The Project Management Knowledge Areas and Processes

The PMBOK breaks down the nine knowledge areas into 39 processes, and you will need to know all of them. The processes are organized into five groups: Initiating processes, Planning processes, Executing processes, Controlling processes, and Closing processes. We will go into further detail in the upcoming chapters. Table 2.1 is the breakdown of the nine knowledge areas according to PMI:

You will not be able to memorize all this material in one reading. Continue to read and familiarize yourself with the material before you anticipate that you will be able to understand how all the activities and processes are integrated. The PMBOK is not a study guide, but rather a project management framework reference, much like a dictionary. One of the values of this Exam Cram 2 book is that it is a "study aid" that guides you through the PMBOK.

Table 2.1. The Nine PMI Knowledge Areas

Knowledge Area	Description
Project integration management	This area includes plan development, execution, and integrated change control. This involves input to develop the plan and the processes to keep it on track.
Project scope management	This area is composed of project initiation, scope planning, definition, verification, and change control. Initiation is where the project begins with the outline of what you want to accomplish and the processes that are required to make any alterations to the scope.
Project time management	This area encompasses activity definition, sequencing, duration estimating, schedule development, and control. Remember that time is a key element to the project and its success.
Project cost management	This area incorporates resource planning, cost estimating, budgeting, and control.
Project quality management	This area involves quality planning, assurance, and control.
Project human resource management	This area pertains to organizational planning, staff acquisition, and team development.
Project communications management	This area involves communications planning, information distribution, performance reporting, and administrative closure.
Project risk management	This area describes risk management planning, identification, qualitative and quantitative risk analysis, response planning, monitoring, and control.
Project procurement management	This area focuses on procurement planning, solicitation planning, solicitation, source selection, contract administration, and closeout.