There are 5 phases to the project life cycle (also called the 5 process groups)—initiating, planning, executing, monitoring/controlling, and closing.
Developed by the Project Management Institute (PMI), the five phases of project management include conception and initiation, planning, execution, performance/monitoring, and project close.
The PMP exam is an in-depth and challenging exam. It covers a broad spectrum of project management topics and goes beyond the basics covered in other entry level exams. While it is difficult, it certainly isn't out of reach. With good study habits and the right resources, you can pass the PMP exam with flying colors.
How to Memorize the PMP Process Chart in the PMBOK Guide
- Step 1: Draw a 6×11 chart.
- Step 2: Write out your Process Groups and Knowledge Areas.
- Step 3: Fill in the corners.
- Step 4: Fill in your “Plan” processes.
- Step 5: Fill in your “Estimate” processes.
- Step 6: Fill in your “Perform” processes.
- Step 7: Fill in your “Develop” processes.
- Step 8: Fill in your “Control” processes.
Project Management Body of Knowledge
PMBoK Knowledge Areas: 9 Must Know Aspects Related to PM
- Project Integration Management.
- Project Scope Management.
- Project Time Management.
- Project Cost Management.
- Project Quality Management.
- Project Human Resource Management.
- Project Communication Management.
- Project Risk Management.
These are the 10 Project Management knowledge areas:
- Project Integration Management.
- Project Scope Management.
- Project Schedule Management.
- Project Cost Management.
- Project Quality Management.
- Project Resource Management.
- Project Communications Management.
- Project Risk Management.
What are the project management knowledge areas?
- Project integration management.
- Project scope management.
- Project time management.
- Project cost management.
- Project quality management.
- Project resource management.
- Project communications management.
- Project risk management.
In addition to the famous 6 phases of project management, the PMBOK contains 10 areas of knowledge:
- Project integration.
- Project scope management.
- Project time management.
- Project cost management.
- Project quality management.
- Project Human Resource Management.
- Project Communication Management.
- Project Risk Management.
Projects are executed in process group order, but the knowledge areas allow a project manager to think about groups of processes that require specific skills. This makes the job of assigning resources easier because team members with specific skills might be able to work on and complete several processes at once.
In the Closing Process Group the Knowledge Areas and processes are:
- Project Integration Management. 4.6 Close Project or Phase.
- Project Procurement Management. 12.4 Close Procurements.
Every project needs the 5 Process Groups - Initiating, Planning, Executing, Monitoring & Controlling and Closing. Process Groups bundle together processes that often operate around the same time on a project or with similar input and outputs.
A standard project typically has the following four major phases (each with its own agenda of tasks and issues): initiation, planning, implementation, and closure. Taken together, these phases represent the path a project takes from the beginning to its end and are generally referred to as the project “life cycle.”
The knowledge areas take place during anyone of these process groups. You can think of the process groups as horizontal, while the knowledge areas are vertical. The knowledge areas are the core technical subject matter, which are necessary for effective project management.
The four core knowledge areas of project management include project scope, time, cost, and quality management. These are core knowledge areas because they lead to specific project objectives.
PMBOK® is the standard by which PMP (Project Management Professional) certification through PMI is obtained. PMP is an important industry-recognized certification for project managers. The PMBOK® approach is valuable because it enables organizations to standardize project management practices across departments.
PMBOK has been used as the standard by which PMP Certification is obtained. PMP Certification is based upon a survey of many companies' best practices. The advantages of using PMP Certified Project Managers and Team members is that resources have already been trained. PMBOK is valuable for both companies and employees.
According to the PMBOK® Guide—Fourth edition (PMI, 2008a, p. 434) the definition of a project is “a temporary endeavor undertaken to create a unique project service or result.” Projects are temporary and close down on the completion of the work they were chartered to deliver.
In project management there are five phases: initiating, planning, executing, controlling and closing. Throughout these project phases there is a need to constantly monitor and report, which is where project management tools come in.
The Planning Process Group consists of those processes performed to establish the total scope of the effort, define and refine objectives, and develop a course of action to reach goals (PMI, 2013).
What factors result in dependencies between project management processes? Processes within the same knowledge area. Processes that share inputs and outputs. You've been working on an advertising project to rebrand a popular airline as an industry leader in terms of environmental and social responsibility.
The triple constraint theory, also called the Iron Triangle in project management, defines the three elements (and their variations) as follows: Scope, time, budget. Scope, schedule, cost.
Papke-Shields, Beise, and Quan (2010) used six measures for project success: cost, time, technical specifications, quality requirements, client satisfaction, and business objectives.
Project initiation is the first phase of the project management life cycle and in this stage, companies decide if the project is needed and how beneficial it will be for them. The two metrics that are used to judge a proposed project and determine the expectations from it are the business case and feasibility study.
In process groups, 5-10 individuals meet face to face to share their struggles and concerns with 1-2 trained group therapists. The power of process groups lies in the unique opportunity to receive multiple perspectives, support, encouragement and feedback from other individuals in safe and confidential environment.
4. What are some of the key outputs of each process group? Some of the key outputs might include a charter, a project management plan, deliverable, performance reports, and close procurement.
In the broadest sense, project managers (PMs) are responsible for planning, organizing, and directing the completion of specific projects for an organization while ensuring these projects are on time, on budget, and within scope.
