This PMBOK guide was initially released as a white paper in 1987 by the Institute of Project Management.
The PMBOK guide is an attempt to document the generally accepted PM information and practices and has since become the standard amongst project management around the globe.
A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge
PMBOK identifies certain processes that are used in the life span of a project, PMBOK attempts to define these processes. In broad terms these are as follows:
- Inputs which covers documents, plans, designs, etc.
- Tools and Techniques which covers mechanisms applied to inputs
- Outputs which covers documents, products, etc.
The PMBOK Guide goes further and also recognizes 44 processes that fall into five process groups. These five process groups can be listed as follows:
- Initiating
- Planning
- Executing
- Controlling and Monitoring
- Closing.
The PMBOK Guide also defines nine knowledge areas that are typical of almost all projects. These nine knowledge areas can be listed as follows:
- Project Integration Management
- Project Scope Management
- Project Time Management
- Project Cost Management
- Project Quality Management
- Project Human Resource Management
- Project Communications Management
- Project Risk Management
- Project Procurement Management.
PMBOK – Project Management Bible?
The Project Management Body of Knowledge or PMBOK, is considered by most project managers as the bible of project management. Training institutes refer extensively to PMBOK when training new project managers.
PMBOK, as it stands, is only a guide that can be applied to most projects. There are however, PMBOK extensions written for specific industries, for example, the “Construction Extension to the PMBOK Guide” and the “Government Extension to the PMBOK Guide.”
Since project management is mostly about common sense, why should a project manager adhere to the content of PMBOK?
Is PMBOK a Methodology?
PMBOK has been described as “the inventory of project management ideas that most people can agree on,” thus providing a guide line to the accepted norm when managing a project.
A project manager may choose to do his or her own thing so to speak, but there is a definite benefit in managing a project using a universally accepted norm. It must be stressed that the PMBOK is not a “manual” or a “methodology” for running a project which could be used as a template for all projects, rather it merely provides the project manager with guidelines.
Project management methodologies will be based on PMBOK guidelines. The methodology chosen by a PM team will be one that is best suited to the type of projects handled by the team and the type of industry they find themselves in. There are many project management methodologies available, Prince2 is a well known example in the sector.
Source:
it.toolbox.com, information retrieved on 22 September, 2009
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