PMP ITTO: A Complete Guideline For Beginners to Advanced
When you are preparing for the PMP certification exam, you will surely come across PMP ITTO. This refers to the detailed ITTO project management processes in the PMBOK guidebook. Several processes also included in the guide book. We have discuss the easiest way of using those processes through PMP ITTO spreadsheet.
You will come across 6 types of questions in the PMP certification exam. These questions are relevant to PMP tools and techniques charts that take you through numerous decision-making stages. ITTO is the 1st type of questions that you will face. In the experience of many PMP certified managers, ITTO questions are the most challenging ones.
Let us have a deep understanding of ITTO based questions to prepare best for the challenges put in front of you when you are sitting for the PMP certification exam.
Dealing with ITTO Based Questions: What is PMP ITTO in Project Management
The PMBOK guidebook includes a total of 42 sets of ITTO based management processes. This means that to decide on a certain procedure of a project, you need to learn 42 different sets of ITTO process. As a result, it is important to know about ITTO in detail.
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What Does ITTO PMP Stand For?
Before we go into the whys and hows of the PMP ITTO mind map, it is crucial to understand every letter of the ITTO. The ITTO in PMP stands for Input, Tools, Techniques, and Outputs. An example can simplify the whole thing.
Let us imagine that we will have to build a house. At first, we will need Inputs, such as financing, plans, permits, and many other things.
After that, we will go forward with the Tools and Techniques we have in building the house. These Tools and Techniques can be labor, plumbing, electricity, framing, trades, and other aspects of making something. Finally, when the project is finished, we will have an Output.
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The PMP certification exam takes a project manager through all these processes in completing a project. There is an interrelationship between all these stages of decision making and completion of a project. Here is a brief description of the ITTO.
Inputs
Inputs refer to internal or external items required to complete the project before the project can be initiated. These inputs can be outputs from any previous project. Some of the inputs can be project schedule, project approval and resources, Enterprise Environmental Factors (EEF), and Organizational Process Assets (OPA).
Tools
Tools are necessary tangible resource that is utilized while performing a particular activity of a project. These tools can be a software program, information systems, or analytical techniques to complete the project.
Techniques
Using the set of inputs and tools, human resource management is responsible for producing a product, service, or result through systematic and approved procedures. These techniques or procedures to complete a project can be interviews, inspections, expert mentoring, decompositions, and many more.
Outputs
When all the PMP process chart processes have been utilized, the project is completed, and there is an output. The output is the result of the inputs, tools, and techniques. Outputs can also serve as inputs of future project works.
So, which are outputs of the executing process of project integration management? The outputs can be updated in the project management plan, updates in the organizational process assets, or information on work performance.
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Master the ITTO PMP Questions with These 7 Steps
As we have now understood what ITTO means and what kind of challenges you may go through in the PMP exam, it is time to focus on cracking the challenges. To master ITTO questions, you will need to construct a PMP tools and techniques chart to get the best output from the inputs.
Here are 7 steps to master ITTO questions in your PMP exam:
Understanding the Main Objective
First and foremost, you must understand the purpose of a project. The main and primary objective of the process will lead you to understand the project’s inputs, tools, techniques, and outputs.
For instance, when you describe the scope of a product, you are considering all the requirements. Therefore, this will take you through the input plan. Once you understand the process, you can figure out the tools and techniques to establish the outputs.
Identifying the PMP Inputs and Outputs
Once you have understood the process’s primary objective, you can now focus on the inputs and outputs of the process by creating a project management inputs and outputs chart.
This will enable you to know the specific inputs needed to carry out the project and possible outputs necessary for the fulfillment of the project. It is recommended to spend a significant amount of time identifying a few key inputs and outputs. This will enhance your chance of mastering ITTO.
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Creating Interrelation Between Project Management Mapping and ITTO
Every process in project management serves a purpose that is related to ITTO. As a result, you should try to relate the PMP process groups with the flow of information by creating a PMP ITTO mind map.
For instance, the Management Process Knowledge falls under the Project Integration Management Knowledge Area. This means that the process inputs data from several areas, and the project outputs are a continuous process.
Listing the Occurrences Logically Through PMP ITTO Spreadsheet
There are 49 processes in the PMBOK guidebook. Even though there are many inputs and outputs, they often occur more than once. However, it is important to map them logically.
One way to do that is by creating a PMP process chart. You can do that by preparing a PMP ITTO cheat sheet. The ITTO PMP cheat sheet will contain notes, formulas, terms, tips and tricks, and abbreviations for quick review.
The spreadsheet can be dynamic and searchable not to have to back and forth inside the guidebook. This can improve the learning speed, and you can quickly learn every trick of the ITTO.
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Recognizing the Limitations
All of the above steps will enable you to understand the inputs and outputs of PMP ITTO. However, some processes will be really tough to determine the inputs and outputs. Therefore, here you will identify the things that cannot be input or output.
In the PMBOK guide, the data flow diagrams are the perfect depiction of the sources of inputs and outputs.
Recognizing Various Tools and Techniques
There are 2 types of tools and techniques for project management process groups and knowledge areas mapping. These are:
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Specific Tools and Techniques of the Knowledge Area
These specialized techniques are used in special knowledge areas. They serve a unique purpose that is particular for that area.
For instance, the rolling wave planning technique is used in only the Define Activities Process. Just like this, some other techniques and tools are specific for one particular project only. If you can identify and memorize that, you can easily master ITTO for that knowledge area.
Grouping of Tools and Techniques
This is called T&T grouping. There are 6 T&T groups in PMP ITTO. What you can do in this process is that you can list all the techniques that fall under each of the T&T group. This way, you can categorize the processes into these groups and learn almost all of the tools and techniques.
Eliminating 1 to 3 Choices
The final step is to eliminate choices from the MCQ questions. This helps a candidate to take an improved decision. You can follow three key steps in the elimination method.
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The first task is to understand the question thoroughly. The above 6 steps are the perfect assistance for this task. Next, you can eliminate choices that are not asked in the question.
For instance, when the question asks for inputs and outputs, you can get rid of the choices’ tools and techniques. The last task is to find unfamiliar choices. The question will tend to confuse you by having options that may look to an ITTO term. You can eliminate that option as it is likely to be a wrong answer.
FAQ
Yes, you should be able to remember the ITTO for a few processes. However, not all the 49 processes will require you to memorize ITTO.
On average, the number of ITTO questions can be around 10. In most PMP exams, there can be 4 to 16 ITTO based questions.
Unfortunately, there is no shortcut way to crack the ITTO questions. However, the 7 steps of mastering ITTO can be extremely useful for a PMP candidate.
ITTO questions can be tricky. However, it is not that difficult to answer if you have prepared well for the PMP exam. Candidates who do find ITTO questions tough have not prepared enough to master ITTO questions.
Conclusion
The PMP certification exam is one of the toughest exams you will come through throughout your life. The PMP ITTO certainly does not make it easier for candidates to crack the PMP exam.
Therefore, a candidate must have a clear idea about the concepts. The 7 steps can ensure better learning so that an aspiring PMP candidate can master answering ITTO questions. Make sure you’ve read the “PMP ITTO Spreadsheet” section carefully, it will help you the most.
