Knowledge Area Changes in the PMBOK Guide, Third Edition

PMI is constantly reviewing its documents and exams for currency and applicability to today's project management practices. The PMBOK Guide, Third Edition was released in 2005 as an update to the previous edition, the PMBOK 2000. There are several changes in the new edition. None of the changes are major, although the PMBOK has been slightly reorganized to better reflect current project management practices. The changes from the PMBOK 2000 focus on newly added processes and process alignment changes. Here is a summary of the knowledge area changes that are included in the PMBOK Guide, Third Edition:

• Has expanded focus on process groups.

• Has expanded coverage of integration and initiation processes.

• Has added 7 new processes and deleted 2. The PMBOK Guide, Third Edition defines a total of 44 processes (up from 39 defined in the PMBOK 2000).

• Has renamed 13 processes to enhance clarity.

• Has added process flow diagrams.

• Has increased consistency in the placement of inputs, tools and techniques, and outputs.

As of this writing, PMI will transition to the new exam on September 30, 2005. All PMP exams after the transition date will be based on the PMBOK Guide, Third Edition. If you have been studying another reference that is based on the PMBOK 2000 Edition, make sure you review the newer PMBOK before taking the exam. (Of course, this reference does cover the new PMBOK material.)

To summarize the process additions, deletions, and name changes, Table 1.2 lists the processes that have changed in the PMBOK Guide, Third Edition. (Some processes only change the section number where they appear in the document. We'll only highlight name changes here.)

Table 1.2. Changes in the PMBOK Guide, Third Edition

2000 Edition Process Name	Third Edition Process Name
(none)	4.1 Develop Project Charter
(none)	4.2 Develop Preliminary Project Scope Statement
4.1 Project Plan Development	4.3 Develop Project Management Plan
4.2 Project Plan Execution	4.4 Direct and Manage Project Execution
(none)	4.5 Monitor and Control Project Work
(none)	4.7 Close Project
5.1 Initiation	(Moved to PMBOK Chapter 4)
(none)	5.3 Create WBS
5.5 Scope Change Control	5.5 Scope Control
(none)	6.3 Activity Resource Estimating
7.1 Resource Planning	(Moved to Project Time Management in PMBOK Chapter 6)
8.2 Quality Assurance	8.2 Perform Quality Assurance
8.3 Quality Control	8.3 Perform Quality Control
9.1 Organizational Planning	9.1 Human Resource Planning
9.2 Staff Acquisition	9.2 Acquire Project Team
9.3 Team Development	9.3 Develop Project Team
(none)	9.4 Manage Project Team
10.4 Administrative Closure	10.4 Manage Stakeholders
12.1 Procurement Planning	12.1 Plan Purchases and Acquisitions
12.2 Solicitation Planning	12.2 Plan Contracting
12.3 Solicitation	12.3 Request Seller Response
12.4 Source Selection	12.4 Select Sellers
12.6 Contract Closeout	12.6 Contract Closure

In addition to the process name changes, each knowledge area incorporates changes from the PMBOK 2000 Edition that help to clarify the document and make the various sections more cohesive. Of all the knowledge areas, Project Integration Management and Project Risk Management probably underwent the most changes. Be sure you focus on the newer material, especially in these two knowledge areas, as you study for the exam.