PMBOK is one of the widely used Project Management methodology. PMBOK is the abbreviation of Project Management Body of Knowledge.
A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK® Guide) is periodically published by Project Management Institute (PMI). The latest edition, PMBOK® Guide 6th edition, published in September 2017 includes the Agile Practice Guide.
Context diagram
The context diagram shows the overlap of PMBOK process groups and the relationship with COBIT and ITIL v3. The initiating process group overlaps with the Align, Plan and Organise domain to show that the project can be initiated to align with the strategic direction of the business. The Closing process group overlaps with “deliver, service and support” domain to ensure that the project handover to operations need to be considered.
Summary ratings
Please refer the Rating Criteria.
| Longevity |  (5 / 5) |
| Industry Adoption | (5 / 5) |
| Tool Support | (5 / 5) |
| Training Support | (5 / 5) |
| Assessment Support | (5 / 5) |
Project Management Certification is first introduced in 1984 and since then it has been widely accepted in the professional community (https://www.pmi.org/learning/library/project-management-certification-history-development-4941). The Project Management profession is supported by mature technology tools and training.
For assessment, the businesses can use OPM3 model. OPM3 (Organisational Project Management Maturity Model) is a body of knowledge about project management best practices, and this body of knowledge enables organisations to improve their current organisational project management maturity. The three interlocking elements of OPM3 (knowledge, assessment and improvement) enable organisations to assess their current state of project management maturity and then to map an improvement path to a higher level of maturity. Model components include best practices, capabilities, outcomes and key performance indicators.
PMBOK Organisation
The PMBOK is organised into process groups, knowledge areas and processes. The PMBOK Guide defines a process as a set of interrelated actions and activities performed to achieve a specified set of products, results, or services. ( Project Management Institute, A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge, (PMBOK® Guide) – Sixth Edition, Project Management Institute Inc., 2017)
Process Groups bundle together processes that often operate around the same time on a project or with similar input and outputs. The process groups are a logical categorization of tasks/activities organized around project phases. Every project needs the 5 Process Groups – Initiating, Planning, Executing, Monitoring & Controlling and Closing.
Process Groups:
There are 5 process groups in PMBOK® Guide. They are initiating, planning, executing, monitoring and control and closing.
Initiating
These processes help to define a new piece of work – either a new project or the phase that is about to commence.
Planning
These processes help to define the objectives and scope of work to be done. The planning processes encompass all the work around planning and scheduling tasks. The planning can be done for the entire project or specific phase within the project.
Executing
The project execution process area describes the processes need to deliver the project after planning.
Monitoring and Controlling
The monitoring and controlling process area describes the process that are required to track the work that is being done, review and report on it. They also cover what happens when the project isn’t following the agreed plan.
Closing
The closing process group includes the processes that are required to finalize the project and hand over to operational support.
Knowledge areas
The knowledge areas are designed to combine the processes that have common characteristics
Project Integration Management
Project Integration Management includes processes that combine, unify and coordinate the various project management activities within the five process groups
The Project Integration Management includes the following seven processes:
- Develop Project Charter
- Develop Project Management Plan
- Direct and Manage Project Work
- Manage Project Knowledge
- Monitor and Control Project Work
- Perform Integrated Change Control
- Close Project or Phase
Project Scope Management
Project Scope Management includes processes that ensure the project includes all the work required, and only the work required, to complete the project successfully
The Project Scope Management includes the six processes:
- Plan Scope Management
- Collect Requirements
- Define Scope
- Create WBS
- Validate Scope
- Control Scope
Project Schedule Management
Project Schedule Management includes processes that manage the timely completion of the project
The Project Schedule Management includes the following six processes:
- Plan Schedule Management
- Define Activities
- Sequence Activities
- Estimate Activity Duration
- Develop Schedule
- Control Schedule
Project Cost Management
Project Cost Management includes processes that plan, estimate, fund, manage, and control costs so the project can be completed within the approved budget
The Project Cost Management Process are:
- Plan Cost Management
- Estimate Costs
- Determine Budget
- Control Costs
Project Quality Management
Project Quality Management includes processes for incorporating the organization’s quality policy regarding planning, managing and controlling project and product quality
The Project Quality Management knowledge Area covers three processes:
- Plan quality management
- Manage Quality
- Control Quality
Project Resource Management
Project Resource Management includes processes that identify, acquire, and manage the resources needed for the successfully completion of the project.
The processes included in this knowledge area are:
- Plan Resource Management
- Estimate Activity Resources
- Acquire Resources
- Develop Team
- Manage Team
- Control Resources
Project Communications Management
Project Communications Management includes processes required to ensure the planning, creation, distribution, control and monitoring of project information
This knowledge area includes three processes:
- Plan Communications Management
- Manage Communications
- Monitor Communications
Project Risk Management
Project Risk Management include processes for planning risk management, the identification, analysis, and monitoring of risks on a project, and the implementation of risk responses.
There are seven project management processes involved in the Risk Management Knowledge Area:
- Plan Risk Management
- Identify Risks
- Perform Qualitative Risk Analysis
- Perform Quantitative Risk Analysis
- Plan Risk Responses
- Implement Risk Responses
- Monitor Risks
Project Procurement Management
Project Procurement Management includes processes necessary to purchase or acquire products, services, or results needed from outside the project team.
Project Procurement Management includes the following processes:
- Plan Procurement Management
- Conduct Procurements
- Control Procurements
Project Stakeholder Management.
Project Stakeholder Management includes processes required to identify stakeholders, to analyze their expectations and impact on the project, and to develop management strategies for effectively engaging stakeholders in decisions that affect the project.
The four process involved in Project Stakeholder Management:
- Identifying Stakeholders
- Plan Stakeholder Engagement
- Manage Stakeholder Engagement
- Monitor Stakeholder Engagement
Skills
SFIA skill Project Management includes both predictive project management (water-fall approach) and adaptive approaches like Agile.