restate learnings in a new way or apply knowledge to a new situation is what makes education successful – from both the teacher’s perspective and the student’s viewpoint.

What many students don’t realize is that teachers learn from them as well.  Every term, I find that there are new or unusual interpretations of homework assignments.  What seemed to be a clear cut question to the course designer can elicit a wide range of responses.  In some cases, the responses are so far off that the learning materials and homework assignments need redesigning to meet the course objectives.

Planning Learning

Learning events have to be as carefully planned as any college course.  First, the organization’s objectives need to be considered in full.  For a college or university course, the learning objectives typically align with a certificate or degree program, and are often specified by various accreditation bodies.  In corporate learning, our objectives must match a desired business outcome.  If a company wishes to improve its success with new product launches or increase communications among virtual team members, the learning event must include these results as success measures.

Key to a successful learning event or course includes application of the new knowledge or skill in the workplace.  Simply going to a class and having absorbed information is insufficient to demonstrate transfer of knowledge.  An important measure of success, then, tracks the student beyond the classroom to ensure that s/he is applying the skill in the real world.  Firms can measure the implementation of new skills via professional certifications and management surveys to determine that the learning event met corporate objectives.  Colleges and universities measure success by job placement and feedback from employees.

Education Delivery

While I get up every day, shower, and get dressed in real clothes before going to my office, learners today are cramming skills development into ever smaller parcels of time.  A student very well may be wearing his or her pajamas while watching an online lesson or be listening to a podcast during the daily commute.

Online knowledge delivery has changed how we learn.  Indeed, our attention spans as a whole have dropped precipitously.  Most of us remain engaged for less than 10 minutes.  So, education delivery must meet these parameters and still impart a new skill or behavior within each lesson.  All of our online courses at Simple-PDH.com include short videos or podcasts that can be consumed in brief intervals of time, yet each lesson delivers an important topic necessary to gain and maintain professional certification.

Knowledge Checks

Perhaps more important for professional certification and corporate training is a knowledge check that learning new skills has occurred.  Again, the measurement of knowledge transfer should be part of the organizational planning effort.  In the case of university students and candidates for professional credentials, knowledge checks include practice exams leading to the final, formal exam administered by the appropriate credentialing body (PMI, PDMA, or ASEM, for example).

Practice quizzes offer a risk-free environment to learners to hone their test-taking skills as well as verifying their knowledge base.  CAPM and PMP practice tests help to solidify the sometimes peculiar wording used by PMI that is not as common in an industrial project setting.  New Product Development Professional (NPDP) practice tests help to bring higher order strategic processes into focus with objective, application-oriented questions.

Teaching and Learning

We must all be committed to lifelong learning – whether we are working from a traditional office, a home office, or a student wearing pajamas!  Teaching is the ultimate demonstration of lifelong learning.  Both university and corporate learning event should start with extensive planning to ensure that course objectives, goals, and measures align with the desired business outcomes (e.g. job placement or improved results).

As students today, we demand on-the-go knowledge delivery.  Online courses deliver content that is engaging and brief.  Follow-up practice tests are recommended for those seeking professional certification.  And, yes, you can learn and teach while you are at work or at home!

Contact me at [email protected] or 281-280-8717 to enroll in a free NPDP overview course or any of our newly scheduled PMP, Scrum, or NPDP workshops in Houston as well as our online PDH courses.  At Simple-PDH.com where we want to help you gain and maintain your professional certifications.  You can study, learn, and earn – it’s simple!

 

Study. Learn. Earn. Simple.

© Simple-PDH.com

A division of Global NP Solutions, LLC

Project Management Contract Types

Project managers play an integral role in selecting third party vendors to perform work on projects.  It is no realistic, in most cases, to complete projects with only internal resources.  Additional skills can be accessed via outsourcing and often provide specialty services that are unavailable otherwise.

While procurement, purchasing, and legal departments normally take the lead in contract negotiations, project managers need to also take an active role in procuring third party materials and services.  After all, the project manager will be integrating the work of the vendor or supplier with all other aspects of the project.  This includes understanding the scope, schedule, cost, quality, and risk of the third party work.

Contracts

Contracts are used in projects to outline the legal responsibilities of the seller and the buyer.  The seller may be also identified as the vendor, supplier, or third party.  The buyer may be identified also as the customer, client, or sponsor.

A contract is a legally binding agreement in which the seller agrees to provide labor, equipment, materials, or other services in exchange for some form of payment.  The buyer agrees to pay the seller for the work provided; usually, the payment is made in monetary terms (e.g. $10,000 or 10,000 €).  However, in some cases, exchange of valuable goods may be made in lieu of money.  For instance, the right to license a process or access to patent-protected technology may be considered a valuable exchange by the buyer and seller in a contract.

It is important to keep in mind that a contract is a legally binding agreement.  Normally, the terms and conditions will state the jurisdiction of law under which the contract will be executed.  This may be stated as “according to the laws of the State of Texas” or in discussing mediation if the parties later disagreed upon the service rendered or payment received.  Thus, third party agreements should not be treated casually.

The Basic Contracts

Project, product, and engineering managers should be familiar with the three most common types of contracts.  While there are variations on these types of contracts that add risk or may reduce cost, most project managers can participate in a technical negotiation with a clear understanding of these basics.

