Smart PM Blog https://blog.smartpmtraining.com/ Project Control Tips for Planning Engineers Sat, 21 Dec 2024 06:06:26 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.7.1 https://i0.wp.com/blog.smartpmtraining.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/cropped-Smart-PM-Academy-Icon-100x100-01-Fav-Zen.jpg?fit=32%2C32&ssl=1 Smart PM Blog https://blog.smartpmtraining.com/ 32 32 230652346 How to Start a Career in Planning: A Practical Guide https://blog.smartpmtraining.com/how-to-start-a-career-in-planning-a-practical-guide/ https://blog.smartpmtraining.com/how-to-start-a-career-in-planning-a-practical-guide/#respond Fri, 20 Dec 2024 15:00:49 +0000 https://blog.smartpmtraining.com/?p=718 Starting a career in planning can feel overwhelming, especially if you’re transitioning from another role or just beginning your professional journey. In this articel, I share some strategic steps you can take to find your way into this field. 1. Find a Way to Earn the Title Your skills might be impressive, but it is […]

The post How to Start a Career in Planning: A Practical Guide appeared first on Smart PM Blog.

]]>
Starting a career in planning can feel overwhelming, especially if you’re transitioning from another role or just beginning your professional journey. In this articel, I share some strategic steps you can take to find your way into this field.

1. Find a Way to Earn the Title

Your skills might be impressive, but it is challenging to convince potential employers without the right job title on your CV. Hiring managers often look for candidates who already work in relevant roles, making it difficult for beginners to break into the field.

So, how do you earn the title?

Start with Your Current Company
Begin by asking for opportunities to work as a planning engineer within your organization. However, don’t approach this request as a favour; instead, demonstrate your readiness.

Prove You’re Prepared
Learn the basics and demonstrate that you can show some value – Learn how to prepare a baseline schedule, update progress, and generate reports. Show your department managers that you’re capable before asking for the role. When they see your commitment and skills, they’re more likely to give you a chance.

Without the title, applying for external planning positions becomes much harder. So focus on earning the title, even in small steps, before you look elsewhere.

2. Improve Your Skills

Career growth requires delayed gratification. The rewards of hard work in your career don’t come immediately. Here’s the truth that nobody often talks about. You can work tirelessly for years without seeing results, but one job application, one interview, or even one conversation with the right person can change everything.

Stay Consistent
Keep improving your skills in scheduling, progress monitoring, and project controls software. Learn tools like Primavera P6, Power BI, or Excel reporting. The better you are at these, the more you stand out.

Patience Pays Off
Your persistence will pay off. It might take time, but consistent effort always yields results.

3. The Golden Rule: Work Hard Regardless of Circumstances

If there’s one piece of advice that’s never let me down, it’s this:
Work hard on yourself, no matter how you feel or what your circumstances are.

You can’t always predict life, and careers don’t follow a straight path. You might also face setbacks:

  • Colleagues may mock your ambition that doesn’t pay off.
  • Your efforts might seem unrecognized within your organization.
  • You might feel stuck in a role you’ve become overqualified for.

Trust the Process
Imagine stepping into a dark room with a flashlight. You can’t see the whole room, but each step forward reveals more of what’s around you. That’s how your career unfolds. Take small, actionable steps in the right direction and trust that opportunities will come as you move forward.

Key Takeaways

I am still doing my best everyday. I’ve also made mistakes and had setbacks but I don’t have any regrets because I either grow or learn from them. You may not start your planning career today. It might take years, but that’s okay. The journey is part of the process.

Remember, you don’t need all the answers now. Just take the next step, and clarity will come.

Regards,

Osama Saad, MBA, PMP, PSP, CCP, PMI-SP

Learn More!

Enroll in our Planning Engineer and Project Control Courses

The post How to Start a Career in Planning: A Practical Guide appeared first on Smart PM Blog.

]]>
https://blog.smartpmtraining.com/how-to-start-a-career-in-planning-a-practical-guide/feed/ 0 718
Are Project Control Certifications Really Necessary? https://blog.smartpmtraining.com/are-project-control-certifications-really-necessary/ https://blog.smartpmtraining.com/are-project-control-certifications-really-necessary/#respond Thu, 19 Dec 2024 15:00:12 +0000 https://blog.smartpmtraining.com/?p=714 When it comes to certifications in project management and project controls, one common question arises: “Are certifications mandatory for career success?” The short answer is: No. Certifications like PMP, PSP, CCP, or PMI-SP introduce you to foundational concepts and principles, but they don’t teach you the practical skills you need to excel in the workplace. […]

The post Are Project Control Certifications Really Necessary? appeared first on Smart PM Blog.

]]>
When it comes to certifications in project management and project controls, one common question arises:
“Are certifications mandatory for career success?”

The short answer is: No.

Certifications like PMP, PSP, CCP, or PMI-SP introduce you to foundational concepts and principles, but they don’t teach you the practical skills you need to excel in the workplace.

The limitations of certifications

While certifications add value, they have limitations which include the following as an example:

  • Automated Reporting: Certifications won’t teach you how to set up advanced analytics and reporting systems using tools like Power BI.
  • Claims Management: They don’t cover practical tasks like submitting Extension of Time (EOT) claims.
  • Client Presentations: They don’t address preparing progress presentations tailored to client needs.

A Real-World Perspective

To give you a better idea about the importance of certifications, let’s break it down with two scenarios:

  • Planner A: Has valuable practical skills but no certifications.
  • Planner B: Has multiple certifications but lacks practical skills.

Who will get hired?
Most companies will choose Planner A because they can deliver results.

Now, imagine a situation where both planners have the same skills and experience, but Planner A also has certifications.

Who stands out now?
Planner A becomes the preferred candidate, as certifications are seen as a bonus that demonstrates commitment to professional growth.

Why Practical Skills Come First

Few companies prioritize certifications over real-world skills but I believe that this is the exception, not the rule. Employers are more interested in what you can do, not the credentials you hold. Certifications are valuable, but only after you’ve built enough skills to get the job done. To put it another way, you should prioritize practical skills. If you’re new or lacking in hands-on experience, focus on developing skills that help you get the job done. Once you’re confident in your practical knowledge, certifications can boost your credibility and career opportunities

Disadvantages of Certifications

Certifications have their downsides:
1- Lack of Practical Application: They focus on theory over hands-on experience.
2- No Templates or Software Training: Certifications rarely include ready-to-use tools or software knowledge.
3- Cost: Certifications are not free. They require a financial upfront investment that may include training, membership and exam fee. Moreover, they require ongoing renewal fees to maintain.

