PMBOK Guide or Project Management Body of Knowledge Guide if offered by PMI for professionals taking up PMP Certification. The PMBOK Guide is known for portraying the content and the Standard for Project Management in its editions. Aspirants attending PMP Exam refer to this guide for understanding project management concepts in detail. Under the content section, PMBOK specifies the project environment, role of project manager, and the knowledge areas along with its 49 processes. The Standard for PM talks about Process Groups present within the project lifecycle.
What are the 10 Knowledge Areas?
Every Project Manager is necessitated to gain an in-depth understanding of the concepts mentioned under the 10 Knowledge Areas. These knowledge areas further have a certain set of processes that are to be performed under each of the disciplines. In addition, the knowledge areas are designed to assist project professionals in managing projects on a day-to-day basis.
10 Knowledge Areas
- Integration
- Scope
- Schedule
- Cost
- Quality
- Resource
- Communications
- Risk
- Procurement
- Stakeholder
As per the updated PMBOK Guide, the aforementioned were the 10 knowledge areas that constitute processes for smoother execution of projects.
The recent update by PMI has enabled project professionals to acquire knowledge of advanced concepts of project management. PMBOK Guide- 7th Edition highlights the newer concepts, tools and techniques, value delivery system, performance domains, and project delivery principles. The traditional knowledge areas are replaced by the performance domains which are as follows:
- Team
- Stakeholders
- Lifecycle
- Planning
- Uncertainty and Ambiguity
- Delivery
- Performance
- Project work
Let us get an understanding of how these performance domains have been useful for aspiring Project Management Professionals.
Team:
This performance domain emphasizes all the activities to be performed and the personnel responsible for performing them. The entire project team is required to work together to create deliverables as per project requirements and client needs.
Stakeholders:
Apart from the project team, stakeholder covers the entire community who are associated with the project. As a project manager, an individual is required to master the techniques of handling various stakeholders to make effective decisions.
Lifecycle:
The age-old process of handling projects has become obsolete. Project professionals look for advanced and innovative practices that can ensure smooth flow of projects. As the scenario of each project changes, project managers need to come up with their own development approach and lifecycle.
Planning:
This domain is designed to assist project managers in simplifying and structuring their approach to project activities. In addition, project managers learn to coordinate with the team and work iteratively during the planning activities. Professionals can further continuously review their plans and take action to avoid deviations.
Uncertainty and Ambiguity
Every project is associated with uncertainty and ambiguity. Professionals in the field of project management are necessitated to be always prepared to handle such crisis. Through this performance domain, project managers are empowered to manage risks using standard practices and navigate uncertainties.
Delivery:
Delivery domain of project management highlights the processes involved in delivering the outcomes of the project. Moreover, this domain is designed to assist in understanding the project objectives to be fulfilled. Project Management Professionals learn to link business goals with the objectives which helps in the overall growth of the organization.
Measurement:
This performance domain enables project managers to assess the effectiveness of the project. Various metrics are applied throughout the phases of project lifecycle to ensure the deliverable are met even with constraints. Project managers further apply this domain to ensure that the project is being carried out within the specified budget and schedule.
Project work:
This performance domain is considered a broader area of project management that covers all aspects of a project. Project professionals acquire the skill of working in a team and learn from other team members whilst learning from the experience of working on diverse projects. In addition, professionals master the technique of ensuring that all the resources are available for delivering a project and meeting business goals.
Although knowledge areas assist in understanding the practical application, PMP aspirants need to focus more on performance domains to measure every aspect of project. The previous edition of PMBOK ensures a connection between process groups, 10 knowledge areas, and 49 processes. However, the current version emphasized on project delivery principles and performance domains which is the best fit for the present project environment.
Evaluating the performance at each stage plays a vital role in the success of the project. The performance domains as stated in the PMBOK 7 enable professionals to track the progress of a project using various advanced metrics. This further makes it easier to focus on vital aspects of a project and directs professionals towards project success rather than failure.