Fixed Price Contract

The firm fixed price contract is used when the buyer can explicitly describe the materials, equipment, or services to be acquired.  The buyer agrees to a specific price (“fixed”) and the seller agrees to provide the goods and/or services.

A fixed price contract is of little risk to the buyer because there is no room for variation in the price of the goods or service being procured.  Of course, project, product, and engineering managers will prefer this type of contract since it allows a firm budget estimate.  However, the project manager must be extremely clear in describing the full scope of work in the contract as the seller will be constrained to provide exactly what is stated in the contract.

In a fixed price contract, the seller is at a greater degree of risk than the buyer.  Many factors can impact the completion of the work as specified that may add cost to the project work.  For instance, an unexpected period of high inflation or a labor shortage that drives up wages can impact the cost of the work that the seller provides.  Furthermore, if the seller underestimates the scope of work, they are still legally obligated to provide the agreed-upon work product, even at a financial loss.

Both the buyer and seller will be particularly attentive to changes in a fixed price contract.  The seller will view the contract as a minimum standard.  Anything that the buyer requests that is not explicitly called for in the contract may be considered a change.  Change orders are often expensive and can introduce schedule delays as well.  Again, it is important for the buyer to be familiar with the work and to provide a detailed scope statement to avoid eth potential of costly changes later.

Cost Reimbursable Contracts

Cost reimbursable contracts typically involve more risk for the buyer than the seller.  In this type of agreement, the seller is reimbursed for all actual costs as they are incurred.  Usually, the seller will invoice the customer on a regular basis, say weekly or monthly.

A buyer has more risk with a cost reimbursable contract than in a fixed price contract because the total cost of the work is not predetermined.  Sellers may incur more overhead costs using this type of contract since they will spend more time justifying expenses to the customer.  Buyers normally protect against financial risk by requiring specific documentation for costs incurred and/or by including a price cap within the contract terms and conditions.

A cost reimbursable contract is useful in situations where the end result in unknown.  This might be the case for a research study or if the scope of work is unclear.  For example, a home remodel project may involve uncertainties regarding the condition of subfloors, piping, and supports.  In other situations, the end product may be ill-defined due to the nature of the work, such as in new product development where customer inputs will guide decisions throughout the project life cycle.

Evaluation of fixed price contracts is easy.  Normally, a buyer will choose the lowest bid.  Cost reimbursable contracts must be evaluated based upon estimated total costs as well as other factors.  These can include approach to the work, experience, past performance on similar projects, and/or technical and management capability.  A vendor-customer relationship built on trust will enhance the execution of a cost reimbursable contract.

Time and Materials Contract

Finally, a time and materials contract is a hybrid between a fixed price and cost reimbursable contract.  Materials, equipment, and supplies are provided at a fixed (known) price while labor is reimbursed as necessary to complete the project work.  An example of a project in which a time and materials contract might be used is in venture software installation.  The cost of the software licenses is fixed (e.g. $300 per user) but operating system upgrades, testing, and data transfers are variable.  Like a cost reimbursable contract, buyers often include a price cap for a time and materials contract.

Procurement Contracts

Project managers should be involved when contracts are negotiated for third party work.  Technical specification and requirements are the responsibility of the project manager during negotiations.  Moreover, the project manager has a vested interest in the delivery schedule and cost of outsourced project work because it must be integrated with all other project activities.  Third parties also introduce special concerns regarding risk, quality, and communication – areas which are key responsibilities for a product, project, or engineering manager.

Project procurement is one of ten (10) knowledge areas covered on the Project Management Professional (PMP™) exam.  If you are planning on becoming certified, you will want to consider a PMP review course and/or practice tests.  Candidates who prepare with a PMP training course are more likely to pass the exam on the first try.  Join us for online study sessions – contact me at [email protected] or 281-280-8717 for more information on our next available study session.

Contract management is a key responsibility for product, project, and engineering managers.  Be on the lookout for a special PDH course on contract management where you can refresh your skills, learn new tools, and earn professional development hours (PDH).  At Simple-PDH.com where we want to help you gain and maintain your professional certifications.  You can study, learn, and earn – it’s simple!

 

Study. Learn. Earn. Simple.

© Simple-PDH.com

A division of Global NP Solutions, LLC

Learning is Important (and Sometimes Urgent)

President Dwight D. Eisenhower is quoted as saying, “I have two kinds of problems:  the urgent and the important.  The urgent are not important and the important are never urgent.”

Most of us can identify with Ike’s predicament.  We face a lot of tasks in our daily work that need to be done but are not necessarily value-added to advance our careers.  And we tend to put off the important learning activities that will grow our self-confidence and career knowledge in exchange for solving immediate problems.

Ike’s Four Categories

If we dissect the Eisenhower Principle and apply it to our calendars and to-do lists, we will find, perhaps, time to dedicate to personal growth and still be able to help others achieve their goals.

Important and Urgent

Important and urgent tasks are those that help us grow in knowledge and are recognized as developing our careers.  For example, responding to a short deadline request for your consulting services is an important and urgent task.  Addressing a quality deviation on the production line is important and urgent.  These tasks should take a high priority on our calendars and to-do lists.  It is also helpful to review the outcomes of important and urgent tasks through reflection to improve our performance next time.