Conclusion

Certifications are not a requirement but can be a great addition to your career when combined with real-world expertise. Focus on learning practical, job-relevant skills first, and use certifications to supplement your professional journey.

Regards,

Osama Saad, MBA, PMP, PSP, CCP, PMI-SP

Learn More!

Enroll in our Planning Engineer and Project Control Courses

The post Are Project Control Certifications Really Necessary? appeared first on Smart PM Blog.

]]>
https://blog.smartpmtraining.com/are-project-control-certifications-really-necessary/feed/ 0 714
Construction Claims Responses: The Consultant and Client Perspective https://blog.smartpmtraining.com/construction-claims-responses-the-consultant-and-client-perspective/ https://blog.smartpmtraining.com/construction-claims-responses-the-consultant-and-client-perspective/#respond Wed, 18 Dec 2024 14:55:31 +0000 https://blog.smartpmtraining.com/?p=710 Construction claims are an inevitable part of most projects. From the consultant’s and client’s perspective, the way claims are handled can significantly impact the project’s financial and legal outcomes. A reliable claim review process and timely responses are critical to ensure a fair and quick resolution avoiding the need for time-consuming and costly escalation methods […]

The post Construction Claims Responses: The Consultant and Client Perspective appeared first on Smart PM Blog.

]]>
Construction claims are an inevitable part of most projects. From the consultant’s and client’s perspective, the way claims are handled can significantly impact the project’s financial and legal outcomes. A reliable claim review process and timely responses are critical to ensure a fair and quick resolution avoiding the need for time-consuming and costly escalation methods like arbitration or litigation. In this article, I explain the following consultant’s roles in claims management.

1. Early Intervention

The consultant’s responsibility begins long before a claim is formally submitted.  Timely and accurate responses to the contractor notices and queries ensure the project remains on track and help prevent disputes. The consultant should also provide adequate responses to the contractor’s delay notices.

  • Reviewing Schedule Updates: Regular and timely evaluation of the contractor’s schedule submissions is essential. This also includes verifying baseline schedules, actual progress and schedule changes.
  • Reviewing daily, weekly and monthly reports: Review and respond to any sections where the contractor mentioned inaccurate excusable delays. The response should be substantiated with documents.
  • Documenting Events: Maintaining a detailed record of project correspondence, schedules, and progress photos allows consultants to establish its own timeline of events.

Timely responses to notices and schedule submissions are critical. If the consultant delays responses, say by a year or more, the contractor may argue that the lack of objection implied consent which makes the delayed response invalid. This can weaken the client’s position, resulting in unfavourable outcomes in disputes.

2. Reviewing Claims

When a contractor submits a claim, consultants conduct the review which typically involves the following:

2.1. Reviewing Submitted Documents

The contractor’s claim often includes a package of supporting documentation such as:

  • Correspondences and notices.
  • Updated schedules
  • Causation and delay analysis
  • Narrative Report

The consultant’s first task is to confirm whether these documents align with the contractual requirements. For example, was a notice submitted within the stipulated timeframe after the event occurred?

2.2. Delay Analysis

Every delay analysis method has its own advantages, disadvantages, strengths, weaknesses, uses and limitations. First, ensure that the selected method is appropriate. Otherwise, if the method is not suitable for the project circumstances, the whole claim can be thrown out of the window. For example, in a large complex project, you’d better have a very good reason for why you would choose weak methods such as Impacted-As-Planned in your analysis.

2.3. Counter-arguments

The consultant often reviews the contractor’s claim submission as it is. In other words, the consultant is in the defence mode. However, consultants are recommended to prepare counter-arguments. For example, the consultant can prepare its own delay analysis, identify contractor’s risk events and even create fragnets that evaluate the contractor’s delays. In these cases, it is not uncommon to have a claim response that is bigger than the claim itself.

2.4. Drafting the Outcome

The outcome of the review typically falls into one of three categories:

  1. Approved: The contractor’s claim is valid and accepted, either fully or partially.
  2. Rejected: The claim lacks merit due to non-compliance of the contract, lack of evidence, misrepresentation of facts, poor delay analysis or unfair data manipulation (very common by the way).
  3. Further Clarification Required: The consultant requests additional information from the contractor (e.g. missing some P6 XER files).

3- Timely Responses

If a consultant fails to respond to a schedule update or notice promptly, this could weaken the client’s case. The contractor may argue that the delay implies acceptance of their claims or position. Moreover, regular schedule updates and progress reports are required for a good reason which is to help project parties understand the progress status and take an appropriate action based on what they see in the report. Therefore, if the consultant took one year to respond to a schedule update, the response  doesn’t really help anyone at this stage. As a result, most contracts require notices and claims to be submitted within strict timeframes. Contractors who fail to comply with these requirements risk their claims being rejected entirely. Late submissions – whether by the consultant or the contractor often result in unfavourable outcomes to the responsible party.

Contractors sometimes believe that submitting claims at the end of the project without notices will be just as effective as timely submissions. This approach is Naïve: The lack of timely notices as required by the contract can invalidate claims entirely. In practice, notices are meant to inform all project parties of potentials delays and encourage them to work together and mitigate the impact. Waiting until the end of the project ignores the importance of contemporaneous records and notifications which will make the claim open to significant challenge by the opposition.

Regards,

Osama Saad, MBA, PMP, PSP, CCP, PMI-SP

Learn More!

Enroll in our Planning Engineer and Project Control Courses

The post Construction Claims Responses: The Consultant and Client Perspective appeared first on Smart PM Blog.

]]>
https://blog.smartpmtraining.com/construction-claims-responses-the-consultant-and-client-perspective/feed/ 0 710
Top 11 Power BI Formatting Tips for Project Control https://blog.smartpmtraining.com/top-11-power-bi-formatting-tips-for-project-control/ https://blog.smartpmtraining.com/top-11-power-bi-formatting-tips-for-project-control/#respond Tue, 17 Dec 2024 14:55:20 +0000 https://blog.smartpmtraining.com/?p=702 When it comes to project control, presenting your data with clarity and consistency is essential. Power BI is a powerful tool, but its true potential shines when your reports are formatted for maximum impact and usability. Here are my top 11 formatting tips to create polished, professional Power BI reports: 1. Use a Theme Consistency […]

The post Top 11 Power BI Formatting Tips for Project Control appeared first on Smart PM Blog.

]]>
When it comes to project control, presenting your data with clarity and consistency is essential. Power BI is a powerful tool, but its true potential shines when your reports are formatted for maximum impact and usability.

Here are my top 11 formatting tips to create polished, professional Power BI reports:

1. Use a Theme

Consistency starts with a theme. Apply a Power BI theme (.json file) across your reports to ensure uniform colours, fonts, and visual styles. This not only saves time but also maintains a cohesive design.

