Project
The PMBOK ® Guide defines a project as ‘a temporary endeavor to create a unique product, service, or result’. In this definition, our concern at the moment is the ‘temporary’ nature of the project. It means that a project is one time effort with ‘definite beginning and end’.
Project Life Cycle
On the other hand we have the concept of project life cycle. From start till its end, the different stages through which a project progresses is called project life cycle. The stages are called as project phases.
If we have a look at the characteristics of a generic project life cycle, every project has a starting and a closing, both relating to the ‘definite beginning’ and ‘definite end’ of the project respectively. In between the two points, we have a collection of phases.
Project Phases are NOT Project Management Process Groups
Taking it further, the PMBOK ® Guide differentiates between a project phase and a project management process group. The two are not the same! The difference can be easily understood with the fact that the PMBOK ® Guide sees all project management process groups ‘normally repeated for each phase’. Therefore, if we have a two phase project, the five project management process groups will be repeated twice, once for each of the phase. And if we have a single phase project, the five project management process groups will be carried out once.
Categorization of 47 Project Management Processes
Right in the very first chapter of the PMBOK ® Guide, we are told that 'project management is accomplished through appropriate application and integration of the 47 logically grouped project management processes, which are categorized into five five process groups’ (Page 5)
Project Management Process Groups
This gives us a clear indication to one of the ways in which the 47 project management processes can be categorized i.e. in the from of five project management process groups. This grouping is fundamentally based on the flow of work from start to end of a project (in case of single phase project) or a phase (in case of a project comprising of multiple phases).
The five process groups are: Initiating Process Group, Planning Process Group, Executing Process Group, Monitoring and Controlling Process Group, and Closing Process Group.
Project Management Process Groups Are Made Up of Project Management Processes
Project management process groups are made up of related project management processes. For example, Initiating Process Group comprises of two project management processes: (a) Define Project Charter and (b) Identify Stakeholders. These two project management processes are performed to initiate a project or a phase.
Planning Process Group comprises of 24 project management processes that contribute to the development of Project Management Plan. Project Management Plan is the primary deliverable of the Planning Process Group.
Similarly, Executing Process Group has eight project management processes; Monitoring and Controlling Process Group has have eleven project management processes; and Closing Process Group has two project management processes.
Project Management Processes are Made Up of Interrelated Activities
The PMBOK ® Guide defines a process as ‘a set of interrelated actions and activities performed to achieve a pre-specified product, results or services'. The PMBOK® Guide defines an activity as 'a distinct, scheduled portion of work performed during the course of a project' (Page 526). In other workd, we can say that an activity is a smallest and distinct unit of work.
Summing It Up
In a project, the overall work is performed in the form of a number of actions and activities. Interrelated activities are grouped together to form processes. Processes on a project are of two types: (a) product, service, or result-oriented processes, and (b) project management processes. The 47 processes in the PMBOK® Guide are project management processes which are logically grouped. Based on flow of a project or phase and nature of work, interrelated project management processes are grouped together to form five project management process groups. Project management process groups are repeated for every phase of a project. All the phases of a project combine together to form project life cycle with a definite start and ending.
Note: All the references are to the PMBOK® Guide, Fifth Edition.
Related Posts:
- Project Management Processes - Outline
- Project Management Processes - Resources
- What is a Project Management Process?
- Fitting together Processes, Process Groups, Phases and Project Life Cycle
- What are Project Management Process Groups?
- Project Management Processes Flow in Initiating Process Group and Planning Process Group
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