Important but Not Urgent

Activities that are important but not urgent typically have a longer term payoff.  These may include attending networking meetings or trade conferences.  Often we delay the important but not urgent tasks because there is not a deadline for the activity.

Of course, creating an artificial deadline can spur us to moving the important but not urgent tasks to a higher priority.  Professional development frequently falls into the category of important but not urgent, yet most professional certifications require professional development hours (PDH) for renewal to maintain the credential.  Instead of waiting until the last minute to try to cram in 40 or 60 hours of study, set a target of completing at least 5 hours every quarter.  In this way, you meet the requirements, but crucially, you gain useful knowledge on an ongoing basis to build your professional toolkit and reputation.

Urgent but Not Important

One of the reasons we push off the important but not urgent tasks is we choose to spend our time on urgent but not important activities.  These tasks may be necessary to keep our jobs but should be minimized as much as possible.  Generally, the urgent but not important chores do not require our strangest capacity of focus or concentration.  In Cal Newport’s book, “Deep Work,” he recommends blocking these type of tasks together.  For example, you can do email, respond to LinkedIn messages, and re-tweet relevant business information when your energy and focus are at a low point.  You should save your highest energy for the most important tasks.

Not Urgent and Not Important

These time-wasters should be eliminated if at all possible.  Items that fall into the not urgent/not important category include much of our email, Facebook, and surfing the internet.  You can purge non-relevant email by unsubscribing from lists and newsletters, and by creating “rules” to handle and segregate urgent or important email from one-way, informational communications.  In “Deep Work,” Newport recommends replacing the shallow relationships on Facebook with deeper meaning and understanding with friends over lunch or by engaging in the arts.

Learning is Important and Urgent

While we often categorize learning as an important but not urgent task, gaining professional knowledge and certifications should be both important and urgent.  Most professional credentials result in higher salaries and increased responsibility on the job.  Treating learning as a task that is not urgent means you are not assigning it the same priority as responding to email or attending a meeting.  While these activities are required to sustain your current position and to satisfy your boss, you must also consider your own personal growth plan to advance your career.  Then, learning becomes both important and urgent!

You can take the first step to advancing your career with a professional credential as a New Product Development Professional (NPDP) or a Project Management Professional (PMP™).  Learn about professional development at Simple-PDH.com where we want to help you gain and maintain your professional certifications.  You can study, learn, and earn – it’s simple!  Please also feel free to contact me at [email protected] or 281-280-8717.  Remember learning must be important and urgent!

 

Study. Learn. Earn. Simple.

© Simple-PDH.com

A division of Global NP Solutions, LLC

Work-Life Balance

Depending from which generation you hail, your definition of “work-life balance” probably is quite different than your co-workers of another age.  Baby boomers stereotypically report to the office daily and value work above many other pursuits.  Gen X-ers (myself included) put as much energy into our time off work as we put into work.  Finally, Millennials are struggling to find out where the line is that seems to blur work and social life.

Regardless of your age and approach to work-life balance, it is true that all of us spend more time than ever connected to technology.  You know, that annoying habit of pulling out your smartphone to check a fact in the middle of a conversation.  Or asking Siri to identify the artist playing the background music at the coffee shop while you meet with an old friend.  And, of course, constantly checking email to see if the project work was done correctly while you were out of the office.  We certainly do rely on technology!

Technology for Learning

A second aspect of work-life balance is that we often stay connected in our off-hours so that we can get ahead.  While it is probably fruitless to imagine digging out from under the gigantic heap of bits and bytes that make up our cluttered inboxes, we can use technology to better manage our work tasks.  The calendar function is a great way to parse the day and schedule important activities.  In addition to project team meetings, you can use your calendar to block time for in-depth, quiet, strategic thinking and for personal growth.  My calendar is blocked Thursday starting a 3 pm for a networking event which will cover both items (quiet time for thinking during the drive to and from the event location, and personal growth by meeting new people at the event).

We also can use technology for learning.  Block time on a regular basis for building skills that will advance your career.  The amount and frequency of learning events will be a function of your educations and knowledge-building goals, but the time commitment needs to be regular and long enough to complete a new activity in each session.  Five minutes normally won’t cut it!  For new product development professional (NPDP) training, we recommend one hour per day for six weeks, with one day off each week.  Committing to learning new skills for a professional credential will reap huge rewards for personal and career growth.

Learning for Work-Life Balance

Learning a new skill can help us better balance work goals and find joy in our personal lives.  Career-oriented objectives often are only met through demonstrated commitment to our chosen profession.  Without a doubt, professional certification is rapidly growing and demanded by employers to show that you are absolutely dedicated and knowledgeable in the field.  Many job openings today require certification, such as Project Management Professional (PMP), to even apply for open positions.

Unless you let your certification lag (and we hope you don’t!), professional certification is yours.  You are equipped with the demonstrated education, knowledge, and experience regardless of your current job.  Professional credentials are portable and show your commitment to learning in the industry.  Most valuable certification require continuing education and your professional development hours (PDH) expand your skills to include emerging topics of interest and new best practices.  Learning is truly a lifelong endeavor.