2. Align Visuals

Alignment matters. Use the gridlines feature to align your visuals and ensure a clean and professional layout that’s easy to navigate.

3. Stick to a Colour Palette

Choose a complementary colour palette. For example, if red is your main colour, search for “Red Colour Palette” online to find colours that pair well. This helps avoid clashing tones and ensures a professional design.

4. Maintain Consistent Design

Establish a design standard. For example:

  • If your chart titles have a violet background with white text, apply this style to all charts.
  • Ensure charts of the same type have identical dimensions for a symmetrical look.

5. Avoid Overlapping Visuals

Spacing is key. Crowded visuals create confusion, so always leave enough room between visuals to enhance readability.

6. Clear Labels

Clarity over complexity. Rename fields in each visual to make their purpose clear. Avoid cryptic labels like “Planned%”—instead, use “Planned Progress (%)” for better understanding.

7. Disable Redundant Titles

Less is more. Turn off titles for visuals when the layout already makes their purpose obvious (e.g., data in cards).

8. Keep Interactivity Intuitive

Choose slicer styles that match the context:

  • Use a slider slicer for analyzing progress curves.
  • Use a dropdown slicer to store data dates.

This approach ensures the report feels intuitive and easy to navigate.

9. Data Formatting

Standardize your formats:

  • Use thousand separators for costs and labor units.
  • Add currency symbols for costs related fields.
  • Maintain consistent decimal places for metrics like SPI or % Complete.
  • Use the same date format (e.g., DD/MM/YYYY or MM/DD/YYYY) across all visuals.

10. Navigation Buttons

These buttons are highly recommend and I’ve been using them for a long time now. Add buttons for seamless transitions between report sections. These not only improve usability but also give your report a professional look.

11. Have a Checklist

I am a big fan of checklists. Before finalizing the model, go through your checklist to ensure formatting consistency. This habit will save you time and improve the quality of your reports.

Why Formatting Matters

Well-formatted Power BI reports:

  • Make insights more accessible, actionable and understood.
  • Enhance communication with the site team, consultant and client.
  • Showcase your professionalism and attention to detail.

By applying these tips, you’ll create reports that stand out and drive better decision-making in project control.

Regards,

Osama Saad, MBA, PMP, PSP, CCP, PMI-SP

Learn More!

Enroll in our Planning Engineer and Project Control Courses

The post Top 11 Power BI Formatting Tips for Project Control appeared first on Smart PM Blog.

]]>
https://blog.smartpmtraining.com/top-11-power-bi-formatting-tips-for-project-control/feed/ 0 702
My Top 10 Tips for Using Power BI in Project Control https://blog.smartpmtraining.com/my-top-10-tips-for-using-power-bi-in-project-control/ https://blog.smartpmtraining.com/my-top-10-tips-for-using-power-bi-in-project-control/#respond Mon, 16 Dec 2024 14:55:55 +0000 https://blog.smartpmtraining.com/?p=692 In the complex world of project control, Power BI has emerged as a game-changing tool for data analysis and visualization. Its potential to simplify complexity, deliver actionable insights, perform an interactive analysis and reduce time is unmatched—but only when used correctly. Here are my top 10 tips for leveraging Power BI effectively in project control […]

The post My Top 10 Tips for Using Power BI in Project Control appeared first on Smart PM Blog.

]]>
In the complex world of project control, Power BI has emerged as a game-changing tool for data analysis and visualization. Its potential to simplify complexity, deliver actionable insights, perform an interactive analysis and reduce time is unmatched—but only when used correctly. Here are my top 10 tips for leveraging Power BI effectively in project control to ensure your reports are both powerful and reliable.

1⃣ Understand Your Data

Begin by building separate queries for each main data entry point, such as Baseline, Updates, Activity Codes, or Labor Units Distributions. Segmenting data at this stage reduces the risk of conflicts when combining datasets later.

2⃣ Define a Star Schema

Simplify your data model with a Star Schema:

  • Use IDs like Activity IDs, Activity Code IDs, or Resource IDs as primary keys.
  • Avoid snowflake schemas that introduce unnecessary complexity.

In other industries, the data analyst often needs to perform multiple steps to establish the primary keys. We are so lucky to have these IDs in project control that work in our favour.

3⃣ Optimize Data Types and Size

These steps might look minor but ignoring them will most likely produce errors and misleading results.

  • Assign appropriate data types (e.g., Decimals for costs fields, Percentages for the Activity % complete field).
  • Remove blank cells to prevent conflicts during calculations. Power BI will recognize blank cells as values and process them.
  • Eliminate redundancy—for instance, keep budgeted total cost in only one query to avoid duplications in calculations or processing errors.

4⃣ Establish Clear Naming Conventions

Clarity is key. Use full, consistent names for tables, columns, and measures.
When deadlines are tight and you are under pressure, clear naming prevents fatal mistakes and ensures that you don’t select other fields by mistake. Instead of abbreviations, descriptive labels can save you.

5⃣ Singularity is King

Stick to these principles for a more efficient model:

  • Use a single data source if possible.
  • Favor One-to-Many or Many-to-One relationships over Many-to-Many.
  • Set your cross-filter direction to Single rather than Both to maintain control over relationships.

6⃣ Use More Measures

Rely on measures instead of calculated columns. Measures are optimized for Power BI’s engine which leads to better and even faster performance .

7⃣ Test and Validate the Model

Test the water. Use a small set of your data (e.g., one small baseline and one update) to prototype and validate your model before scaling up. This approach is particularly helpful for beginners.

8⃣ Build Your Relationships from Scratch

Disable auto-detect relationships and manually configure them.
This extra effort prevents unintended joins and ensures your model reflects the true logic of your schedule’s data.

9⃣ Be Humble

Respect the tool, and it will respect you:

  • Work with data sources that you are familiar with to make troubleshooting easier in the future.
  • Avoid complex DAX expressions and pre-calculate them using measures where possible.
  • Focus on creating a reliable, error-free model rather than becoming obsessed with complex configurations.

🔟 Have a checklist

I am big fan of checklists. Don’t forget to have a checklist to review your model to cross-check the above points before finalizing!
By following these principles, you’ll not only enhance your Power BI workflow but also deliver high-value insights that the project team relies on and desperately expects from planning engineers.

Regards,

Osama Saad, MBA, PMP, PSP, CCP, PMI-SP

Learn More!

Enroll in our Planning Engineer and Project Control Courses

The post My Top 10 Tips for Using Power BI in Project Control appeared first on Smart PM Blog.

