The PMBOK organizes all the activities that define a project's life cycle into 44 processes. These processes represent content from 9 knowledge areas. It is important to have a good understanding of each of the project processes and how they relate to one another. We'll go into more details of each process in a later section. For now, understand the 9 knowledge areas and what purposes they serve for the project.
The PMBOK itself is organized by knowledge areas. There is a separate chapter for each knowledge area. Table 1.1 shows the 9 knowledge areas and gives a brief description of each.
Table 1.1. Project Knowledge Areas
Knowledge Area | Description |
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Project Integration Management | Processes and activities that pull the various elements of project management together, including developing plans, managing project execution, monitoring work and changes, and closing the project. |
Project Scope Management | Processes that ensure the project includes the work required to successfully complete the project, and no more. This includes scope planning, definition, verification, and control. This area also includes the work breakdown structure creation. |
Project Time Management | Processes that ensure the project completes in a timely manner. Activity sequencing and scheduling activities occur in this area. |
Project Cost Management | Processes that ensure the project completes within the approved budget. Basically, any cost management activity goes here. |
Project Quality Management | Processes that ensure the project will meet its objectives. This area includes quality planning, assurance, and control. |
Project Human Resource Management | Processes that organize and manage the project team. |
Project Communications Management | Processes that specify how and when team members communicate and share information with one another and others not on the team. |
Project Risk Management | Processes that conduct risk management activities for the project. These activities include risk analysis, response planning, monitoring, and control. |
Project Procurement Management | Processes that manage the acquisition of products and services for the project, along with seller and contract management. |
Figure 1.1 shows each of the project management knowledge areas and the specific processes associated with it.