As you learn and master new skills, you will find that it enhanced the work-life balance.  Your passion for your chosen career cannot help but spill into your personal life as you grow.  Leadership and team management skills are not limited to on-the-job implementation.  You can use leadership skills as Boy Scout Troop Leader, to organize a community garage sale, or to head a medical mission in Africa.  We all need continued improvement in our team skills to better manage new product development projects, engineering teams, or even sensitive family decisions.  Learning for career growth does not stop at the office door.

Using Time Wisely

While many of us check our work email as often as we check Twitter or Facebook, it is important to unplug.  Studies (CEP, March 2017) shows that the best workers actually take their annual vacation time, get enough sleep every night, and exercise regularly.  I tend to combine these pieces of advice and go hiking on vacation which leads to very restful sleep.

But, of course, we are not always on vacation.  In fact, most of the time we’re not.  Most of the time, we are striving to get better at what we do.  So, using the calendar function discussed above, along with the benefits of continuous learning, schedule time to gain or maintain your professional credentials.

For those that are already New Product Development Professional (NPDP), PMP©, or Professional Engineering Manager (PEM) certificates, you will need to commit at least two hours per month to on-going learning.  Some of that will occur during network meetings designed to bring together like-minded professionals.  However, re-certification for many candidates requires 60 PDHs every three (3) years.  You can supplement network meetings with easy-to-use online learning.

The advantage of online learning is that you can block one hour in your schedule every month for quiet time.  You can use downtime at the office, during your commute, or time at home.  Because online learning is easy to access on any platform, you can choose when and where to learn.  If you are seeking a new credential to advance your career, you will probably balance your home life against attaining new skills.  If your current employer actively supports educational initiatives, you can block one hour per day for six weeks to gain the necessary knowledge to back-up your work experience.  Online learning gives you flexibility to manage your own time against your own work, family, and leisure commitments.

Check out any of our online courses at Simple-PDH.com.  We know that work-life balance is important so we want to make it simple for you to study, learn, and earn your professional certifications.  For more information, please contact us at [email protected] or 281-280-8717.

 

Study. Learn. Earn. Simple.

© Simple-PDH.com

A division of Global NP Solutions, LLC

Quality Management

Quality is a term usually associated with products and service that we desire and value.  We rank our purchase selections by quality in order to select the item that best meets the conflicting goals of low price and high quality.  When something breaks or stops working prematurely, we exclaim that it is of poor quality before throwing it into the trash.

In addition to product quality, manufacturing and business processes also need to be executed in a quality fashion.  Continuous improvement in manufacturing is a hallmark of a high quality process.  Improved quality in business processes can reduce costs, improve employee engagement, and offer a competitive advantage.  Six Sigma is a project-based approach to improving quality in products, service, and processes.

What is Six Sigma?

Six Sigma is a comprehensive methodology that is customer-focused and is designed to drive continuous improvement.  The process emphasizes reducing defects and variation.  Deploying Six Sigma in an organization will change the culture by supporting long-term objectives and developing leaders.

The term “six sigma” itself refers to the statistical degree of variation allowed in a process.  With a process capable of only “one sigma” variation, the result is 690,000 defects per one million parts manufactured.  However, at a “six sigma” level of variation (e.g. tighter process control), the error rate is only 3.4 defects per on million parts.

Zero Defects

Thus, Six Sigma supports the philosophy of quality guru Philip Crosby (1926-2001).  Crosby advocated for zero defects in processes and products.  Instead of meeting or exceeding customer expectations, the goal of zero defects drives a culture focused on customer satisfaction and continual improvement.

In contrast, a business that manufactures to an “acceptable quality limit” will allow lower performance and accepts an approach that is less than perfect.  If a medical device manufacture sets an acceptable quality limit of 99.5% on pace makers, five out of every 1,000 pace makers would be defective.  Do you want your aging parent or grandparent to receive a pace maker with a five out of 1,000 chance of failure?

A Project Approach

Six Sigma uses a project approach to identify and reduce process variations.  The project is led by a traditional project manager who interfaces with a Six Sigma Green Belt or Black Belt.  Within the framework of Six Sigma, “belts” refer to varying levels of expertise and experience in quality projects much like “belts” refer to expertise within the martial arts.

For example, a Master Black Belt works with the executive management team to identify major projects and to train the corporate staff regarding Six Sigma implementation.  Master Black Belts work with Black Belts to select projects and mentor Green Belts.  Six Sigma Green Belts employ statistical analysis tools that specifically relate to a quality improvement project.  Finally, a Six Sigma Yellow Belt may serve as a project team member demonstrating a basic understanding of the Six Sigma methodology.  (Please email me at [email protected] to enroll in a free online Six Sigma Yellow Belt certification training course.)

Other project team members include functional and subject matter experts.  Six Sigma projects may require participation of finance experts, sales and marketing personnel, and end-users or other stakeholders.  Because Six Sigma projects are focused on improving customer satisfaction, project teams also require a representative on the team who can act as the voice of the customer.

Key Facets of Quality Management

A Six Sigma approach to quality management is strategic and drives change in the corporate culture.  It is a generalized problem-solving approach that uses statistical analysis.  Six Sigma projects have dedicated and trained resources to help reduce variation and improve process capability.

