The purpose of this appendix is to provide an overview of the changes made to A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK® Guide)—Fifth Edition to create the PMBOK® Guide—Sixth Edition.
X1.1 SCOPE OF UPDATE
The approved scope for the PMBOK® Guide—Sixth Edition includes:
With that directive in mind, the update team focused on bringing greater consistency and clarity by refining and standardizing the processes, inputs, tools and techniques, and outputs.
X1.2 RULES FOR HARMONIZATION BETWEEN GLOSSARY TERMS AND THE PMI LEXICON OF PROJECT MANAGEMENT TERMS
To ensure that terms used in the PMBOK® Guide align with the PMI Lexicon of Project Management Terms 1 and harmonize with other relevant PMI standards, the Sixth Edition followed these business rules:
X1.3 RULES FOR HANDLING INPUTS AND OUTPUTS
The following business rules were used to provide consistency in the order and information within the inputs and outputs for each project management process:
X1.4 RULES FOR HANDLING TOOLS AND TECHNIQUES
The Sixth Edition endeavored to reduce the number of tools and techniques by focusing on those that are currently used on most projects most of the time. Based on academic and market research a number of tools and techniques were eliminated. In order to reduce repetition a tool or technique is described the first time it is listed and subsequent processes using that tool or technique refer back to the earlier description.
The Sixth Edition grouped some of the commonly used tools and techniques by their intent. Not all tools and techniques fall within a group, but for those tools or techniques that are part of a group, the group is listed and then examples of tools and techniques in that group are described in the narrative. The tools and techniques groups are:
Appendix X6 identifies all the tools and techniques in the PMBOK® Guide by group, where appropriate, and lists the processes where they are used.
X1.5 PROJECT MANAGEMENT PLAN
Not every component of the project management plan is created in a separate process. Such components are considered to be created in the Develop Project Management Plan process. They include the change management plan, configuration management plan, performance measurement baseline, project life cycle, development approach, and management reviews.
X1.6 SECTION 1—INTRODUCTION
The Introduction section was significantly rewritten. Introductory information about projects, programs, and portfolios that aligns with other PMI foundational standards remains. However, there is new information on project and development life cycles, project phases, and phase gates. This information provides a high-level overview on selecting development approaches from predictive, iterative, incremental and adaptive, based on the nature of the project. New information on business documents includes the business case and the benefits management plan.
X1.7 SECTION 2—THE ENVIRONMENT IN WHICH PROJECTS OPERATE
The content of Section 2 was significantly rewritten. Information on organizational process assets and enterprise environmental factors remains. However, there is new content on governance, management elements, and organizational structure types.
X1.8 Section 3—THE ROLE OF THE PROJECT MANAGER
This is a new section that outlines the project manager's role on the team. It includes information on the project manager's sphere of influence and competencies. PMI's Talent Triangle® is discussed with its emphasis on strategic and business management skills, technical project management skills, and leadership skills. Leadership styles and personality are also discussed as part of this section. The final part of this section focuses on the project manager as an integrator.
X1.9 AGILE
Since the Fifth Edition of the PMBOK® Guide there has been more adoption of agile and adaptive methodologies in the management of projects. The Sixth Edition has included a subsection called Considerations for Adaptive Environments at the beginning of Sections 4 through 13. Some agile-specific tools and techniques have been introduced into the PMBOK® Guide, such as sprint and iteration planning. Appendix X3 describes the use of agile, adaptive, iterative, and hybrid approaches from the perspective of the Project Management Process Groups.
X1.10 KNOWLEDGE AREA FRONT MATERIAL
Each of the Knowledge Area sections includes standardized material prior to introducing the first process. The material is presented in the following subsections:
X1.11 KNOWLEDGE AREA AND PROCESS CHANGES
Two Knowledge Areas names were changed to more closely reflect the work that is done.
One process was removed and three new processes were added, to reflect changes in the way projects are managed in practice. One process was moved between Knowledge Areas. These changes are summarized below, and discussed in the relevant Knowledge Area section:
Several process names were changed to improve consistency across the processes and to improve clarity. Research indicates that project managers tend to monitor, facilitate, and manage rather than control, particularly in processes that involve interactions with people. Therefore, process names for Control Communications, Control Risks, and Control Stakeholder Engagement were changed to Monitor Communications, Monitor Risks, and Monitor Stakeholder Engagement. The list below summarizes all the process name changes:
X1.12 SECTION 4—PROJECT INTEGRATION MANAGEMENT CHANGES
A new process, Manage Project Knowledge, was added. This is a result of many deferred comments from the Fifth Edition indicating the need to address knowledge management in projects. A key output of this process is the lessons learned register. This register is used throughout many of the processes in the Sixth Edition. This emphasizes the need to learn continually throughout the project rather than waiting until the end to reflect.
