The Nine Knowledge Areas

These are the nine knowledge areas specified in the PMBOK Guide 4th Edition by PMI.

You have seen processes grouped by Process Groups in the previous entry. Now, processes are grouped by their Knowledge Areas.

Integration Management
Includes the processes needed to identify, define, combine, unify and coordinate the various processes and project activities within the Project Management Process Groups. This is one Knowledge Area which is the responsibility of the Project Manger alone.

Scope Management
Includes the processes required to ensure that the project includes all the work required, and ONLY the work required, to complete the project successfully.

Time Management
Includes the processes required to ensure the project (including all project activities) are completed within the agreed schedule.

Cost Management
Includes the processes required for estimating, budgeting and cost control while making sure the project is completed within the approved budget.

Quality Management
Includes the processes and activities of the performing organization that determine the quality policies, objectives and responsibilities so that the project will satisfy the needs of which it was undertaken. Continuous process improvement is the important aspect of this knowledge area.

Human Resource Management
Includes the processes that organize, manage and lead the project team. This involves defining roles and responsibilities, identifying resource availability as well as the professional (and personal) development of the team members.

Communication Management
Includes the processes required to ensure timely and appropriate generation, collection, distribution, storage, retrieval and ultimate disposal of project information. Project Managers spend majority of their time communicating with various people, including stakeholders, contractors and project team members. As such it is important that information is being managed properly.

Risk Management
Includes the processes of conducting risk management planning, identification, analysis, response planning and monitoring and control of project risks. The objectives are to increase the probability and impact of opportunities and decreasing the probability and impact of threats.

Procurement Management
Includes the processes necessary to purchase or acquire products and/or services from parties outside from the project team; i.e.: contractors, vendors, etc.

 

The Project Management Process Groups and Knowledge Areas can be mapped in a tabular format, which shows the processes involved at each level.

The PMBOK Guide 4th Edition explains all the processes involved based on their knowledge areas. All processes have three things in common; they have inputs, tools and techniques, and outputs.

If you ask me do we have to memorise all the processes with their inputs, tools and techniques and outputs, well, the answer is YES! But don’t worry, as you go along the learning process, you will see that it comes easier as time goes by. Most importantly, we have to understand why it is so.