If you’d like to learn more about Six Sigma and earn a Yellow Belt Certification, please contact me at [email protected] or by phone at 281-280-8717.  Green Belt and Black Belt certification courses are coming soon to www.Simple-PDH.com, so check back often!

 

Study. Learn. Earn. Simple.

© Simple-PDH.com

A division of Global NP Solutions, LLC

Components of Learning

learning_is_contentLearning is a lifelong activity.  An article in the newspaper relays information from recent studies documenting links between physical exercise, learning, and mental health in the elderly.  Lifelong learning bridges our knowledge and experience from the vast array of times and events in our lives.  Learning prepares us for the next step in our careers and in our lives.

For learning to be effective, it must contain and deliver three aspects:  content, access, and technology.  Professionals who gain certifications and credentials master these three perspectives of learning.  To maintain a professional certification, learning again engages through these three arenas so the candidate can earn PDHs or CEUs (professional development hours or continuing education units).

Content

You’ve probably heard that the volume of information and data doubles at an astounding rate – faster than ever in the history of mankind.  In just two years, they say, the amount of information ever created doubled from the beginning of time.  Consequently, for a busy professional, knowing where to find information, that is meaningful knowledge, can be a challenge.  Studies also show that knowledge retention decline precipitously if the information is not delivered when and how it is needed.

Today, anyone learning a new skill or refreshing basic competencies expects compelling content.  That content should be delivered so learners engage as many of their senses as possible.  This includes seeing (reading, viewing video), hearing (podcasts), and touching (writing, sketching).  As more senses are involved in the learning activity, the retention will increase.

All of our online courses at Simple-PDH.com include lessons to engage these different learning styles, such as reading, watching videos, listening to podcasts, and taking quizzes.  Online learning can be supplemented by face-to-face workshops where professional have opportunities to practice their skills in a non-threatening environment.  Often, busy professionals cannot find time during a typical workday to test new management theories.  An offsite training course provides the chance to apply knowledge in a risk-free environment with other like-minded individuals.

Access

Online learning has huge benefits for students and professionals.  Content is available 24/7 and is accessible in whatever format a candidate needs.  Learners can switch from a laptop to a cell phone and then to a tablet to complete an online learning module.  Having lessons available on digital devices, like smartphones, offers a quick reference in the field as well; thus supporting learning when and where knowledge is needed.

Maintaining professional certification is simple when the information is broken into small chunks.  A lot of people are too busy to book two hours per period for continuing education.  But, these same people can fill 10 minutes of waiting time with learning.  Online PDH courses break the content into small tasks on lessons, typically less than three (3) minutes each.

For candidates that require a deep dive into a new topic, labs and workshops offer access to knowledge and learning-engageexperiences shared in a classroom setting.  Peer-to-peer knowledge sharing, known as “social learning,” is an effective way to increase knowledge retention.  We remember the stories we hear and share in the classroom.

Technology

Finally, learning has been irrevocably changed by technology.  Just 20 years ago, when I was in college, the professor wrote on a chalkboard and students took laborious notes in spiral binders.  Advanced technology at the time included overhead projectors.

Today, technology assists learning in many ways.  As indicated above, online learning delivers content to a candidate on his/her mobile device, transferring seamlessly between computer and classroom.  Technology allows us to access the different learning modalities – seeing, hearing, and touch – in order to improve knowledge retention.

Yet, technology can be a hindrance to learning.  We are easily distracted by ads and instant messaging while viewing internet content of any kind.  Our attention spans have shrunk as we expect to be entertained and we quickly make that decision within a couple of seconds of loading a new web page.  Consequently, technology can assist learning but it is not learning in and of itself.

Learning Components

If you want to learn a new capability or refresh an existing skill, you must consider three components to increase your knowledge.  First, the content must engage as many senses as possible.  Many subject matter experts possess great knowledge and experience in their trade but cannot adequately translate that information.  Candidates for professional certification should look for courses (online or face-to-face) that provide opportunities to see, hear, and interact with learning materials.  Particularly important to earning and maintaining professional credentials is an opportunity to practice the new skills.

Next, knowledge must be accessible.  At Simple-PDH, our online course materials are available on your laptop or mobile device.  Our classroom workshops provide reference material to check when you are back in the office facing a new situation.  And, we are available to answer questions and share our experiences from the School of Hard Knocks.

Finally, technology can enhance the learning experience but it is not a substitute for well-built lessons.  Our knowledge base is supplemented by carefully selected videos and podcasts to encourage multi-modal learner engagement.  While our online courses rely on technology as a primary means of delivering information, our labs and workshops still ask you to use pen and paper, role-playing, and active discussion among other simple exercises to cement new concepts into your behaviors as a manager.

Lifelong learning is an adventure.  We need to continue to learn to preserve our mental health as we age and to be successful on the job right now.  Learning new skills presents challenges to advance our careers and professional performance.  At Simple-PDH, learning is convenient and affordable.  It’s simple to study, learn, and earn!

information on project management certification.  At Simple-PDH.com, we want to make it convenient and affordable for you to study, learn, and earn your professional certification.

