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Should you learn ITTOs by Heart?

By Cornelius Fichtner, PMP

Do you feel that in order to pass the Project Management Professional (PMP) ® exam you should memorize the PMBOK® Guide’s ITTOs (Inputs, Tools, Techniques and Outputs)? Do you think that the PMP exam is full of IITO type of questions? Many people still believe this myth. Well, let me clear some misconceptions…

Many project managers have successfully passed the PMP exam without any memorization. The current PMP exam is all about an in-depth understanding of applying project management concepts and principles from the PMBOK® Guide as well as general management knowledge from other sources to project situations.

Granted, ITTOs are a major part of the PMBOK® Guide and about 75% of material for the PMP Exam is taken from the PMBOK® Guide. So it’s understandable that we assume because there are hundreds of ITTOs in the Guide the exam must be full of knowledge-based questions about them. And sample questions like “Which of the following is not an Input of the Create WBS process?” are plentiful on the internet.

So should you, or should you not memorize them?

Here is my story: When I studied for my PMP exam I knew them by heart. I could tell you exactly which ITTO is used in which process. But I took my exam years ago. Since then the PMP exam has become more experience-based using situational questions over knowledge-based questions.

Therefore a change in approach is needed.

About the author: Cornelius Fichtner, PMP is a noted PMP expert. He has helped over 9,000 students prepare for the PMP Exam with his PM PrepCast at http://www.pm-prepcast.com.