Proposed Changes to the PMBOK® Guide - Sixth EditionTextual ChangesAll
of the text needs to be reviewed for references to PGs and adapted to make the
relationships clear. For example, to the clause: "Project management
is accomplished through the appropriate application and integration of logically
grouped project management processes. While there are different ways of grouping
processes, the PMBOK® Guide groups processes into five categories called Process
Groups."
Add the sentence: "These Process
Groups are applied within each of the ten areas of expertise known as Knowledge
Areas."
That is, change the paragraph to read: "Project
management is accomplished through the appropriate application and integration
of logically grouped project management processes. While there are different ways
of grouping processes, the PMBOK® Guide groups processes into five categories
called Process Groups. These Process Groups are applied within each of the ten
areas of expertise known as Knowledge Areas."
Option 1: Reworking
the Process Group Definitions to Remove the ConfusionThe first option
would be to change the PG definitions in order to avoid phase-related terminology.
- Initiating Process Group. Those processes that determine the environment,
agree the objectives, set the rules and authority under which work should be carried
out, and obtain the corresponding approval for that work.
- Planning
Process Group. Those processes required to establish the scope, define the
quality criteria, refine the objectives, elaborate the course of action required
to attain the objectives that the project was undertaken to achieve.
- Executing
Process Group. Those processes performed to deliver the work defined in the
corresponding management plans, and report on status.
- Monitoring and
Controlling Process Group. 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, assess the corresponding changes, and update
the project plans as required.
- Closing Process Group. Those
processes performed to finalize all activities relative to a given knowledge
area.
Effect on the Composition of the Process Groups The
removal of the phase-related terms in the definitions of the Initiating and Closing
groups makes it clear that life cycle management concepts need to be catered
for elsewhere. Adding the following Controlling process to the Project
Integration Management KA can best satisfy this need. Thus: - Manage
Phase Transitions. This process can be defined in such a way as to allow the
removal of the Close Project or Phase process, or at least its replacement
by a specific Close Project process.
Given the modified definition
of the Initiating PG, the following change should also be made: - Transfer
"Plan Risk Management" from the Planning PG to the Initiating one. This is because
the resulting Risk Management Plan describes the rules and conventions in general
for managing risk in the project, i.e., it does address the specific risks in
the project.
This initial redefinition of the PGs would certainly
make a number of points clearer and more coherent. However, it does not go far
enough in removing the potential confusion with life cycle phases due to the current
naming and implied scope of the PGs.
|
Understanding
the Confusion
