PMP Certification: Project Management Knowledge Areas 101—PMBOK® Guide, 6th Edition Update (Part 1)


Whether your organization needs to develop an app for children or to build a shopping mall, most of the time delivering such outcomes requires you to use the ten Knowledge Areas of Project Management identified in the PMBOK® Guide, 6th edition.

Each article of this three-part series “Project Management Knowledge Areas 101” describes at a glance specific Project Management Knowledge Areas:

The first keys competencies you must acquire are in the area of Project Integration Management and Project Scope Management.

Read on!

Image titled 35 hours of project management education project management process groups 101 pmbok 6th edition update

Project Management Knowledge Area Defined

A Knowledge Area is an identified area of project management defined by its knowledge requirements and described in terms of its component processes, practices, inputs, outputs, tools, and techniques.

A Knowledge Area is an identified area of project management defined by its knowledge requirements and described in terms of its component processes, practices, inputs, outputs, tools, and techniques.

Although the Knowledge Areas interrelate to one another during the management of a project, they are defined separately from the project management perspective. 

The nature of a specific project and organization affects the Knowledge Areas required. Besides the ten Knowledge Areas identified in the PMBOK® Guide, 6th edition, a project may use additional Knowledge Areas such as financial management for construction.

Integration and Scope Knowledge Areas of Project Management

by Project Management Process Groups

The ten Project Management Knowledge Areas include:

  1. Project Integration Management
  2. Project Scope Management
  3. Project Schedule Management
  4. Project Cost Management
  5. Project Quality Management
  6. Project Resource Management
  7. Project Communications Management
  8. Project Risk Management
  9. Project Procurement Management
  10. Project Stakeholder Management

This section describes briefly the Knowledge Areas of Project Integration Management and Project Scope Management, helpful while studying for the Project Management Professional (PMP)® exam.

1. Project Integration Management


Identifying, defining, combining, unifying, and coordinating the various processes and project management activities within the Project Management Process Groups.

Processes

  • Develop Project Charter (Initiating Process Group)
  • Develop Project Management Plan (Planning Process Group)
  • Direct and Manage Project Work (Executing Process Group)
  • Manage Project Knowledge (Executing Process Group)
  • Monitor and Control Project Work (Monitoring and Controlling Process Group)
  • Perform Integrated Change Control (Monitoring and Controlling Process Group)
  • Close Project or Phase (Closing Process Group).

2. Project Scope Management


Ensuring the project includes all the work required, and only the work required, to complete the project successfully.

Processes

  • Plan Scope Management (Planning Process Group)
  • Collect Requirements (Planning Process Group)
  • Define Scope (Planning Process Group)
  • Create WBS (Planning Process Group)
  • Validate Scope (Monitoring and Controlling Process Group)
  • Control Scope (Monitoring and Controlling Process Group).

For a detailed analysis of each process, click on “PMP Certification – Free Exam Prep” here or on the right menu.


SOURCE: Project Management Institute (2017). A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK® Guide). 6th ed. Newtown Square: Project Management Institute.

35 hours of project management education, benefits of pmp certification, best pmp exam prep, best project management certification, certified associate in project management.