Chapter 2: Process Groups and

Knowledge Areas

What Is a Process?
The Five Overarching Process Groups
Interacting Cycles
The Nine Project Management
Knowledge Areas
Learning Objectives
After completing this chapter, you will be able to:
Describe what a process is and what constitutes
the inputs, tools and techniques, and outputs
related to a process
Describe the five project management Process
Groups and list the life cycle steps that take place
in each
Compare the project management life cycle to the
Plan-Do-Check-Act and project life cycles
Describe the nine PMI Knowledge Areas and
classify their processes by Process Group
Knowledge Areas
What Is a Process?

According to the PMI, A process is a set of interrelated

actions and activities performed to achieve a pre-specified
product, result, or service.

The PMBOK Guide lists 42 distinct processes.

What Is a Process?
Inputs, Tools and Techniques, and Outputs
Inputs refer to documents or
documentable items that will
be acted upon.
Tools are tangible items Outputs are tangible and
used in performing an measurable (usually a
activity to produce a result deliverable).
(e.g. templates).
Outputs from one process
often show up as inputs to
Techniques are procedures
another.
used to perform an activity
to produce a result (e.g.
estimating).
 Closing
processes
Initiating Process Group
Processes

Develop Project Charter

Identify Stakeholders
Planning Process Group
Processes
Develop Project Management Plan Determine Budget
Plan Quality
Collect Requirements
Develop Human Resource Plan
Define Scope
Plan Communications
Create WBS
Plan Risk Management
Define Activities
Sequence Activities Identify Risks

Estimate Activity Resources Perform Qualitative Risk Analysis

Estimate Activity Durations Perform Quantitative Risk Analysis

Develop Schedule Plan Risk Responses

Estimate Costs Plan Procurements
Executing Process Group
Processes

Direct and Manage Project Execution

Perform Quality Assurance
Acquire Project Team
Develop Project Team
Manage Project Team
Distribute Information
Manage Stakeholder Expectations
Conduct Procurements
Monitoring and Controlling Process Group
Processes
Monitor and Control Project Work
Perform Integrated Change Control
Verify Scope
Control Scope
Control Schedule
Control Costs
Perform Quality Control
Report Performance
Monitor and Control Risks
Administer Procurements
Closing Process Group
Processes

Close Project or Phase

Close Procurements
Project Integration Management

Six Processes

Monitoring &
Initiating Planning Executing Closing
Controlling
Develop Project Develop Project Direct and Manage Monitor and Control
Close Project or Phase
Management Plan Project Work
Charter Project Execution
Perform Integrated
Change Control
Project Scope Management
Five Processes

Monitoring & Closing

Initiating Planning Executing Controlling

Collect Requirements Verify Scope

Define Scope Control Scope
Create WBS
Project Time Management

Six Processes

Monitoring & Closing

Initiating Planning Executing
Controlling

Define Activities
Sequence Activities Control Schedule
Estimate Activity
Resources
Estimate Activity
Durations
Develop Schedule
Project Cost Management

Three Processes

Monitoring & Closing

Initiating Planning Executing
Controlling

Estimate Costs
Control Costs
Determine Budget
Project Quality Management
Three Processes

Monitoring & Closing

Initiating Planning Executing
Controlling
Perform Quality
Perform Quality
Plan Quality
Assurance Control
Project Human Resource Management
Four Processes

Monitoring &
Initiating Planning Executing Closing
Controlling
Develop Human Acquire Project Team
Resource Plan
Develop Project Team
Manage Project Team
Project Communications Management

Five Processes

Monitoring &
Initiating Planning Executing Closing
Controlling
Distribute Information
Identify Stakeholders Plan Communications Report Performance
Manage Stakeholder
Expectations
Project Risk Management
Six Processes

Monitoring &
Initiating Planning Executing Closing
Controlling
Plan Risk Management
Monitor and Control
Identify Risks Risks
Perform Qualitative
Risk Analysis
Perform Quantitative
Risk
Analysis
Plan Risk Responses
Project Procurement Management
Four Processes

Monitoring & Closing

Initiating Planning Executing Controlling
Administer Close Procurements
Plan Procurements Conduct Procurements
Procurements
Knowledge Areas and Process
Groups Summary (1 of 2)
Process Groups Monitoring &
Initiating Planning Executing Closing
Knowledge Area Controlling
Monitor and
Project Integration Develop Project Develop Project Direct and Manage
Control Project Close Project or
Management Charter Management Plan
Project Execution Work Phase
Perform Integrated
Change Control
Collect Verify Scope
Project Scope
Requirements Control Scope
Management
Define Scope
Create WBS
Define Activities
Sequence Control Schedule
Project Time Management Activities
Estimate Activity
Resources
Estimate Activity
Durations
Develop Schedule
Estimate Costs. Control Costs
Project Cost Management Determine Budget
Project Quality Perform Quality
Perform Quality
Plan Quality Assurance
Management Control
Knowledge Areas and Process
Groups Summary (2 of 2)
Process Groups Monitoring &
Initiating Planning Executing Closing
Knowledge Area Controlling
Acquire Project
Project Human Resource Develop Human
Team
Resource Plan
Management Develop Project
Team
Manage Project
Team
Identify Distribute Report
Project Communications Plan
Information Performance
Management Stakeholders Communications
Manage
Stakeholder
Expectations
Plan Risk
Management Monitor and
Project Risk Management
Identify Risks Control Risks
Perform
Qualitative Risk
Analysis
Perform
Quantitative Risk
Analysis
Plan Risk
Responses
Project Procurement Conduct Administer Close
Plan Procurements
Management Procurements Procurements Procurements
Knowledge Check
Concepts You Should Know
A process is a set of interrelated actions and activities
performed to achieve a pre-specified product, result, or
service.
The PMBOK Guide defines 42 project management
processes.
The 42 project management processes are grouped into
5 Process Groups:
Initiating
Planning
Executing
Monitoring and Controlling
Closing Knowledge Check
Knowledge Check
Concepts You Should Know (cont.)
There are nine Knowledge Areas in the PMBOK Guide:
Project Integration Management (6 processes)
Project Scope Management (5 processes)
Project Time Management (6 processes)
Project Cost Management (3 processes)
Project Quality Management (3processes)
Project Human Resource Management (4 processes)
Project Communications Management (5 processes)
Project Risk Management (6 processes)
Project Procurement Management (4 processes)
Knowledge Check
Knowledge Check
Concepts You Should Know (cont.)
All processes are described in terms of their inputs,
tools and techniques, and outputs:
Input: Any item that is required by a process before that
process can proceed
Tool: Something tangible used in performing an activity to
produce a result
Technique: Defined systematic procedure to perform an
activity to produce a result
Output: Product, result, or service produced by a
process
Across
The projectthemanagement
life of the project
processes are iterative:
Within each phase of the project life cycle Knowledge Check