Do you manage projects, work
on project teams, teach project management, or otherwise want to know about project
management?
A Guide to the Project
Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK Guide) is your basic reference and the world's de
facto standard for the project management profession. It is one of the best, most
versatile documents available today describing generally accepted knowledge and practices
needed to complete projects successfully.
The Project Management Body
of Knowledge (PMBOK*) is an inclusive term that describes the sum of knowledge within the
profession of project management. As with other professions such as law, medicine, and
accounting, the body of knowledge rests with the practitioners and academics that apply
and advance it. The full project management body of knowledge includes knowledge of proven
traditional practices that are widely applied, as well as knowledge of innovative and
advanced practices that have seen more limited use.
The PMBOK9 Guide identifies
and describes the subset of the PMBOK that is generally accepted. Generally accepted
means that the knowledge and practices described are applicable to most projects most of
the time, and that there is widespread consensus about their value and usefulness.
Generally accepted does not mean that the knowledge and practices described are or should
be applied uniformly on all projects; the project team is always responsible for
determining what is appropriate for any given project.
A Guide to the Project
Management Body of Knowledge also provides a common lexicon within the profession for
talking about project management. Project management is a relatively young profession, and
while there is substantial commonality around what is done, there is relatively little
commonality in the terms used.
This document provides a
basic reference for anyone interested in the profession of project management. This
includes, but is not limited to:
Senior executives.
Managers of project
managers.
Project managers and other
project team members.
Project customers and other
project stakeholders.
Educators teaching project
management and related subjects.
Consultants and other
specialists in the project management field and related fields.
Trainers developing project
management educational programs.
This document is also used
by the Project Management Institute as a basic reference about project management
knowledge and practices for its professional development programs including:
Certification of Project
Management Professionals (PMP1*).
Accreditation of educational
programs in project management.
230 pages