Episodes

  • PRINCE2 Exam Prep 2, PRINCE2 Method Overview and Why It Works

    PRINCE2 Exam Prep 2, PRINCE2 Method Overview and Why It Works
    May 4 2026
    This podcast is made by Ran Chen, who holds an EA license, Insurance and Securities licenses (Series 6, 63, 65), and the CFP® designation. He is passionate about opening access to high-quality exam preparation resources and helping learners prepare more effectively for professional certification exams. In this episode you will learn: - What the acronym PRINCE2 stands for and its process-based structure. - How the 'Manage by Exception' principle works in a practical exam scenario. - The critical difference between PRINCE2's principles, themes, and processes to avoid common exam traps. - How to use the 'P-JESTER' mnemonic to recall the seven PRINCE2 principles. - The key distinctions between PRINCE2, PMBOK, and Agile that are tested on the certification exam. For more free exam prep tools, practice questions, and AI-powered explanations, visit https://open-exam-prep.com/ or YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@Open-exam-prep
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    2 mins
  • PRINCE2 Exam Prep 1, What is a Project and Six Aspects of Performance

    PRINCE2 Exam Prep 1, What is a Project and Six Aspects of Performance
    May 3 2026
    This podcast is made by Ran Chen, who holds an EA license, Insurance and Securities licenses (Series 6, 63, 65), and the CFP® designation. He is passionate about opening access to high-quality exam preparation resources and helping learners prepare more effectively for professional certification exams. In this episode you will learn: - The three core characteristics of a project according to PRINCE2: temporary, unique, and designed to introduce change. - How to distinguish a project from Business As Usual (BAU) operations in typical exam scenarios. - The six interdependent aspects of project performance that must be managed: Cost, Time, Quality, Scope, Benefits, and Risk. - Common exam traps related to scope creep, benefit realization versus product delivery, and the difference between risks and issues. - The mnemonic "Can The Queen See Big Red?" to easily recall the six performance aspects during the exam. For more free exam prep tools, practice questions, and AI-powered explanations, visit https://open-exam-prep.com/ or YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@Open-exam-prep
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    3 mins
  • [PMP] 40, Exam Strategy and Question Patterns

    [PMP] 40, Exam Strategy and Question Patterns
    May 2 2026
    This podcast is made by Ran Chen, who holds an EA license, Insurance and Securities licenses (Series 6, 63, 65), and the CFP® designation. He is passionate about opening access to high-quality exam preparation resources and helping learners prepare more effectively for professional certification exams. In this episode you will learn: - How to deconstruct "What should the PM do FIRST/NEXT?" questions on the PMP exam. - Why assessing and analyzing a situation is almost always the correct initial step before taking action. - Common PMP exam traps, such as choosing an action-oriented answer over a process-oriented one. - The core attributes of the "PMI Mindset," emphasizing proactive, ethical, and stakeholder-focused approaches. - The "Assess Before Action" mental shortcut to help eliminate incorrect answer choices efficiently. For more free exam prep tools, practice questions, and AI-powered explanations, visit https://open-exam-prep.com/ or YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@Open-exam-prep
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    3 mins
  • [PMP] 39, Continuous Improvement and Retrospectives

    [PMP] 39, Continuous Improvement and Retrospectives
    May 1 2026
    This podcast is made by Ran Chen, who holds an EA license, Insurance and Securities licenses (Series 6, 63, 65), and the CFP® designation. He is passionate about opening access to high-quality exam preparation resources and helping learners prepare more effectively for professional certification exams. In this episode you will learn: - How the Kaizen philosophy of continuous, incremental improvement is a foundational concept for the PMP exam. - The specific purpose of a Sprint Retrospective is to inspect and adapt the team's process, not the product. - The critical exam distinction between a Sprint Review (inspecting the product with stakeholders) and a Sprint Retrospective (inspecting the process with the team). - How the Plan-Do-Check-Act (PDCA) cycle provides a structured, four-step model for implementing improvements. - Why PMP exam questions favor blameless, process-focused improvement actions over punishing individuals for project issues. For more free exam prep tools, practice questions, and AI-powered explanations, visit https://open-exam-prep.com/ or YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@Open-exam-prep
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    3 mins
  • [PMP] 38, Agile Release Planning and MVP