]]>
https://blog.smartpmtraining.com/my-top-10-tips-for-using-power-bi-in-project-control/feed/ 0 692
Common Pitfalls in Submitting EOT Claims https://blog.smartpmtraining.com/common-pitfalls-in-submitting-eot-claims/ https://blog.smartpmtraining.com/common-pitfalls-in-submitting-eot-claims/#respond Sun, 15 Dec 2024 13:13:45 +0000 https://blog.smartpmtraining.com/?p=724 Delay claims are an inevitable part of the construction industry. While claims can protect a contractor’s entitlement to time and cost compensation, they often face rejection due to errors in submission. In this article, I will explore the common pitfalls in submitting delay claims and how to avoid them to strengthen your position. 1. Failing […]

The post Common Pitfalls in Submitting EOT Claims appeared first on Smart PM Blog.

]]>
Delay claims are an inevitable part of the construction industry. While claims can protect a contractor’s entitlement to time and cost compensation, they often face rejection due to errors in submission.

In this article, I will explore the common pitfalls in submitting delay claims and how to avoid them to strengthen your position.

1. Failing to Issue Timely Notices

Many contractors overlook the importance of issuing notices immediately after a delay-causing event. Most contracts stipulate strict timelines for submitting notices, and failure to comply can lead to losing entitlement or result in disputes. Reviewing the notice provisions in your contract is a key step. Contractors can create a log to track delay events and send notices within the contractual timeframe. This practice should be a part of your delay management system.

2. Incomplete or Poorly Developed Narratives

A narrative should clearly include cause, effect, and entitlement for the delay events. Vague narratives make it difficult for the consultant or client to understand the event nature and evaluate the claim. A clear narrative should explain

    • What happened?
    • Why did it happen?
    • When did it happen
    • The Chronology
    • What is the contractual basis for the claim?

A claim must be rooted in the contract so link the narrative to relevant clauses. A claim means that the Employer/Consultant failed to fulfil a part of its contractual obligations and the contractor is seeking reimbursement (e.g. extension of time, relief from liquidated damages, additional costs incurred, etc) so make sure that you refer to any relevant clauses.

3. Lack of Supporting Evidence

A claim without documentation is like a story without proof. Common missing items include correspondence, daily reports, MOMs, photos, and other documents such as RFIs, WIRs and MIRs that substantiate the claim. Planning engineers live and breathe the project everyday so it is tempting to assume that the reviewer knows what you know. However, it is not uncommon to have mediation, arbitration and litigation in your project so always assume that the reviewer has no prior knowledge or familiarity with the project. Substantiate everything!

4. Inappropriate Delay Analysis Methods

An effective delay analysis starts with a reliable baseline and well-maintained schedule updates long before the claim is submitted. Therefore, take the time to produce high-quality baseline and schedule updates where the actual progress is consistent with the daily report data. Moreover, ensure compliance with the scheduling best practices which includes, reviewing the out-of-sequence, absence of open-ended activities, etc. When you perform a delay analysis, selecting an appropriate delay analysis method is a key step. Each method has advantages, disadvantages, uses, limitations, strengths and weaknesses. If you choose inappropriate method, your whole claim might be thrown out of the window. There are two main references  that cover the delay analysis methods in our industry. These references are: the delay and disruption protocol, 2nd edition published by Society of Construction Law (free for the public) and the RP-29R-03 – Forensic Schedule Analysis published by AACE (free for members only). Although these references are not contractually binding, they are a strong peer review so you can build your case on them. I also recommend that you explain why you selected a specific method and why it is more relevant to your case compared to other methods.

5. Overstating and understating Entitlements

Some claims fail because they overestimate the time or cost impact of the delay. Overstating can lead to disputes, while understating can leave time and money on the table. Delay analysis is both an art and science so take your time to learn it. Ensure that your analysis is based not only on the schedule data but also on logic, facts and common sense.

6. Submitting Claims at the End of the Project

Submitting delay claims long after the delay event has occurred is a common mistake. Delayed submissions reduce the chances of approval and increase the likelihood of disputes because:

  • Evidence may no longer be available.
  • The claims weren’t submitted promptly after the event, in compliance with the timelines set in the contract.
  • One key benefit of submitting claims promptly during the project is keeping the client informed about delay events and their potential impacts. This allows the client sufficient time to evaluate the situation and take any necessary measures. For example, the client may decide to expedite material delivery via air freight and reimburse the contractor for the acceleration because it is a more cost-effective solution than the potential profit loss that will result from the delayed facility operation. On the other hand, submitting claims only at the end of the project doesn’t give the client and consultant the opportunity to deal with the project delays which may lead to greater losses and missed mitigation opportunities.

8. Ignoring Consultant Feedback

Consultants play a key role in the review process and you need to incorporate or respond to their comments – whether on the claim submittals or their interim responses to the schedule updates submissions and correspondences (e.g. official letters).

9. Neglecting Professional Presentation

A poorly organized claim with ambiguous or hard-to-read data can easily frustrate reviewers. Never assume that the reviewer will do the work to decipher unclear information for you. Here’s an overlooked point: reviewers may be fair and experienced practitioners but they are also human. They might give you the benefit of the doubt but low-quality submissions can frustrate them and put them in a bad mood which may influence their decision-making process. A clear, substantiated, structured and well-written claim is not just a courtesy—it’s a key winning strategy. Make sure that you use a professional format with clear sections for narrative, evidence, delay analysis, supporting documents, conclusion and executive page for quick reference.

Conclusion

Submitting a strong delay claim requires more than just identifying a delay. It demands timely notices, supporting documentation, accurate analysis, and compliance with the contract clauses. By avoiding these common pitfalls, you can significantly increase the likelihood of your claim approval, minimize disputes and protect your entitlements.

Regards,

Osama Saad, MBA, PMP, PSP, CCP, PMI-SP

Learn More!

Enroll in our Planning Engineer and Project Control Courses

The post Common Pitfalls in Submitting EOT Claims appeared first on Smart PM Blog.

]]>
https://blog.smartpmtraining.com/common-pitfalls-in-submitting-eot-claims/feed/ 0 724
20 ways to show mitigation for excusable delay https://blog.smartpmtraining.com/20-ways-to-show-mitigation-for-excusable-delay/ https://blog.smartpmtraining.com/20-ways-to-show-mitigation-for-excusable-delay/#respond Mon, 07 Oct 2024 09:01:09 +0000 https://blog.smartpmtraining.com/?p=686 When planning engineers conduct delay analysis and prepare an extension of time claims, they often face confusion about mitigating excusable delays. They struggle with demonstrating their mitigation efforts within the claim. While they attempt to evaluate the delay impact and request a corresponding time extension, most modern contracts require the Contractor to mitigate excusable delays. […]

The post 20 ways to show mitigation for excusable delay appeared first on Smart PM Blog.

