Introduction to PMBOK

We as a human always require some direction, a guidance for every new thing we plan or started to do, and we don’t compromise in authenticity of that particular material which we choose for our learning. So, it’s a good news for those students, project managers and anyone who wants to grab and grasp knowledge of project management that they can took guidance from Project management body of knowledge (PMBOK). It’s an inclusive term that describes the sum of knowledge within the profession of project management. And one good thing about PMBOK is that the knowledge of proven, traditional as well as advance practices that it contains are widely applied in this modern century, which have seen a limited use before. It differs with other profession including accounting, law, medicine where practitioners and academics hold, advance and apply the related knowledge.

Purpose of PMBOK

The underlying purpose of this body of knowledge is to describe the section of PMBOK which is accepted and applicable to almost all projects at the present age and there is widespread consensus about their usefulness and value. But it must be remembered here that its application for all projects doesn’t mean that the practices and knowledge described in PMBOK can be applied uniformly. It’s a responsibility of project manager and whole team to determine the appropriate practices for given project.

Those who are interested in project management profession majorly include Project managers and their team members, project customers and other stakeholders, higher managers of project, other functional managers, instructors who are teaching project management, consultants, trainers and practitioners of project management can use this body of knowledge for reference as it is also designed to provide a common terminology within the profession of project management.

Components of PMBOK

PMBOK is comprised of 2 major sections and 12 chapters which are described below. 

Section 1- Framework of Project Management

This head provides a basic structure for better understanding of project management.
First 3 chapters are related to introduction, Project management context and project management process, provide an overview of PMBOK. It also defines the key terms used in it, describe the environment in which project operates and generalized view of how various processes of project management interacts.

Section 2- Knowledge Areas of Project Management

The knowledge areas of project management describe project management practices and knowledge in term of its inherent processes. These processes have been grouped into 10 knowledge areas, list are given below:
1) Project Integration Management
2) Project Scope Management
3) Project Time Management
4) Project Cost Management
5) Project Quality Management
6) Project Risk Management
7) Project Human Resource Management
8) Project Communication Management
9) Project Procurement Management
10) Project Stakeholders Management

Read Also: Knowledge Areas of Project Management

Standard approved by Project Management Institute (PMI)

The PMBOK is a recognized standard by project management institute, which gives confidence to those who want to join the project manager’s league. In order to provide updated knowledge to learners and to ensure that the project management standards continually and accurately reflect the evolving profession, changes were made in previous editions of PMBOK. Currently, 5th edition of PMBOK is available and are in the hands of professionals. It is translated into many languages for the convenience of diverse readers across the globe.

CONCLUSION

PMBOK is the standard document for all project management professionals and non-professionals approved by project management institute. It is applicable to almost all projects for the time being and there is far reaching consent about their quality and convenience.

Ifrah Laiq

Hey, I am Ifrah. A confident business graduate who holds a masters degree in Project Management. I have a vast knowledge of Project Management and its applications and I am serving students and professionals with professional Project Management trainings and articles.

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