    [PMP] 38, Agile Release Planning and MVP
    Apr 30 2026
    This podcast is made by Ran Chen, who holds an EA license, Insurance and Securities licenses (Series 6, 63, 65), and the CFP® designation. He is passionate about opening access to high-quality exam preparation resources and helping learners prepare more effectively for professional certification exams. In this episode you will learn: - The exam-focused definition of a Minimum Viable Product (MVP) and how it differs from a prototype. - The function of an Agile Release Plan as a high-level forecast for delivering value. - How to prioritize features using the MoSCoW method (Must, Should, Could, Won't). - Applying the value versus effort matrix to identify quick wins and maximize ROI. - The strategic importance of an incremental delivery strategy in agile projects. For more free exam prep tools, practice questions, and AI-powered explanations, visit https://open-exam-prep.com/ or YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@Open-exam-prep
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    4 mins
  • [PMP] 37, Closing a Project or Phase

    [PMP] 37, Closing a Project or Phase
    Apr 29 2026
    This podcast is made by Ran Chen, who holds an EA license, Insurance and Securities licenses (Series 6, 63, 65), and the CFP® designation. He is passionate about opening access to high-quality exam preparation resources and helping learners prepare more effectively for professional certification exams. In this episode you will learn: - That formal, written acceptance of the final deliverable from the customer or sponsor is a mandatory prerequisite for initiating project closure. - All project procurements must be formally closed—including settling claims and conducting audits—before the overall project can be closed. - The lessons learned register is finalized and its contents are transferred to the organization's lessons learned repository for future use. - Releasing the project team is a formal process involving performance reviews and updating organizational records, not just disbanding the team. - Archiving all project documents, from the charter to contracts and communications, is a critical final step for historical records and compliance. For more free exam prep tools, practice questions, and AI-powered explanations, visit https://open-exam-prep.com/ or YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@Open-exam-prep
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    4 mins
  • [PMP] 36, Virtual Teams and Cultural Awareness

    [PMP] 36, Virtual Teams and Cultural Awareness
    Apr 28 2026
    This podcast is made by Ran Chen, who holds an EA license, Insurance and Securities licenses (Series 6, 63, 65), and the CFP® designation. He is passionate about opening access to high-quality exam preparation resources and helping learners prepare more effectively for professional certification exams. In this episode you will learn: - How to select the appropriate communication method (push, pull, interactive) for virtual teams to avoid information overload. - The importance of recognizing and adapting to cultural dimensions, such as different communication styles in various cultures. - Strategies for deliberately building trust in a remote environment, focusing on team charters and social cohesion over micromanagement. - How to combat proximity bias and ensure equitable participation across different time zones in hybrid and virtual teams. - Using the V-I-R-T-U-A-L mnemonic to evaluate scenario-based exam questions on distributed teams. For more free exam prep tools, practice questions, and AI-powered explanations, visit https://open-exam-prep.com/ or YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@Open-exam-prep
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    4 mins
  • [PMP] 35, Ethics and Professional Responsibility

    [PMP] 35, Ethics and Professional Responsibility
    Apr 27 2026
    This podcast is made by Ran Chen, who holds an EA license, Insurance and Securities licenses (Series 6, 63, 65), and the CFP® designation. He is passionate about opening access to high-quality exam preparation resources and helping learners prepare more effectively for professional certification exams. In this episode you will learn: - The PMI Code of Ethics is founded on four core values: Responsibility, Respect, Fairness, and Honesty. - The first and most critical step in managing a conflict of interest is proactive and transparent disclosure to stakeholders. - Truthful and accurate project status reporting is a non-negotiable ethical duty, even when facing pressure from senior management. - PMP exam questions often include tempting but incorrect options that involve taking immediate, unilateral action; the better first step is usually to assess, investigate, and communicate. - The key mental shortcut for ethics questions is that the most proactive, transparent, and honest choice that upholds the PMI code is the correct answer. For more free exam prep tools, practice questions, and AI-powered explanations, visit https://open-exam-prep.com/ or YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@Open-exam-prep
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    3 mins