]]>
When planning engineers conduct delay analysis and prepare an extension of time claims, they often face confusion about mitigating excusable delays. They struggle with demonstrating their mitigation efforts within the claim. While they attempt to evaluate the delay impact and request a corresponding time extension, most modern contracts require the Contractor to mitigate excusable delays. In this article, I explore 20 strategies contractors can use to mitigate excusable delays and effectively present their mitigation efforts in the claim. Discover key steps that can protect your project timelines and strengthen your claim.

1- Early Notification

Most modern contracts give the Contractor 30 days after the event has first arisen to submit the notice. However, the Contractor can notify the Client immediately once the delay is identified to allow for quicker resolution and planning instead of waiting for as long as the Contract allows to notify the Client. Make sure to show this effort in the event chronology.

2- Alternative Resource Allocation

Reallocate labor, equipment, and materials from less critical areas to the delayed project activities to reduce impacts. Explain this effort in your reports, correspondences, MOM and other communications.

3- Acceleration of Remaining Work

Increase the number of shifts, work overtime, or expedite materials delivery to make up for lost time. However, the Contractor is not expected to incur additional costs to mitigate the excusable delays unless this is directed from and reimbursed by the client.

4- Engage Additional Subcontractors

Bring in extra subcontractors to handle specific or specialized activities to speed up the work that has been delayed.

5- Re-sequence Work Activities

Modify the sequence of planned work so that delayed activities can be carried out in parallel with unaffected tasks. You can also develop a recovery plan to present the mitigation effort. Contractors can explain how the implementation of these techniques mitigated the delay throughout the project. However, you must be very careful when you communicate any intended effort to mitigate the delay to the client. In my opinion, the contractor should not submit a recovery plan if the excusable delays are significant. Submitting a recovery plan demonstrates the feasibility or possibility of completing the project on time. The problem is that Contractors sometimes prepare unrealistic recovery plans with the sole purpose of responding to the client’s request even though it is not feasible to complete the project on time anymore. This can be used against the Contractor when the claim outcomes are negotiated.

6- Procurement Adjustments

Expedite the procurement process to get materials, equipment, or permits delivered faster, compensating for lost time.

7- Increase Communication and Coordination

Enhance coordination and communication between project stakeholders to ensure timely decision-making during delays. Although regular communication is expected throughout the project, contractors are expected to “increase” the frequency of communication regarding the delay events to allow for quicker resolution.

8- Optimize On-site Logistics

Rearrange site logistics to ensure that resources and materials are available as soon as needed to avoid further disruptions.

9- Adopt Technological Solutions

Use advanced construction technology, like BIM (Building Information Modeling) or drones, to speed up inspections or updates.

10- Negotiate Early Deliveries

Negotiate with and request the suppliers/subcontractors to expedite the delivery of critical materials or equipment. You can attach these communications as a part of the claim supporting documentation to show your mitigation effort.

11- Optimize Workforce Productivity

Conduct internal meetings with the site team to enhance workforce productivity, reducing the time it takes to recover from the delay. You can attach the MOMs of these internal meetings as a part of the claim supporting documentation to show your mitigation effort.

12- Weather Contingency Planning

Plan the completion of critical outdoor activities to be completed outside the adverse weather season (e.g. the heavy snowfall during winter in Canada or the summer heat in the UAE.)

13- Collaboration with the consultant

Engage closely with the consultant to fast-track approvals. Discuss the delayed activities in the progress meetings and through official correspondences.

14- Fast-Track Design Changes

Collaborate with the consultant to implement necessary changes more quickly, reducing design-related delays (RFIs, request to conduct technical meetings, etc).

15- Early Submission of Documentation

Submit documentation, such as permits or approvals, earlier than required to avoid processing delays.

16- Anticipate and Plan for Seasonal Delays

Implement seasonal planning measures for potential disruptions by adjusting the work schedule around high-risk periods (e.g. expected low productivity and fewer working hours during Ramadan).

17- Use of Contingency Planning

Have contingency plans in place to address possible delays such as pre-arranged contracts with backup suppliers or subcontractors (e.g. Show that you have shortlisted three suppliers who are prepared to execute the related scope if the main supplier fails to meet the contract requirements.)

18- Expedited Inspection and Testing

Arrange for expedited inspections or testing to ensure that quality checks do not cause unnecessary delays. Collaborate closely with the consultant to perform inspections and obtain approvals to avoid further delays. Show this effort in the claim.

19- Update and Use Advanced Analytics System

Implement advanced reporting systems to predict and model potential delays, allowing proactive adjustments to the project timeline. Advanced project control systems allow for a quicker and more effective analysis which will support decision-making.

20- Engage in Collaborative Dispute Resolution

Use collaborative approaches like mediation with the client to quickly resolve disagreements over delays and minimize the potential impact on project progress. you don’t need to wait until the project ends to work with a mediator. If there is a dispute throughout the project, a mediator can help the contract parties settle disputes and save a lot of potential time and cost.

Conclusion

Mitigating schedule delays, even when they are beyond a contractor’s reasonable control, is critical for maintaining project integrity and protecting the claim effort. By proactively documenting delays and collaborating with stakeholders, contractors can demonstrate their commitment to minimizing impacts and avoiding potential disputes. Effective delay mitigation ultimately benefits all parties involved and contributes to the successful completion of projects.

Regards,

Osama Saad, MBA, PMP, PSP, CCP, PMI-SP

Learn More!

Enroll in our Planning Engineer and Project Control Courses

The post 20 ways to show mitigation for excusable delay appeared first on Smart PM Blog.

]]>
https://blog.smartpmtraining.com/20-ways-to-show-mitigation-for-excusable-delay/feed/ 0 686
Delay mitigation in construction claims https://blog.smartpmtraining.com/delay-mitigation-in-construction-claims/ https://blog.smartpmtraining.com/delay-mitigation-in-construction-claims/#respond Mon, 30 Sep 2024 09:08:24 +0000 https://blog.smartpmtraining.com/?p=673 Most modern contracts require the contractor to “mitigate” the delays even though such delays are beyond its reasonable control. Delay mitigation has been a controversial topic in construction claims. I find that most contracts effectively outline specific requirements, such as the dimensions and quantities of installed items, detailed reporting guidelines, and even the quality of […]

The post Delay mitigation in construction claims appeared first on Smart PM Blog.