Business documents are inputs to the Develop Project Charter and Close Project or Phase processes. The introduction of business documents underscores the importance of staying attuned to the business case and benefits management throughout the project. Administrative closure activities for procurements have been absorbed into the Close Project or Phase process.
Changes consistent with information described in Sections X1.1 through X1.11 were implemented. Table X1-1 summarizes the Section 4 processes:
Fifth Edition Processes | Sixth Edition Processes |
4.1 Develop Project Charter | 4.1 Develop Project Charter |
4.2 Develop Project Management Plan | 4.2 Develop Project Management Plan |
4.3 Direct and Manage Project Work | 4.3 Direct and Manage Project Work |
4.4 Monitor and Control Project Work | 4.4 Manage Project Knowledge |
4.5 Perform Integrated Change Control | 4.5 Monitor and Control Project Work |
4.6 Close Project or Phase | 4.6 Perform Integrated Change Control |
4.7 Close Project or Phase |
X1.13 SECTION 5—PROJECT SCOPE MANAGEMENT CHANGES
The Sixth Edition team collaborated with The Standard for Business Analysis to ensure that both foundational standards were aligned, though not duplicative. No changes to process names were necessary.
Changes consistent with information described in Sections X1.1 through X1.11 were implemented.
X1.14 SECTION 6—PROJECT SCHEDULE MANAGEMENT CHANGES
Section 6 was renamed from Project Time Management to Project Schedule Management. Research indicated support for the name change as project managers do not manage time, they define and manage the project schedule. Due to the shift in focus and renaming of Project Human Resource Management to Project Resource Management, the process Estimate Activity Resources was moved from this Knowledge Area to Project Resource Management. Some agile concepts were incorporated into the Develop Schedule process. Figures and associated text were updated to clarify scheduling concepts addressed in the section.
Changes consistent with information described in Sections X1.1 through X1.11 were implemented. Table X1-2 summarizes the Section 6 processes:
Fifth Edition Processes | Sixth Edition Processes |
6.1 Plan Schedule Management | 6.1 Plan Schedule Management |
6.2 Define Activities | 6.2 Define Activities |
6.3 Sequence Activities | 6.3 Sequence Activities |
6.4 Estimate Activity Resources | 6.4 Estimate Activity Durations |
6.5 Estimate Activity Durations | 6.5 Develop Schedule |
6.6 Develop Schedule | 6.6 Control Schedule |
6.7 Control Schedule |
X1.15 SECTION 7—PROJECT COST MANAGEMENT CHANGES
Changes consistent with information described in Sections X1.1 through X1.11 were implemented.
X1.16 SECTION 8—PROJECT QUALITY MANAGEMENT CHANGES
Academic and market research was conducted regarding the Perform Quality Assurance process. Research indicated that many of the quality tools and techniques that were identified previously are not widely used in today's projects. The profession focuses more on managing quality through the quality management plan. Thus, the Perform Quality Assurance process shifted focus and the name was changed to Manage Quality.
Changes consistent with information described in Sections X1.1 through X1.11 were implemented. Table X1-3 summarizes the Section 8 processes:
Fifth Edition Processes | Sixth Edition Processes |
8.1 Plan Quality Management | 8.1 Plan Quality Management |
8.2 Perform Quality Assurance | 8.2 Manage Quality |
8.3 Control Quality | 8.3 Control Quality |
X1.17 SECTION 9—PROJECT RESOURCE MANAGEMENT CHANGES
The Sixth Edition expanded the scope of this section from its previous focus on human resources to include all resources. To distinguish between human resources and other resources, the term team resources is used to refer to human resources and the term physical resources is used to refer to other resources. The Estimate Activity Resources process was transferred into this Knowledge Area from Project Schedule Management, and a new process Control Resources was added. The word “project” was eliminated from Develop Team and Manage Team as it is inferred that the only team the project manager is concerned about developing and managing is the project team.
