Project Management Process Groups

Project Management Process Groups

• Each process group is a series of actions that result in a specific outcome
• The five process groups are initiation, planning, execution, monitoring and control, and closing
• Initiation: Focuses on starting projects and phases. It involves obtaining authorization to begin.
• Planning: Encompasses setting the scope of the project, refining objectives, and defining the plan to achieve those objectives.
• Execution: Coordinates resources and activities to complete the work outlined in the plan. This involves producing deliverables.
• Monitoring and Control: Tracks progress toward project goals, monitors deviations from plans, and initiates corrective actions.
• Closing: Finalizes the acceptance of the project, phase, or contract. It involves formal documentation and handover.

The Process Groups: Time Spent

• The project team spends the most time executing tasks, followed by planning tasks.
• Monitoring and controlling processes occur throughout the project lifecycle.
• Initiating and closing tasks tend to be shorter in duration.
• The amount of time spent on each process group varies based on project specifics, making each project unique.

Project Management Knowledge Areas

• There are ten knowledge areas in project management. Each area is a set of processes associated with a specific project management specialization.
• These knowledge areas:
  • Project Integration Management: Focuses on integrating and unifying all project aspects, ensuring alignment with company goals and managing potential risks.
  • Project Scope Management: Defines the work included within a project, ensuring that all necessary tasks are included and unnecessary extras are excluded.
  • Project Schedule Management: Involves creating a schedule by dividing the project into tasks, assigning start and end dates, and allocating budgets for each task. It also includes the monitoring and control of these schedules.
  • Project Cost Management: Manages project costs from initiation to completion, establishing a budget through rigorous estimation and monitoring.
  • Project Quality Management: Ensures customer satisfaction with deliverables by defining quality standards, testing, and controlling quality throughout the project.
  • Project Resource Management: Involves identifying, acquiring, and managing the human resources needed for project success.
  • Project Communications Management: Focuses on all project communication, including meeting records, stakeholder information, and communication issue resolution.
  • Project Risk Management: Identifies, analyzes, and develops plans to manage risks that may arise throughout the project.
  • Project Procurement Management: Deals with identifying and acquiring external resources (e.g., suppliers, vendors, contractors) to support project objectives.
  • Project Stakeholder Management: Manages all stakeholders (individuals or groups with an interest in the project), considering participation levels, communication needs, and involvement throughout the project.

ITTO (Input, Tools, Techniques & Output)

• ITTOs provide a standard method for executing processes and projects.
• ITTOs cover:
  • Inputs: Prerequisites necessary to initiate a process.
  • Tools and Techniques: The methods and resources used to complete the process, including software, templates, and human expertise.
  • Outputs: The products, results, or services generated by the process.
• ITTOs are not mutually exclusive and often overlap. The order and relationship between ITTOs are important, just like in constructing a house or baking a cake.### Mapping Knowledge Areas to Process Groups
• Project management knowledge areas include 10 categories: Integration Management, Scope Management, Schedule Management, Cost Management, Quality Management, Resource Management, Communications Management, Risk Management, Procurement Management, and Stakeholder Management
• There are five project management process groups: Initiation, Planning, Execution, Monitor & Control, and Closure
• Each process group includes inputs, tools and techniques, and outputs

Project Description

• Each student must develop a project description for their group
• Project description should describe the solution to a problem or an opportunity to take advantage of
• Project description should clearly state if the project is delivering a product or service
• Project description should be self-explanatory and easily understandable to anyone - even those without project management experience

Deliverables

•  Deliverable #2 is due in October: Project Description
• My Individual Commitment is due in September
•  SALS Academic Integrity is due in September

Explore the five key process groups in project management, including initiation, planning, execution, monitoring and control, and closing. This quiz will test your understanding of each group's role and time management within projects. Prepare to enhance your project management skills!