 

Study. Learn. Earn. Simple.

© Simple-PDH.com

by Global NP Solutions, LLC

When is the Right Time for Learning?

catLearning a new skill or creating a new product from a nascent idea seem like complicated efforts. There have to be a lot of roles and responsibilities identified, we have to spend significant time with books and teachers, and the market must be just right. True, isn’t it? Well, maybe not.

Creating new products and learning new skills share some fundamental basic concepts. Fortunately, these concepts are pretty simple and don’t require lots of time and resources.

Curiosity

First, projects and learning share a foundation of curiosity. We have to be curious to learn how customers are using existing products, what problems they currently face, and which trends influence their decisions. Likewise, we must have a sense of curiosity to understand how we can improve our own skills, productivity, and efficiency. Learning starts with curiosity and wondering how to do a task better.

They say “curiosity killed the cat,” yet if you’ve ever watched a favorite pet approach something new, you understand curiosity for learning. Years ago, my kitten was curious about a big, stuffed bear I had set out as a Christmas decoration. He studied the bear from a distance. He didn’t get too close to the bear because he was unsure if the stuffed animal was friend or foe. Eventually, he lowered his body to look as small as possible and again studied the fuzzy, stuffed bear. Suddenly, he dashed out from behind a chair, whacked the bear solidly with his right paw, and ran back to safety behind the chair.

Of course, curiosity didn’t kill my cat and he finally made peace with the stuffed Christmas bear. He had to study and experiment to learn the bear was non-threatening. He also had to act on curiosity in the first place.

Timing

In both new product development and learning, timing is everything. New products can become superstars in a market if the timing is perfect or launch as an over-priced dud if the timing is wrong. Consider the recent rage for Pokemon Go, a huge hit because the timing was right. Yet, interest in golf as a sport today is waning. Society and trends favor some product trends while leaving others to wither.

Similarly, learning new skills must occur when we need the new skill. Our need for developing a skill may be driven by our curiosity of how something works or how to improve a product or service. When we show the curiosity to improve our productivity or efficiency, we need to have learning tools available at the right time.

We may learn from a trusted leader or mentor showing us how to conduct a new activity or task. We may also need to pursue learning a new skill through other means if we don’t have access to a skilled expert. Or, we may learn (like my kitten did) through study and experimentation.

Today, online learning is a convenient and affordable way to satisfy our curiosity about a subject. Online courses deliver quick instruction, including the fundamentals, to help someone get up to speed at the right time. We are also blessed with learning through a variety of devices and methods so we can not only learn a new skill at the right time but also at the right place.

Experimentation

The last element of commonality between a new product launch and learning a new skill is experimentation. experimentRemember my cat? He tested to see if the bear was friend or foe by whacking it with his paw. When the bear did not cry out, respond in kind, or even move, my cat conducted further experiments. He again ran to the bear and whacked it. After a few trials, he realized he didn’t need to retreat behind the chair. He stood a few feet away and observed the bear. After a few more (hilarious) whacks with his paw, my cat laid down a few feet in front of the now innocuous bear and took a nap. Though, he still did not trust his safety completely, he napped with one eye open, affixed to the stuffed Christmas bear in case of a future threat.

Cats might make laughable subjects of viral YouTube videos, but we can understand experimentation as a learning tool. Certainly, in new product development, we must experiment and test features and functions within a variety of potential customers. Trial of a minimally viable product can validate customer need and inform the new product development team of required design enhancements.

Learning, too, is informed by experimentation. We might try a specific task with our existing skill sets. If it doesn’t work, we will adjust and adapt our approach. Exercises, case studies, and formal tests all validate learning of a specific topic. Professional certifications, like New Product Development Professional (NPDP) and Project Management Professional (PMP®), allow for experimentation by applying industry-wide theory and best practices to your specific situation.

Learning at the Right Time

Learning, like the commercialization of a new product, requires the proper timing. Timing of the learning event is preceded by curiosity to improve and to gain knowledge. Learning tools deliver the skills at the right time so that the new information can be applied on-the-job to enhance productivity and efficiency. And, learning requires experimentation to address specific problems with the tools and techniques assembled from practice and education.

If you’d like to learn more about new product development or NPDP Certification, please take a free class or join us for an in-depth, 2-day best practices workshop. We also offer on-demand learning that is quick, convenient, and affordable and is especially geared toward busy professionals that need to earn professional development hours (PDHs) to maintain their existing certifications. It’s simple to study, learn, and earn!

 

Study. Learn. Earn. Simple.

© Simple-PDH.com

by Global NP Solutions, LLC

Cost Estimating

doomed projectProduct, project, and engineering managers are faced with many tasks on any given day.  We must manage people, technologies, and the project itself.  Stakeholders need to be frequently updated on the status of the project including utilization of resources, progress toward deliverables, and tracking of the schedule and budget.

Yet, many project managers are appointed to the position based on a strong technical background or because they are effective in leading complex teams.  Most project managers have not been directly exposed to managing a budget or schedule.  Of course, the client and the sponsor measure success through meeting project goals, including the plan for on-time and on-budget delivery of project results.

