A GUIDE TO
THE PROJECT MANAGEMENT
BODY OF KNOWLEDGE
(PMBOK® GUIDE)
The information contained in the
PMBOK ® Guide is not an American
National Standard (ANS) and has not
been processed in accordance with
ANSI’s requirements for an ANS.
As such, the information in the
PMBOK ® Guide may contain material
that has not been subjected to public
review or a consensus process.
In addition, it does not contain
requirements necessary for
conformance to an ANS standard.
1
Introduction
This section describes important information about A Guide to the Project Management Body
of Knowledge (PMBOK® Guide) – Seventh Edition. It describes the relationship of the PMBOK® Guide
to The Standard for Project Management [1],1 changes to the PMBOK® Guide, the relationship to
PMIstandards+™ (PMI’s digital platform for standards), and provides a brief overview of the content.
1.1 STRU C T URE O F T H E P M B O K ® G U I DE
In addition to this Introduction, this edition of the PMBOK® Guide contains three sections:
▶ Section 2 Project Performance Domains. This section identifies and describes eight
project performance domains that form an integrated system to enable successful delivery
of the project and intended outcomes.
▶ Section 3 Tailoring. This section describes what tailoring is and presents an overview
of what to tailor and how to go about tailoring individual projects.
▶ Section 4 Models, Methods, and Artifacts. This section presents a brief description
of commonly used models, methods, and artifacts. These models, methods, and artifacts
illustrate the range of options project teams can use to produce deliverables, organize
work, and enable communication and collaboration.
1
The numbers in brackets refer to the list of references at the end of the PMBOK® Guide.
3
1.2 REL AT IO N S H IP O F T HE P M B O K ® G U I DE A ND
THE S TAN D ARD FO R PR O J E C T M A NA G E M E NT
Work in the project performance domains is guided by the principles of project management.
As described in The Standard for Project Management [1], a principle is a fundamental norm, truth,
or value. The principles for project management provide guidance for the behavior of people
involved in projects as they influence and shape the performance domains to produce the intended
outcomes. While there is conceptual overlap between the principles and the performance domains,
the principles guide behavior, while the performance domains present broad areas of focus in which
to demonstrate that behavior. Figure 1-1 shows how the project management principles sit above
the performance domains, providing guidance to activities in each performance domain.
4 PMBOK ® Guide
Principles of Project Management
Be a diligent, respectful, Create a collaborative Effectively engage
and caring steward team environment with stakeholders Focus on value
Recognize, evaluate,
and respond to Demonstrate leadership Build quality into
behaviors Tailor based on context processes and deliverables
system interactions
Embrace adaptability Enable change to achieve
Navigate complexity Optimize risk responses and resiliency the envisioned future state
Guide Behavior
Stakeholders
Uncertainty Team
Project Development
Measurement Performance Approach
Domains and
Life Cycle
Delivery Planning
Project Work
Figure 1-1. Relationship between Project Management Principles and Project Performance Domains
Section 1 – Introduction 5
1.3 CHA N GE S T O T H E P M B O K ® G U I DE
This edition of the PMBOK® Guide focuses on delivering outcomes regardless of the approach
used by the project team. However, project practitioners using the PMBOK® Guide also benefit from
some level of understanding of how to deliver projects.
This edition is very different from the inputs, tools/techniques, and outputs (ITTOs) from
previous editions of the PMBOK® Guide. In the previous editions, the ITTOs supported implementation
of various processes used in project management. The shift from a process-based standard to one
based on principles necessitates a different approach for thinking about the various aspects of
project management. Thus, the project performance domains represent a group of related activities
that are critical for the effective delivery of project outcomes. There are eight project performance
domains in this guide.
Tailoring is the deliberate adaptation of the project management approach, governance,
and processes to make them more suitable for the given environment and the work at hand. The
tailoring process is driven by the guiding project management principles, organizational values, and
organizational culture.
In embracing the full spectrum of project approaches, this edition of the PMBOK® Guide
recognizes that no publication can capture every tool, technique, or practice that project teams
might use. Therefore, this edition presents an array of commonly used models, methods, and
artifacts that project practitioners can use to accomplish their work.
1.4 REL AT IO N S H IP T O P M Is t a n d a rd s +
Information in this guide is further elaborated on PMIstandards+, PMI’s digital content platform.
The digital platform encompasses current and emerging practices and other useful information
related to PMI’s library of standards products. It also includes practical examples of application within
various contexts and industry segments. PMIstandards+ evolved in response to advances and changes
in how projects can be delivered. It offers a dynamic body of knowledge with real-time access and
in-depth information that is aligned to PMI standards and carefully vetted by a panel of subject matter
experts representing a wide range of expertise.
6 PMBOK ® Guide