Changes consistent with information described in Sections X1.1 through X1.11 were implemented. Table X1-4 summarizes the Section 9 processes:
Fifth Edition Processes | Sixth Edition Processes |
9.1 Plan Human Resource Management | 9.1 Plan Resource Management |
9.2 Acquire Project Team | 9.2 Estimate Activity Resources |
9.3 Develop Project Team | 9.3 Acquire Resources |
9.4 Manage Project Team | 9.4 Develop Team |
9.5 Manage Team | |
9.6 Control Resources |
X1.18 SECTION 10—PROJECT COMMUNICATIONS MANAGEMENT CHANGES
A subtle but important distinction was made in this section about project communication. The term “communication” indicates the act of communicating, such as facilitating a meeting, giving information and active listening. The term “communications” indicates the artifacts of communication, such as memos, presentations, and emails. Because it is not possible to control how and when people communicate, the name of the Control Communications process has been changed to Monitor Communications.
Changes consistent with information described in Sections X1.1 through X1.11 were implemented. Table X1-5 summarizes the Section 10 processes:
Fifth Edition Processes | Sixth Edition Processes |
10.1 Plan Communications Management | 10.1 Plan Communications Management |
10.2 Manage Communications | 10.2 Manage Communications |
10.3 Control Communications | 10.3 Monitor Communications |
X1.19 SECTION 11—PROJECT RISK MANAGEMENT CHANGES
An increased emphasis on overall project risk was integrated throughout the risk management processes. A new process, Implement Risk Responses, was added. This process is part of the Executing Process Group. The new process emphasizes the importance of not just planning risk responses, but implementing them as well. A new risk response “escalate” was introduced to indicate that if risks are identified that are outside the scope of the project objectives, they should be passed to the relevant person or part of the organization. Because risks are uncertain future events or conditions, they cannot be controlled; however, they can be monitored. Thus, the process Control Risks was renamed to Monitor Risks.
Changes consistent with information described in Sections X1.1 through X1.11 were implemented. Table X1-6 summarizes the Section 11 processes:
Fifth Edition Processes | Sixth Edition Processes |
11.1 Plan Risk Management | 11.1 Plan Risk Management |
11.2 Identify Risks | 11.2 Identify Risks |
11.3 Perform Qualitative Risk Analysis | 11.3 Perform Qualitative Risk Analysis |
11.4 Perform Quantitative Risk Analysis | 11.4 Perform Quantitative Risk Analysis |
11.5 Plan Risk Responses | 11.5 Plan Risk Responses |
11.6 Control Risks | 11.6 Implement Risk Responses |
11.7 Monitor Risks |
X1.20 SECTION 12—PROJECT PROCUREMENT MANAGEMENT CHANGES
Much of the information in this Knowledge Area was updated to reflect a more global perspective. Many projects are conducted with stakeholders in various countries, or by organizations with offices in multiple countries.
Market research shows that very few project managers actually close out procurements. Someone in contracts, procurement or legal departments usually has that authority. Therefore, information from Close Procurements about evaluating all completed deliverables and comparing them to the contract was absorbed into Control Procurements. Information about administrative, communications, and records was moved to Close Project or Phase.
Changes consistent with information described in Sections X1.1 through X1.11 were implemented. Table X1-7 summarizes the Section 12 processes:
Fifth Edition Processes | Sixth Edition Processes |
12.1 Plan Procurement Management | 12.1 Plan Procurement Management |
12.2 Conduct Procurements | 12.2 Conduct Procurements |
12.3 Administer Procurements | 12.3 Control Procurements |
12.4 Close Procurements |
X1.21 SECTION 13—PROJECT STAKEHOLDER MANAGEMENT CHANGES
In keeping with current research and practice, a shift was made to focus on stakeholder engagement rather than stakeholder management. Because project managers rarely, if ever, have the ability to control stakeholders, Control Stakeholder Engagement was renamed to Monitor Stakeholder Engagement.
Changes consistent with information described in Sections X1.1 through X1.11 were implemented. Table X1-8 summarizes the Section 13 processes:
Fifth Edition Processes | Sixth Edition Processes |
13.1 Identify Stakeholders | 13.1 Identify Stakeholders |
13.2 Plan Stakeholder Management | 13.2 Plan Stakeholder Engagement |
13.3 Manage Stakeholder Engagement | 13.3 Manage Stakeholder Engagement |
13.4 Control Stakeholder Engagement | 13.4 Monitor Stakeholder Engagement |
X1.22 GLOSSARY
The glossary of the PMBOK® Guide—Sixth Edition was updated to clarify meaning and improve the quality and accuracy of any translations. Terms that are not used in the Sixth Edition, or are not used differently from everyday usage, were eliminated.
1 Project Management Institute. 2016. The PMI Lexicon of Project Management Terms. Available from http://www.pmi.org/Lexiconterms