]]>
Most modern contracts require the contractor to “mitigate” the delays even though such delays are beyond its reasonable control. Delay mitigation has been a controversial topic in construction claims. I find that most contracts effectively outline specific requirements, such as the dimensions and quantities of installed items, detailed reporting guidelines, and even the quality of concrete needed. However, the clauses related to delay mitigation tend to be vague, which can make expectations for addressing delays more subjective and open to interpretation. In this article, I will discuss the following:

  • Ambiguity in acceptable mitigation
  • Why can’t the delay mitigation requirements be clear?
  • Defining “reasonable” mitigation efforts
  • Delay mitigation proof

Ambiguity in Acceptable Mitigation

Subjectivity of Reasonableness

Most contracts use language like “reasonable efforts” or “best efforts” to define delay mitigation. These terms are inherently subjective and can vary depending on the context of the project, the nature of the delay, and the available resources. What constitutes “acceptable” delay mitigation is often left to interpretation and negotiation.

Project-Specific Factors:

The acceptable level of mitigation might depend on factors such as project complexity, available technology, site conditions, and cost implications. It may not be practical to define a specific percentage (e.g., 50%) or time frame (e.g., one month) because of the varying nature of projects and delays.

Why can’t the delay mitigation requirements be clear?

Flexibility for Different Situations:

Setting a rigid standard for delay mitigation might not account for the wide variety of delays that can occur in construction projects (e.g., weather conditions, supply chain issues, labor shortages). By keeping the clause flexible and somewhat ambiguous, both parties have room to negotiate or adapt giving both the client and contractor room to negotiate on a case-by-case basis.

Insufficient Outcome

If the contract specifies a fixed amount of delay mitigation, there will always be attempts to tailor the circumstances and the analysis toward a specific outcome. However, it should be the other way around. You need to model the delay event first and then evaluate the corresponding impact.

Legal Leverage

In disputes, ambiguous terms like “reasonable efforts” provide a degree of legal leverage to both parties. It allows them to argue their case based on evidence, expert testimony, or industry standards, rather than being bound to a fixed, potentially inappropriate mitigation percentage.

Hidden Facts

There are two hidden facts around this area that nobody often talks about. First, a Contract Professional, not a Project Control Specialist, drafts the Contract. As delay analysis is an advanced topic even for planning engineers, the contract specialist attempts to avoid discussing excessive requirements around this topic in the contract and leave it there. Second, if the Client states unfair contractual requirements such as forcing the Contractor to mitigate 80% of the excusable delays, this implies that the contract wasn’t written in good faith. The word will spread, damaging the client’s reputation, and as a result, many contractors may choose to avoid entering into business agreements with them.

Defining “Reasonable” Mitigation Efforts

The effort should be proportional to the circumstances. Courts or arbitrators might assess factors like:

Cost of mitigation

Is the cost of mitigation proportional to the benefit it offers? Moreover, contractors are not expected to incur excessive costs in their mitigation efforts unless an acceleration is clearly requested by the Client.

Feasibility

Can the delay realistically be mitigated, or are there constraints like resource availability or site conditions? It is almost impossible to recover 6 months of delay in one week because of either resource availability or space constraints.

Impact on other project aspects

Would mitigation efforts cause disruptions in other areas of the project? For example, accelerating one part of the work might lead to logistical or quality control issues elsewhere.

Delay mitigation proof

A contractor can demonstrate its effort to mitigate schedule delays beyond its reasonable control by taking the following proactive measures:

The claim narrative

Have a separate section in your narrative report that explains your mitigation measures and the associated positive impact in detail.

Documenting Delays Thoroughly

Keep detailed records of the cause of delays, including evidence that the delays were beyond the contractor’s control (e.g., acts of God, force majeure events, or owner-related changes). This documentation should include timelines and communication with stakeholders (e.g. letters, MOM, photos that have date and time stamps).

Providing Timely Notice

Notify the client or relevant stakeholders as soon as the delay is identified and demonstrate that in the event chronology. Most contracts require prompt communication regarding potential delays, so adhering to this can help show the contractor’s commitment to resolving the issue.

Implementing Recovery Plans

In my opinion, the contractor should not submit a recovery plan if the excusable delays are significant. Although the Contractor is doing its best to minimize the delay, submitting a recovery plan demonstrates the feasibility or possibility of completing the project on time. This can be used against the Contractor when the claim outcomes are negotiated.

Engaging Stakeholders

Hold regular meetings with the project team, owner, and subcontractors to keep everyone informed and collaborate on ways to recover from delays. Demonstrate this effort in the MOM.

“A contractor that makes a minimal effort to mitigate the excusable delay may be penalized, while a contractor that takes proactive steps—even if not fully successful — will often be viewed more favorably.” – Osama Saad

Conclusion

While most modern contracts do a good job of clearly outlining technical and material requirements, the clauses surrounding delay mitigation remain vague and open to interpretation. This ambiguity often leads to disputes between contractors and clients. By ensuring that delay mitigation efforts are reasonable, documented, and proportional to the circumstances, contractors can protect themselves from legal or financial penalties.

The post Delay mitigation in construction claims appeared first on Smart PM Blog.

]]>
https://blog.smartpmtraining.com/delay-mitigation-in-construction-claims/feed/ 0 673
Longest Path vs Critical Path https://blog.smartpmtraining.com/longest-path-vs-critical-path/ https://blog.smartpmtraining.com/longest-path-vs-critical-path/#respond Thu, 11 Jul 2024 09:22:17 +0000 https://blog.smartpmtraining.com/?p=650 Many planning engineers experience confusion regarding the difference between the longest path and the critical path. This article explains the definition, focus and use case for both. A spoiler alert: the longest and critical paths are not the same. In fact, the longest and critical paths are different to the extent that P6 offers separate […]

The post Longest Path vs Critical Path appeared first on Smart PM Blog.

]]>
Many planning engineers experience confusion regarding the difference between the longest path and the critical path. This article explains the definition, focus and use case for both. A spoiler alert: the longest and critical paths are not the same. In fact, the longest and critical paths are different to the extent that P6 offers separate filters, columns, grouping and presentation for both. The difference is more prominent in the schedule updates during the project execution as demonstrated in the below image. When a schedule update is completed, critical paths can be generated whereas the corresponding scope of each path is completed beyond the contract completion date. This dynamic is better analyzed through a multiple float paths framework. On the other hand, the “Longest Path” is the longest sequence of activities among other competing critical paths. This path is what drives the forecasted completion date and is driven by the dominant cause of the overall project delays. The below image is for demonstration purposes only as you might have more critical paths in your project.

 

 

Longest Path

Definition: It is the longest sequence of activities that drives the forecasted schedule completion date.

Focus: It focuses on the “longest” chain of activities and the dominant driver of the forecasted completion date.

Use Case: The longest path analysis is more prominent in the schedule updates. This analysis can examine how the forecasted completion date is derived because it can effectively determine the longest sequence of activities among other competing critical paths.

