PMP PREPARATION : SCOPE : IMPORTANT POINTS

 I cleared my PMP on 26th may 2014. I have gone through all the three books PMBOK, RITA MULCAHY'S and HEAD FIRST. During preparation I made few notes. so the material has been picked up from all the three books and these are just the key points. 
 NOTE : IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT ONE SHOULD READ THESE POINTS IN DETAIL FROM THE BOOKS (which ever interests you more) AND ONLY AFTER YOU HAVE FINISHED A THOROUGH READING, YOU CAN GO THROUGH THESE POINTS FOR CONSOLIDATION.

PMP PREPARATION : SCOPE 

1. KAWAKITA diagrams are affinity diagrams.
2. Constraints are known limitations.
3. Assumptions are things you think are true.
4. WORK PACKAGE is the lowest level.
5. Creating WBS is a team building exercise.
6. Creating the WBS : take the deliverables and come up to the work package that will create them.
7. WBS : broken down by deliverable or broken down by project phases, anything 
8. SCOPE BASELINE = SCOPE STATEMENT + WBS + WBS DICTIONARY
9. Add or remove a package : its a change
10. Anytime you make a change you have to get it approved and then update the baseline. 
11. One interesting point here. when you update a baseline you do not do those changes in the original baseline. you keep the original baseline and create one more copy with the changes. so that at the end you can compare the two. store the updated baseline in the configuration management system.
12. To finalize the WBS, CONTROL ACCOUNTS are established for thew work packages.
13. GOLD PLATING : giving something extra to the customer
14. Verified deliverables (from control quality) ---- Validate scope (get the stakeholder IN) ------ accepted deliverable (ask them in writing) if all is ok ---- if not, create a change request
15. Formal acceptance - written confirmation, deliverables match the requirements and the PM Plan
16. SCOPE VERIFICATION (VALIDATE SCOPE) : obtain formal written acceptance of the work products 
17. project scope = work, product scope = features and functions 
18. When the change is approved you have to update the WBS and WBS dictionary too.
19. CONTROL SCOPE : Update the scope, plan, baseline and WBS info, its always about the work. 
20. SCOPE CREEP or GOLD PLATING both are bad and should not be done

NOTE : please feel free to ask any question regarding the content, blog, exam, procedure anything. i shall reply immediately. if you find any point wrong please let me know. i shall check and correct.