What is Project Management?

We already know what is project. Now does managing a project is all about Project Management? Sort of.. lets see what PMBOK saying...Project Management is application of knowledge, skills, tools and techniques to project activities to meet the project requirement. Well, definition is saying something about a bit how to manage projects as well. i..e we have to use certain knowledge, skill tools and techniques trough out the activities of the project all these things need to be done to achieve the project requirement, then it can be said project management. Important information on this section is that there are 42 project management processes logically grouped into 5 processes, proper use of which will help achievement of project management.  The 5 grouped Processes are as follows.


a) Initiating   
b) Planning  
c) Executing  
d) Monitoring and Controlling &
e) Closing

What is project?

As per PMBOK Guide the definition of a Project is "A Project is a temporary endeavor undertaken to create a unique product, service or result." That means it have two criteria  a) it will have definite start and end, b) it will have a unique deliverable or output which could be either tangible or intangible. For example, developing a new plane with new aerodynamic shape is a project but once its created the project is completed. The project will not continue during the plane will be in use and till the plane completes its product lifecycle nor the project will continue while company starts generating same type of plane in commercial development line. Cause regularly developing planes in commercial development line is an iterative job and thats called operation not project.

Again as per PMBOK Guide, a project can create either of following three:

a)  A Product that can be either a component of another item or an end item in itself
b)  A Capability to perform a service (e.g., a business function that supports production or distribution). or
c)  A result such as an outcome or document (e.g., a research project that develops knowledge that can be used to determine whether a trend is present or a new process will be benefit society)

Celebrating PMP Course Completion!!!

Well my PMP course is completed.. To get fueled up myself for exam preparation, I have started celebrating my course completion. This includes informing my fellow workmates and sharing my pictures of last day course. Then I thought why not share with you as well? Here they go...

My PMP Instructor Mr.Vinod Manikkara, PgMP,PMP is handing over the course completion Certificate to me.

The girls were a little bit late to come so we the BOYS didn't miss the opportunity to take a snap ourselves. :)

My group picture with complete batch.

Purpose of the PMBOK Guide

In this topic, the main information which we need to know is that applying appropriate knowledge, processes, skills, tools and techniques we can increase the chances of project success. PMBOK Guide identifies these good practices.i.e. it addresses almost all these skills, tools, technique, knowledge and processes. But we need to be aware of that PMBOK Guide is just a subset of PMBOK (Project Management Body of Knowledge) and we can not just implement all of the addressed skills or knowledges into all projects blindly. We (As per book, The Organization and Project Management team) have to decide what skills,processes or techniques are appropriate for a particular project.

2ndly, PMBOK guide is providing some jargons for use of PMPs while communicating or working and its been considered important to follow in professional discipline.

The 3rd purpose of this book, I guess most important for us and that is, PMI look into this foundational project management reference as for its certifications & development programs. Which means it is reference for all of us who is looking forward for PMP certification. But its also says that the guide is not all inclusive, its just a methodology.

Questions from this topic

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1. Applying what can increase the chances of project management success?

a) appropriate knowledge

b) appropriate processes & skills 

c) appropriate tools and techniques

d) all of the above

2. What is PMBOK Guide?

a) its complete book of PMBOK

b) its a subset of PMBOK

c) its a must follow book for PMPs

d) None of the above

3. PMI for its Project Management Development & Certification looks into

a) PMBOK

b) PMBOK Guide

c) Generally Recognized good practices

d) All of the above 

Just finished my Certification preparaton course!!!

Yesterday was my last day of the PMP Certification Preparation Course. On the last class, my mind was working on calculation of ROI. Quite satisfied to be honest. Got all the guidelines I needed but also realized from this point onward its on me how I decide to start my personal preparation. Unlike most of the rest of my fellow classmates I was not awarded the course by my company. Instead, after failing to get the course from my company near about one year!! I decided to put that course into my personal account. After all its me who need to develop and in my current job position my management doesn't feel it important for my job responsibility!!!

Anyway, the money is gone.and my credit card started to kick me so I must start getting certification before I get drawn in the sea of frustration. My plan is to first appear the CAPM and then to go for PMP as I always believe in one step at a time. Moreover, I think I will get a lot of confidence after CAPM exam for the PMP. The good think is that for CAPM PMBOK guide is the only book I need to study. i.e. all the question in CAPM exam will come from PMBOK guide. I guess you have already the PMBOK guide or otherwise you need to get membership of PMI which is really worth to take.

Lets start the journey of preparing for the CAPM exam. My plan is to divide each chapter of the PMBOK Guide and their main discussed topics and the information which I need to be aware for the exam preparation. Again, it is also part of my plan to generate all the possible questions under each topic of each chapters so that I don't leave any information unquestioned!!  I am proceeding forward.. anyone with me?

Introduction to PMBOK Guide

Its just a standard for PMPs. i.e like any other standard its also have formal document describing norms, methods, processes & practices. It also provides guidelines for managing individual projects by defining project management and PM lifecycle along with its processes. The topics which we will cover in this chapter are as follows:

a) Purpose of the PMBOK Guide
b) What is a Project
c) What is Project Management
d) What is Program Management
e) What is Portfolio Management
f) Projects & Strategic Planning
g) Project Management Office
h) Relationships Among Project Management, Program Management, Portfolio Management.
i) Relationships among Project Management & Operation Management
j) Role of a Project Manager
k) PMBOK
l) Enterprise Environmental Factors