 

Critical Path

Definition: It consists of activities that have a total float amount of less than or equal to zero. Although the total float amount that determines the criticality threshold can be customized inside Primavera P6 under the scheduling options (refer to the below snapshot), zero is the industry standard.

 

 

Focus: It focuses on the most critical tasks that directly impact the contract’s completion date.

Use Case: The critical path analysis is used in both the baseline schedule and the schedule updates. However, in the schedule updates, the critical path analysis will produce distinct results over using the longest path analysis alone. Analyzing the multiple float paths is an effective method for performing critical path analysis during project execution.

 

Identifying the Longest and Critical Paths

There are some ways to identify and recognize both the longest path activities and the critical path activities in P6. However, I will only cover the most common features that I personally use.

1- Filter

You can filter the longest path and critical activities as highlighted in the below image.

 

 

2- Activity Columns

You can add “Critical” and “Longest Path” columns to your activities layout as below.

 

 

3- Grouping

You can group your activities by whether the activities are “Critical” or  “Longest Path” as per the image below.

 

 

Finally, I would like to add two final points you need to consider while analyzing the critical path and longest path activities.

  • In the baseline, the critical and longest paths are the same.
  • In the schedule update, a critical path is not necessarily the longest.
  • The longest path is always a critical path except when the forecasted completion date is earlier than the contract completion date. In this case, the longest path will show a positive float and therefore, it is not critical. However, this is rarely the case. In my experience, Contractors do not often submit a schedule update that shows a completion date that is earlier than the contract completion date.

Conclusion

To sum up, the critical path and longest path analyses can shadow each other but are not the same. Performing any of both analyses will depend on your objective and which schedule version you are using.

Regards,

Osama Saad, MBA, PMP, PSP, CCP, PMI-SP

Learn More!

Enroll in our Planning Engineer and Project Control Courses

The post Longest Path vs Critical Path appeared first on Smart PM Blog.

]]>
https://blog.smartpmtraining.com/longest-path-vs-critical-path/feed/ 0 650
Planning and Scheduling Professional (PSP) Exam – The Ultimate Guide https://blog.smartpmtraining.com/planning-and-scheduling-professional-psp-exam-the-ultimate-guide/ https://blog.smartpmtraining.com/planning-and-scheduling-professional-psp-exam-the-ultimate-guide/#respond Sun, 23 Jun 2024 09:39:30 +0000 https://blog.smartpmtraining.com/?p=646 This article will explain everything you need to know about the Planning and Scheduling Professional (PSP) Exam. Why should you pursue a certification in project control in general and the PSP in particular? Here are the key benefits: PRESENT the PSP initials after your name. ACHIEVE professional status as an expert by earning the credential. CERTIFY your […]

The post Planning and Scheduling Professional (PSP) Exam – The Ultimate Guide appeared first on Smart PM Blog.

]]>
This article will explain everything you need to know about the Planning and Scheduling Professional (PSP) Exam.

Why should you pursue a certification in project control in general and the PSP in particular? Here are the key benefits:

  • PRESENT the PSP initials after your name.
  • ACHIEVE professional status as an expert by earning the credential.
  • CERTIFY your great knowledge.
  • ADD the most widely recognized certificate in the planning field to your portfolio.
  • LEARN the best practices of planning.
  • ACCESS a wealth of high-quality knowledge from AACEI Recommended Practice.
  • GET shortlisted for interviews and have better career opportunities.

In this article, I will explain the below PSP certification pathway.

No alt text provided for this image

1. Planning and Scheduling Professional (PSP) Exam Eligibility

No alt text provided for this image
  • The exam provider is AACEI (Association for the Advancement of Cost Engineering International).
  • If you have + 4 year industry-related college degree the you should have 4 years of industry-related experience IN PLANNING to qualify for the PSP exam. This is the category where most exam takers fall into. OR;
  • If you don’t have industry related college degree, you must have at least 8 years of experience IN PLANNING.

2. PSP Exam Application Submission

No alt text provided for this image

Here are the steps of the Planning and Scheduling Professional (PSP) exam application submission

  1. Create a new account with AACEI at https://online.aacei.org/aacessa/censsacustmast.insert_page
  2. Go to the PSP course page and click “Apply Now” at https://web.aacei.org/certification/certification-information/certifications-offered/psp-details. Then create a new submission under PSP certification.
  3. Fill in the application details (personal information, experience, education, etc)
  4. Upload Work Experience Letter(s). The letter should include:
  • Employment period
  • Employer Name
  • It is better to list duties too to prove that you have a work experience in planning and scheduling.

5. Upload Education Certificate(s). Each certification may include:

  • Education Level (Bachelor, Masters, Ph.D.)
  • Graduation Date
  • Degree Type
  • University Name

6. Pay the application fees

  • If you would like to become a member, you will pay the following

– Membership fees: $215

– Discounted Exam Fees for members: $500

– Total Cost: $715

  • If you don’t wish to become a member

– Total Cost: $625

  • The resit exam fee is $250 for both members and non-members.

3. Planning and Scheduling Professional (PSP) Exam Clearance from AACEI

No alt text provided for this image

After your application is submitted, it will be reviewed by AACEI. If it is approved, you will receive the PSP Exam Clearance via email. It can take up to 45 days based on the complexity of your application requirements. I received my clearance after 3 days only so expect that you will receive the clearance within a few days as long as your application is completed and submitted as per the AACEI’s requirements. You have to schedule your PSP exam within 6 months after you receive your clearance so keep that in mind. Moreover, you can take the PSP exam up to 3 times within the 6 months clearance period as below.

  • 1st time (full exam fees): $500.
  • Two times at the resit discounted price: $250.

4. Schedule your Planning and Scheduling Professional (PSP) Exam

No alt text provided for this image

You will also receive the exam scheduling instructions in the clearance email. These instructions will show you how to schedule your exam with Kryterion or its testing center partners. You will be given a voucher code that you can redeem as you have already paid for everything to AACEI when you submitted your application. Moreover, you will receive a confirmation email once you complete your booking.

5. Planning and Scheduling Professional (PSP) Exam Preparation

No alt text provided for this image

5.1 PSP Exam Structure

  • It is 5-hour Computer-Based Testing (CBT) exam.
  • The PSP exam consists of 119 simple, multiple choice and compound, scenario questions.

You will be tested on the following domains and areas:

  • Basic Planning & Scheduling Knowledge (56 Questions)
  • Practical Exercise (29 Questions)
  • Planning & Scheduling Applications (34 Questions)
  • 1 memo writing assignment with a given scenario and instructions for writing a response in an onscreen text box.

