Understanding Process Interaction Customization

The five process groups defined in the PMBOK are general in nature and common to projects. However, all projects are unique and some do not require all 44 individual project processes. The processes defined in the PMBOK are there for use when needed. You should need the majority of the processes to properly manage a project, but in some cases you will not require every process.

Because projects differ from one another, a specific process can differ dramatically between projects. For example, the process of developing a communication plan will be simple and straightforward for a small project with local team members. However, the process will be much more involved and complicated if the team is large and located in several countries.

Understand the five process groups and 44 processes as defined in the PMBOK. But, more importantly, understand when and how to use each process. The exam will focus more on process implementation than process memorization. Be prepared to really think about which processes you will need for a particular project.