Budget Skills for Project Managers

Project managers can learn how to prepare a budget in several ways.  Sometimes, senior management will assign a specific budget for the execution of given project work.  In this case, the project manager is doomed.  There needs to be significant input, give-and-take, and understanding of tasks and deliverables in order for an appropriate budget to be determined.  Frequently, senior executives will underestimate the required work – and cost- of a project because they are far removed from day-to-day operations.

In other, more favorable cases, the project manager will work with the assigned project team and sponsor to formulate a viable project budget.  While estimating project costs is iterative by definition, sponsors and clients will often hold the budget to the first number they hear.  Naturally, project managers are in a difficult position.  Project work is often not detailed enough in an early stage to give an accurate cost outlook but padding the number could cause the project to look too expensive and lead to its cancellation.

Learning about Cost Estimates

Many product and engineering managers have not been formally exposed to budgeting and accounting practices in their technical or educational background.  One way to gain skills in planning projects is to understand basic project management principles.  Project Management Professionals (PMP®) are certified by the Project Management Institute and learn industry-wide best practices in initiating, planning, executing, monitoring and controlling, and closing projects.  Cost and schedule estimating tools and techniques are described as part of the detailed planning process.  Product and engineering managers will also learn flexible and agile methods for lean product development, including how to estimate the cost of a specific project while the work is still not fully determined.  Iterative and rolling wave planning are tools that can help a project manager optimize and balance detailed cost estimates for the near term with longer term forecasts.  PMP Boot Camps and New Product Development Professional Workshops will help project, product, and engineering managers learn these tools for the first time or provide a timely refresher to continue to build career skills.

For those that just need a refresher on cost estimating, Simple-PDH is offering a new, two-hour course on Cost Estimating.  We start with the basics of creating a plan that balances scope, schedule, and budget.  Specific types of cost estimates and types of costs (direct, variable, etc.) are described so you can immediately jump into the budgeting process.  The Project Cost Estimating course will earn two (2) Professional Development Hours (PDH, PDU, CEU) for you to maintain your PMP, Scrum, NPDP, PEM certification(s).

Learn More

To learn more about integrating cost estimating techniques into project and product management activities, please join us for a PMP Boot Camp or NPDP Workshop.  You may also be interested in the quick refresher course to earn PDUs or PDHs.  It’s quick and affordable.

Every course at www.simple-pdh.com includes study guides, videos, practice tests, and expert instruction.  It’s simple to study, earn, and learn!  Contact us at [email protected] for more information.

Study. Learn. Earn. Simple.

© Simple-PDH.com

A division of Global NP Solutions, LLC

Learning is a Hobby

hobbyDo you have a hobby?  I have several hobbies and my favorite is scrapbooking.  I love the different colors and textures of paper used to highlight photographs.  I actually have an entire room in my house dedicated to my hobby.  It’s “my space” and I completely lose track of time when I am engrossed in making a new scrapbook page to capture happy memories.

When I’m not in my space creating a scrapbook page, I still enjoy my hobby.  I subscribe to several blogs and magazines on the topics of scrapbooking and cardmaking.  I receive emails about scrapbook events and new products from different vendors.  I spend a lot of my hobby time studying the magazines for ideas and to learn the latest techniques in scrapbooking.

I also spend time reading blogs and journals learning about my favorite management topics.  In fact, sometimes “Harvard Business Review” gets interspersed with “Cards & More” magazines!  I enjoy reading about the latest theories in project, product, and engineering management almost as much as I devour scrapbooking information.

Passion in Learning

I have a passion for my hobby – scrapbooking.  When I have free time (when is that again??), I go to my scrapbooking room to create memory pages or greeting cards.  My friends and family love to receive my handmade greeting cards and praise the craftsmanship.

It is sometimes harder to say we have a passion for our work, but if we don’t enjoy what we’re doing to make a living, it is just work.  I meet a lot of people who have a passion to plan and organize work activities and to create new products to make other peoples’ lives better.  These passions for project and product management are demonstrated in work we do, including a dedication to learning more about our chosen profession.

Continuous lifelong learning demonstrates commitment to our careers.  We want to know the latest and greatest tools in project management so that we can meet the budget, deliver on schedule, and please the client.  We want to satisfy customer needs with new product features and add value to their portfolios.

Continuous Learning

As we go through our lives, our passions become more focused and refined.  I used to scrapbook everything, then just vacations, and finally now I focus mostly on making greeting cards and small scrapbooks.  Smaller projects fit my personality and desire to finish quickly.  And, they fit my limited “free time” better as well.

In my professional life, I’ve learned that project and product management fit my strong desire to plan and organize work and to see a project idea through to completion.  I’ve also found that in management and coaching, I can make a difference in people’s lives.  Of course, I’ve had to learn new skills along the way.

One of the best ways to demonstrate new skills is through professional certification.  I have had at least two friends whoProfessionalDevelopmentGraphicOrg had such a passion for gardening that they became Texas Master Gardeners to further their education and to support their continuous learning.  I want to take Copic marker certification to improve my art and learning for scrapbooking and cardmaking.  Professionally, you can validate your passing with certification as a Project Management Professional (PMP®), New Product Development Professional (NPDP), or Professional Engineering Manager (PEM).

