Understand PMBoK 4th
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The document provides an overview of project management and the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK) Guide. It explains that PMI defines project management standards and offers certifications. The PMBOK Guide describes the five process groups of initiating, planning, executing, monitoring/controlling, and closing. It also outlines the nine knowledge areas and their 42 processes. Projects go through life cycles that use the five process groups across phases. Understanding the interaction of processes, groups, areas, and inputs/outputs is key to applying project management.
Understand PMBoK 4th
- 1. Understand the PMBOK Guide 4th edition Prepared by: Amr Miqdadi,MCSE,MCTS,PMP [email protected] http://www.pmlead.net http://www.pmlead.net
- 2. PMI, what is it? PMI (Project Management Institute) provides practitioners and organizations with management standards that describe good practices, globally recognized credentials that certify project management expertise, and resources for professional development, networking and community. What is Project Management (PM)? Project Management is the application of knowledge, skills, tools, and techniques to project activities in order to meet needed project's requirements. This application of knowledge requires effective management of appropriate processes and procedures, which means that we need a process / processes to carry out a certain project. According PMI, any project should be carried out by using 5 process groups. PMBok Guide In order to understand PMBOK and for a better studying approach, you need to understand how it is organized and formulated. According PMI, “the Project Management Body of Knowledge (BMBOK) Guide is a recognized standard for the project management profession; a standard is a formal document that describes established norms, methods, processes, and practices”. Through looking into the PMBOK Guide 4th edition, it is recognized that the book's content is organized under three main categories: Three sections containing 12 chapters Seven appendices Glossary The first section contains the first and the second chapters and focuses on “The Project Management Framework”, while the second section consists of the third chapter that covers “The Standards for Project Management ". The third section of the PMBok, which is considered as a main core of the book starts with the fourth chapter and ends by the twelfth, this section focuses on the project management knowledge areas where each chapter explains in details one knowledge area. For a successful understanding for the book, you have to read section 1 and 2 carefully as you will learn what does the project management mean, what makes a project, and how do we establish; guide and close a project. It is worth noting that you may find the second section to be a bit confusing; however, you don’t need to worry as the more you go ahead with the book, a clearer understanding you will get. It is well known and as previously mentioned, each project consists of the following five main project process groups: Initiating, Planning, Executing, Monitoring and Controlling, and Closing http://www.pmlead.net
- 3. Initiating means kicking off the project and the start point. The second process is the planning where we (project managers) take our time in thinking and putting on papers how are we going to achieve our goal. Following planning, we start the implementation (Executing) that refers to implementing what we have planned, in parallel with implementation of the project, we need to be so careful and fully following up on the project to ensure that our project is on the right track, which is known as (monitoring and controlling). Finally, by the time the project achieved its objectives, it comes to an end where we close the project The third section of the guide, which is the heart of PMbok and project management focuses on explaining how we are going to manage and execute our project in each process group. For example, we need to identify what we need to do in order to implement the initiation process group to carry out this process successfully. This identification is known to be Knowledge Areas, which consist of main 9 knowledge areas, and each of those areas includes a number of activities. It is a bit confusing here as the PMBok uses the term processes for both the 5 process groups (initiating, planning…) and for the activities that make each knowledge Area. To that end and for a better and clearer understanding, it is recommended that you refer to the 5 process groups (initiating, planning…) as the five Project Management process groups, while refer to the knowledge areas activities as Processes. The 9 Knowledge Areas, which contain 42 processes and cover an important part of the project are the main tools to implement the five process groups are. These areas are: 1. Project Integration Management 2. Project Scope Management 3. Project Time Management 4. Project Cost Management 5. Project Quality Management 6. Project Human Resource Management 7. Project Communications Management 8. Project Risk Management 9. Project Procurement Management http://www.pmlead.net
- 4. The Project Life Cycle: According to PMBok, the Project life cycle is a collection of generally sequential ( and sometimes overlapping) project phases and it defines the beginning, the end, the activities and the deliverables of the project. As every project is unique then every project has its own project life cycle sometimes it may consist of one phase or many phases that depend on the nature of the project. What you have to understand that the 5 Project Management Processes Groups (Initiating, Planning, Executing, Monitoring and Controlling, and Closing) exist within every project phase. In a simple way you initiate, plan, execute, control and monitor then close each phase. Do not get confused , it is so simple: 5 main groups (initiating ,planning, executing,…) and 9 knowledge areas contains 42 processes. Each process can exist in one or more of the 5 main groups. The 42 processes need input that can be used by some tool to generate output. Here is an example: let's say we want to close a project, this is our process group number1 Here there are 2 knowledge areas should be included in(Project Integration Management and Project Procurement Management). From Project Integration Management, we have to use the close project or phase process (which is one of the 42 knowledge areas processes we talked about) and from the project procurement management, we need the close procurement process (which is another process of the 42 knowledge areas processes we talked about). Each one of the 42 processes has its own input tools and techniques and output and it is normal that one of the outputs of one process becomes an input for another processes. The inputs are usually documents, information, procedures, policies, supporting detail, etc. The tools and techniques are the project management methodologies and systems, such as network diagramming, earned value analysis, PERT, estimating tools, etc. As a result of applying tools and techniques, an output is produced, in pother words, outputs are deliverables or tangible results from each major process. Do not forget that project management process groups are interactive and interrelated, which means you may need to revisit the planning process while executing process or keep revisiting the monitoring and controlling during planning process. Finally, each knowledge area process has its inputs; tools; techniques, and outputs. In other simple words, you have an input and you implement tool or technique on it towards producing an output. There are many outputs from one knowledge area that become an input for another knowledge area. http://www.pmlead.net
- 7. Visit PMLead.net and get your free copy of : •The Short Guide To Becoming A PMP •PMBoK Introduction-1 •PMBoK Introduction-2 •The 9 knowledge Areas and the 42 Processes •PMP Formulas •Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct •PMP Exam (Points to remember) - 1 •PMP Exam (Points to remember) - 2 •3 days free PMP exam simulator •All in One...PMBok summary sheet •All Processes...summary sheet Click here to get access to the best PMP exam preparation tools Register to PMLEAD newsletter to receive PMP exam tips, tools and special offers AND Do not hesitate to contact me any time at [email protected] if you have any question. For your success Amr Miqdadi http://www.pmlead.net