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On this page, I establish a baseline understanding of project management Process Groups, Knowledge Areas, and Processes that are commonly used in project management. Below I list the Project Management Process Groups, Knowledge Areas and within each Process Group you will find the process(es) that are performed.
Typically, many resources group and communicate the processes by grouping them by knowledge area, but I prefer to learn and think in a way that is applicable to how Project Managers work. When I work projects, I work by Process Group and this is the most logical way successful project managers work.
It should be noted that I referenced the PMBOK sixth edition.
A project management process group is a logical grouping of project management processes to achieve specific project objectives. Process Groups are independent of project phases. Project management processes are grouped into the following five Project Management Process Groups.
Those processes performed to define a new project or a new phase of an existing project by obtaining authorization to start the project or phase.
Those processes required to establish the scope of the project, refine the objectives, and define the course of action required to attain the objectives that the project was undertaken to achieve.
Those processes performed to complete the work defined in the project management plan to satisfy the project requirements.
Those processes required to track, review, and regulate the progress and performance of the project; identify any areas in which changes to the plan are required; and initiate the corresponding changes.
Those processes performed to formally complete or close the project, phase, or contract.
A project manager is more than just a manager, in the traditional sense. A project manager is the leader of the project team and oversees every aspect of the project, from beginning to end. The project manager will typically write the project plan, run team meetings, assign tasks and do quality control tests to ensure everything is running smoothly. A project manager can’t carry the entire project on their back, though. One of their key duties, in fact, is knowing how to entrust various responsibilities to team members.
A project is a temporary endeavor undertaken to create a unique product, service, or result. The temporary nature of projects indicates that a project has a definite beginning and end.
One of the most important characteristics of a project is that it’s a team effort. While the structure of project teams might change from one organization to another, projects usually involve a project manager and a team of individuals with the necessary skills to execute the tasks that are needed. All projects go through the same project lifecycle; the five phases of a project lifecycle are initiation, planning, execution, monitoring & controlling, and closure.