It is a closed-book exam and you are allowed to bring any style, battery-operated calculator (not provided by the testing center). Moreover, you need to achieve 70% or higher to pass the exam and earn the PSP certification.

5.2 PSP Questions Types and Structure

  • Question 1 to Question 56: MCQ for planning and scheduling knowledge.
  • Question 57: Memo
  • Question 58 to Question 90: Grand Diagram
  • Question 91 to Question 119: MCQ on general concepts and knowledge.

5.3 Planning and Scheduling Professional (PSP) Exam Preparation and Study materials

The followings are the study materials to prepare for the Planning and Scheduling Professional (PSP) Exam according to AACEI. The PSP exam prepration and study materials include books and other AACEI’s publications.

  • PSP Certification Study Guide, 2nd Edition.
  • Skills & Knowledge of Cost Engineering, 6th Edition.
  • TCM Framework: An Integrated Approach to Portfolio, Program and Project Management, 2nd Edition.
  • CPM in Construction Management, 8th Edition.
  • Construction Planning & Scheduling Manual, 2nd Edition.
  • Project Management: A Systems Approach to Planning, Scheduling, and Controlling 10th Edition.
  • RP 14R-90: Required Skills and Knowledge of Planning and Scheduling.
  • RP 11R-88: Required Skills and Knowledge of Cost Engineering.
  • RP 10S-90: Cost Engineering Terminology.

5.4 PSP Memo Question

Question# 57 is the memo question where you will be tested in the below areas:

  • Candidate’s ability to communicate effectively and efficiently with a project manager or other executive.
  • Candidate’s ability to perform analysis and make a recommendation with incomplete or conflicting information.
  • Candidate’s ability to follow instructions and formatting.

5.5 Planning and Scheduling Professional (PSP) Memo Format

You need to start the memo with the following information:

To:

From:

Date:

Subject:

Project Name:

Note: DON’T start the memo with any salutation (e.g. Dear, etc). You will lose “free” points which are easily awarded by following a proper memo format structure. The salutations might be a part of a letter or an email but they are not a part of a professional memo.

Moreover, I recommend writing 5 paragraphs in the memo as follows:

Paragraph# 1 – Introduce the problem

  • Explain the issue and its importance to the project.
  • What is the issue that needs a decision?
  • Provide any additional information to educate the project manager about your specialized planning area.

Paragraph# 02 – Discuss potential solutions

  • The exercise will provide possible solutions so summarize them briefly.
  • If the solutions are not complete, you can come up with a new one (not often the case).
  • Under any circumstances, you should address the solutions provided in the exercise.

Paragraph# 03 – Perform an analysis

  • Analyze the solutions in more detail.
  • Apply any necessary formulas (e.g. SPI, Earned Value, etc) and do the calculations.
  • Don’t make any conclusions or show any preference to a specific solution yet. This should be demonstrated in the following paragraph.

Paragraph# 04 – Make a recommendation based on the analysis

  • Present a recommendation based on your analysis performed in paragraph# 3.
  • Describe why you chose to disregard some of the data provided.
  • Explain why you chose some solutions over others.

Paragraph# 05 – Close the memo

  • Summarize the memo.
  • End with the statement: “I will be glad to provide any additional information as necessary.” It is a professional courtesy when you offer to provide additional information and answer future questions.
  • Don’t end the memo with any closure gestures such as “sincerely, regards, etc”. You will lose “free” points which are easily awarded by following a proper memo format structure.

5.6 Grand Diagram

From Question 58 to Question 90, you will have a huge network diagram where you will answer single, compound and scenario-based questions. This is the most challenging part of the PSP exam.

The screen will not fit both the diagram and the questions. Therefore, you will have to navigate between the diagram and questions layouts as necessary through a button. Below you will find a quick demonstration of how this works but expect a larger network diagram in the PSP exam.

No alt text provided for this image
No alt text provided for this image

5.7 Planning and Scheduling Professional (PSP) Exam Preparation Challenges

There are two main challenges that you will face during your PSP exam preparation. Below is the curriculum structure according to the PSP Certification Guide which is published by AACEI. The first challenge is that these areas don’t have the same weight in the PSP exam. Some areas account for a high number of questions while many other areas don’t. The second challenge is that you will need to do a lot of research on your own. The PSP Certification doesn’t explain everything. It will only introduce the concepts but you are expected to do intensive research from the other study materials to understand these concepts for your PSP exam preparation.

No alt text provided for this image

6. What to expect on the Planning and Scheduling Professional (PSP) exam day?

No alt text provided for this image

It is a 5-hour long exam. I recommend arriving 45 min before the exam start to account for the delay associated with finding parking, finding the test center, checking in, etc). Moreover, you will need to bring two IDs. The first must be a valid government-issued photo ID. The second can be a credit/debit card, Employee ID, etc. I strongly recommend setting an alarm before you leave home so you remember taking your calculator with you. Finally, the testing center will provide paper and pencil only (not a calculator).

7. Planning and Scheduling Professional (PSP) Exam Results

No alt text provided for this image

The PSP exam results are not sent immediately after the exam because the memo has to be graded. You will receive your results via an email that includes the following:

  • Performance evaluation across all domains.
  • Memo assignment feedback.
  • Your certificate as an attachment.

How long does it take to receive your Planning and Scheduling Professional (PSP) Exam results?

You may receive the PSP exam results from AACEI based on your assignment cycle as below:

No alt text provided for this image
Source: AACEI

For example, if someone sits for the PSP exam on June, 20th, he will belong to the July 15th assignment cycle and will receive his results by August 5th accordingly.

8. Maintain your CEUs

After you earn the PSP certification, you have to continue your professional development to maintain your certification. You will need to accumulate 12 CEUs (Continuing Education Units) over a 3-year certification period to maintain your certificate.

The categories for recertification CEUs are:

  • Category A: Performed
  • Category B: Professional Development
  • Category C: Industry Contribution
  • Category D: Volunteer Service
No alt text provided for this image
Source: AACEI
No alt text provided for this image
Source: AACEI

If you have already acquired at least 12 CEUs, and are within 6 months of your expiration date, you can complete and submit your application right away.

Check out our online Planning and Scheduling Professional (PSP) Exam Preparation Course and Training

Our online PSP exam preparation course and training provides you with everything you need to pass the pass the PSP exam in 30 days only.

Regards,

Osama Saad, MBA, PMP, PSP, CCP, PMI-SP

The post Planning and Scheduling Professional (PSP) Exam – The Ultimate Guide appeared first on Smart PM Blog.

]]>
https://blog.smartpmtraining.com/planning-and-scheduling-professional-psp-exam-the-ultimate-guide/feed/ 0 646