A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBoK® Guide)

A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBoK® Guide) – Sixth Edition.

A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBoK® Guide) Sixth Edition is a collection of processes and knowledge areas generally accepted as best practice within the project management discipline.

A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBoK® Guide) is an internationally recognised standard (IEEE Std 1490-2003) that provides the fundamentals of project management that are applicable to a wide range of projects, including construction, software, engineering, automotive, etc.

A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBoK® Guide) recognizes 5 basic process groups and 10 knowledge areas typical of almost all projects. The basic concepts are applicable to projects, programs and operations. The five basic process groups are:

1. Initiating,

2. Planning,

3. Executing,

4. Monitoring and Controlling, and

5. Closing.

Processes overlap and interact throughout a project or phase. Processes are described in terms of:

Inputs (documents, plans, designs, etc.) Tools and Techniques (mechanisms applied to inputs) Outputs (documents, products, etc.)


Section III of the A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK® Guide) lists the Ten Knowledge Areas and the sub areas, starting from Chapter 4 though 12. They are as follows:

The Project Management Knowledge Areas

Chapter 4—Project Integration Management

4.1 Project Plan Development

4.2 Project Plan Execution

4.3 Integrated Change Control

Chapter 5—Project Scope Management

5.1 Scope Planning

5.2 Scope Definition

5.3 Create WBS

5.4 Scope Verification

5.5 Scope Change Control

Chapter 6—Project Time Management

6.1 Activity Definition

6.2 Activity Sequencing

6.3 Activity Duration Estimating

6.4 Activity Resource Estimating

6.5 Schedule Development

6.6 Schedule Control

Chapter 7—Project Cost Management

7.1 Resource Planning

7.2 Cost Estimating

7.3 Cost Budgeting

7.4 Cost Control

Chapter 8—Project Quality Management

8.1 Quality Planning

8.2 Quality Assurance

8.3 Quality Control

Chapter 9—Project Human Resource Management

9.1 Human Resource Planning

9.2 Acquire Team

9.3 Develop Team

9.4 Manage Team

Chapter 10—Project Communications Management

10.1 Communications Planning

10.2 Information Distribution

10.3 Performance Reporting

10.4 Manage Stakeholders

Chapter 11—Project Risk Management

11.1 Risk Management Planning

11.2 Risk Identification

11.3 Qualitative Risk Analysis

11.4 Quantitative Risk Analysis

11.5 Risk Response Planning

11.6 Risk Monitoring and Control

Chapter 12—Project Procurement Management

12.1 Procurement Planning

12.2 Plan Contracting

12.3 Request Sellers Response

12.4 Select Sellers

12.5 Contract Administration

12.6 Contract Closeout

Although much of the Project Management Institute‘s (PMI) Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBoK® Guide) is unique to project management, some areas overlap with other management disciplines. General management also includes planning, organizing, staffing, executing, and controlling the operations of an organization. Financial forecasting, organizational behavior, and planning techniques also are integral to project management.

Of course, the most important skill for successful project management is communications. Project managers are expected to be in near-continuous communication with all stakeholders.