We are now offering a variety of PMP and CAPM® (Certified Associate in Project Management) training options.  Project managers learn how to initiate, plan, execute, monitor and control, and close projects.  The certification is recognized around the world and is often required on job applications to demonstrate professional experience and training.  PMPs generally command higher salaries than their uncertified counterparts.

The best certifications (like PMP, NPDP, and PEM) require continued learning so that professionals stay abreast of new ideas and new concepts in the field.  Here at Simple-PDH, we offer affordable and convenient online courses to earn your professional development hours (PDH).  Check back often as we are adding both full certification and PDH courses monthly.

Your Passion

Follow your passions.  You should enjoy your hobbies and expand your skills by reading and learning.  Have passion in your career and expand your professional skills, too, with professional certification and continuous learning.  Study. Learn. Earn. Simple.

If you have questions about existing or upcoming PDH courses, please contact us at [email protected] or by phone at 281-280-8717.  We also offer PMP boot camps and a 2-day NPDP workshop as well as a variety of online prep courses so you can earn your certification quickly and easily.

 

Study. Learn. Earn. Simple.

© Simple-PDH.com

A division of Global NP Solutions, LLC

Certification vs. College

licensedThe news story told of a 300% increase in college tuition over the past five years. Former students explained their fear of deep debt from college loans hanging over their heads as they move forward in life. Parents, in the story, told of cashing in retirement savings to fund their child’s college education.

Every day we encounter these gloom and doom stories about the rising costs of college education partnered with joblessness and underemployment. The dream, we are taught, is to get a college degree and it will automatically open the doors to a high-paying job.

Another Way

Employers hire for several reasons. An ideal candidate should:

  • Fit the company’s culture,
  • Support the firm’s values and purpose,
  • Be loyal and trustworthy,
  • Demonstrate skills and capabilities, and
  • Commit to lifelong learning.

Most jobs today rely on knowledge workers who must stay current in their field. Top management requires flexible, fast, and adaptable employees for long-term success.

Employers may be initially screening job applicants for college degrees, but because of the nature of today’s fast-paced, globally competitive work, employers also need staff to hit the ground running. Hiring is done for specific skill sets so team members can fill a capabilities gap at the firm. Often, work experience is what differentiates job applicants.

Even more so, professional certifications differentiate potential employees. Professional certification demonstrates education, experience, and aptitude within a given field of study. For example, New Product Development Professional (NPDP) certification demonstrates knowledge and experience in strategy, portfolio management, life cycle management, new product development (NPD) processes, tools and metrics, teams and organization, and market research. Project Management Professional (PMP®) certification affirms capabilities in initiating, planning, executing, monitoring and controlling, and closing projects bounded by constraints in scope, schedule, and budget.

Promotion of managers in engineering roles is assisted by Professional Engineering Manager (PEM) certification demonstrating skills ranging for management, organizing, and people to operations, supply chain, and regulatory compliance.

The Value of Professional Certification

Professional certifications have several advantages are advanced college degrees:

  • Less expensive;
  • Depth of (vs. generalized) topic knowledge;
  • Rigorous, standardized testing;
  • Demonstrated work experience; and
  • Commitment to continued professional development.

Most certification programs cost less than 0.5% of an advanced college degree (assuming about US$50,000 for a degree). While a college degree prepares a graduate for any number of potential jobs and industrial fields, professional certification is focused: new product development, project management, or technical engineering management. Unlike colleges and universities which have a wide range of instruction and course requirements to graduate, professional certification use the same, standardized test around the world. The measuring stick is easy to understand.

Finally, the most rigorous professional certifications require a validated work history to show experience in the field. Hand-son experience is exactly what employers are hiring for today and licensure as an NPDP, PMP, or PEM demonstrates knowledge and experience.

Continued Professional Development

The world is changing fast. New theories, tools, and techniques are emerging almost daily. To maintain Continual-Learning-blog-imageprofessionalism, a person must keep up with emerging trends, new practices, and improved problem-solving methods. Continued professional development includes earning professional development hours (PDH) or continuing education units (CEU) required by certifying bodies such as the Product Development and Management Association (PDMA), Project Management Institute (PMI®), and the American Society of Engineering Management (ASEM). PDHs validate lifelong learning. Employers benefit by having an educated, adaptable, and highly-trained workforce that is engaged in their careers.

PDHs are easy to earn at Simple-PDH.com. We provide a combination of narrative, video, and audio files with downloadable study guides for you to study. All PDH courses include a practice test for candidates to validate and learn the material whether it is a basic refresher training or new, emerging topic. You can take the practice test as many times as you want. Finally, prepared by the learning materials and practice quiz, you earn your PDH credits by passing a final quiz. It’s simple!

NPDPs and PMPs requires 60 PDHs every three (3) years, and PEMs require 45 PDHs every three (3) years. To learn more, try our popular Disruptive Innovation training course and earn 1 PDH toward you NPDP, PMP, or PEM renewal.

Study. Earn. Learn. Simple. New courses are being added for PEM, PMP, and NPDP professional development every month, so check back often! If you have questions about existing or upcoming PDH courses, please contact us at [email protected] or by phone at 281-280-8717.

 

Study. Learn. Earn. Simple.

© Simple-PDH.com

A division of Global NP Solutions, LLC