PMBOK (Project Management Body of Knowledge)
DE: PMBOK (Wissenssammlung zum Projektmanagement)
PMI's foundational standard for project management practices worldwide.
Detailed Explanation
The PMBOK Guide is published by the Project Management Institute (PMI) and provides the foundational standard for project management. The 7th Edition (2021) shifted from a process-based approach to a principles-based approach organized around 12 project management principles and 8 performance domains.
The 12 principles include: stewardship, team, stakeholders, value, systems thinking, leadership, tailoring, quality, complexity, risk, adaptability, and change. The 8 performance domains are: stakeholders, team, development approach and life cycle, planning, project work, delivery, measurement, and uncertainty.
PMBOK is not a methodology — it is a guide that provides a vocabulary, framework, and set of good practices applicable across industries and project types. It serves as the foundation for the PMP certification exam and is recognized as the global standard for project management.
Key Points
- Published by PMI — the global PM standard
- 7th Edition: 12 principles + 8 performance domains
- Shifted from process-based to principles-based approach
- Not a methodology — a framework and vocabulary
- Foundation for the PMP certification exam
- Applicable across industries and project types
Practical Example
A PM studying for the PMP exam uses PMBOK 7th Edition as her primary reference. She learns the 12 principles and applies them to practice exam questions. For her actual project, she tailors the PMBOK framework: using predictive planning for the well-defined infrastructure phase and agile delivery for the less certain application development phase.
Tips for Learning and Applying
Read the PMBOK Guide alongside practical experience — theory alone is not enough
Understand that PMBOK 7th Edition is principles-based, not process-based
Tailor PMBOK practices to your project context — it is not one-size-fits-all
Use PMBOK as a common language with other PMs and stakeholders
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