COMSATS INSTITUTE OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

TOPIC: Nine Project management areas of knowledge

SUBMITTED BY: Farooq Afzal Khattak (fa07-bba-010)

SUBMITTED TO: Ms Nazia Khakaan

DATE: 15th March, 2011

COURSE: Project Management

The Project Management Area of Knowledge (PMBOK)

Duncan Haughey Page 1
Introduction:

The project manager must have clear understanding of the process, he should be aware of the
critical issues related to any particular project and activities and deliverables in managing
project. It includes knowledge of the tools, how to use specific tools in order to bring about the
expected product of each project management process. PMBok is a software that is used for
project management, another software is Prince2.

Definition :

The Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK) is a collection of processes and

knowledge areas generally accepted as best practice within the project management discipline.

As an internationally recognized standard (IEEE Std 1490-2003) it provides the fundamentals of

project management, irrespective of the type of project be it construction, software, engineering,
automotive etc.

PMBOK recognizes 5 basic process groups and 9 knowledge areas typical of almost all projects.
The basic concepts are applicable to projects, programs and operations. The five basic process
groups are:

1. Initiating
2. Planning
3. Executing
4. Monitoring and Controlling
5. Closing

Processes overlap and interact throughout a project or phase. Processes are described in terms of:

• Inputs (documents, plans, designs, etc.)

• Tools and Techniques (mechanisms applied to inputs)
• Outputs (documents, products, etc.)

The nine knowledge areas are:

1. Project Integration Management

2. Project Scope Management
3. Project Time Management
4. Project Cost Management
5. Project Quality Management
6. Project Human Resource Management
7. Project Communications Management
8. Project Risk Management
9. Project Procurement Management

Duncan Haughey Page 2

Each knowledge area contains some or all of the project management processes. For example,
Project Procurement Management includes:

• Procurement Planning
• Solicitation Planning
• Solicitation
• Source Selection
• Contract Administration
• Contract Closeout

Conclusion:

These 5 basic process groups and 9 knowledge of areas basically describes that how a project can
be planned,executed and terminated with the given tools and techniques. These 9 knowledge of
areas suggests that management should be united, it must be having certain scope, there should
be a time limit, quality, HRM, and other things, combination of all these will help the manager to
carry out the project efficiently and effectively.

Reference:

Projectsmart.co.uk/pmbok

Article: The Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK)

By Duncan Haughey, PMP

Duncan Haughey Page 3