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Image source: Getty Images If you’re looking for the ultimate blueprint (no pun intended) on everything you need to pass your project management certification, you can do no better than the PMBOK (Project Management Body of Knowledge). Whether you’ve chosen project management as your career path or you’ve stumbled into this responsibility, this guide is the perfect resource for learning everything there is to know about planning, executing, and completing team-based projects. You’ll learn everything from work breakdown structures to risk management and anything in between from the PMBOK Guide. These skills are extremely useful no matter if you’re working in IT project management or marketing project management. However, if you don’t have time to go through those detailed guide books, we have plenty of introductory content here at The Ascent that’ll help you get started. So, let’s start with the basics like project management process groups. Overview: What are project management process groups?The five process groups in project management according to PMBOK Guide are distinct phases that encompass certain actions and activities necessary for successfully completing a project. Sort of like the project life cycle. If there is one thing I can say for sure about the project management industry, we love to create lots of different terms to describe very similar processes. These phases require certain skills that are specific to these process groups, known as knowledge areas. The ten PMBOK knowledge areas are:
In order to better understand these knowledge areas, PMBOK has laid each one of them out along with the individual project manager responsibilities in conjunction with the five process groups. This is known as knowledge area mapping. This chart maps out each of the knowledge areas a project manager must understand. Image source: Author As for the system itself, every project incorporates these PMBOK process groups which break down into a chart that’ll guide you from start to finish in your project: These process groups are very straightforward and simple but are crucial for any project to succeed. Image source: Author These project management basics give the manager the organizational structure to successfully plan, conduct, and wrap up any project thrown at them. The 5 project management process groupsNow that you have a fundamental understanding of what the process groups are, let’s go through each process and go through the average expectations for each one. 1. InitiatingIt’s time to kick everything off with the initiation phase. Your vision is established at this point while all of the pieces, processes, and beneficiaries are identified in order to ensure the successful delivery of the project. This process group gives you the opportunity to justify the need for whatever deliverables your team hopes to provide. Initiating includes:
2. PlanningIf you’ve made it this far, you’ve clearly made a sufficient case for this project. That means it’s time to take all that you know and build on it in order to develop your project management plan. These plans will vary, but your project planning process group will include developing budgets, establishing project timelines, and identifying team roles. Planning includes:
3. ExecutingNow that everything is ready to go, it’s time to pull the trigger on this project. Executing is the third project management process group and it’s easily the most exciting and engaging aspect of this project life cycle. Depending on which of the project management methodologies you choose, this will either be an iterative and reciprocal process or a linear process regarding deliverables, stakeholders, and your team. Executing includes:
4. Monitoring and controllingThis project process group works hand-in-hand with the previous group in a reciprocal manner, as shown in the chart above. As you execute your project plan, it’s important to make sure that you keep an eye on the progress you’re making in order to identify any issues if they arise. This process group is all about quality control and maintaining expectations for the project deliverables. Monitoring and controlling includes:
5. ClosingIt’s the end of the road for your project, and it’s time to wrap up all of your loose ends. This includes finalizing the delivery of all tasks, archiving project records, meeting with stakeholders, and performing a post-project analysis. Closing includes:
Everything you need to know to get started in project managementWhether you’re learning about project management process groups, the project management steps, or developing a critical path for your team to follow, The Ascent has a lot to offer those new to project management and others looking to brush up on their knowledge. We have plenty of how-to guides, project management software reviews, software comparisons, and alternatives lists, so be sure to check them out. Alert: highest cash back card we've seen now has 0% intro APR until 2024If you're using the wrong credit or debit card, it could be costing you serious money. Our expert loves this top pick, which features a 0% intro APR until 2024, an insane cash back rate of up to 5%, and all somehow for no annual fee. In fact, this card is so good that our expert even uses it personally. Click here to read our full review for free and apply in just 2 minutes. Read our free review Which of the project management phase are the most time and money typically spent?Implementation (Execution) Phase
In any project, a project manager spends most of the time in this step.
Which project management process takes the most time?Step 3: Project execution
In this project phase, the team is off and running! The execution stage is typically the longest in the project management process because it's when the actual work is done.
In which process group should you spend the most time and money?The most time should be spent on executing, followed by planning.
Which process group costs the highest?The Executing process group utilizes the most project time and resources, and as a result, costs are usually highest during the Executing process.
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