Process Groups & Knowledge Areas

As described by the PMI in PMBOK guide, 4th edition is referred here, the project managers’ work is divided into 42 different processes. These processes are listed in a matrix structure of 5 process groups and 9 knowledge areas. In simple words that I read somewhere some time back, the knowledge areas define the different areas of project management which the project manager should have knowledge about. Whereas, the process groups are where the project manager applies his knowledge. For example, in the ‘project cost management’ knowledge area, the project manager should know how to manage the project cost by properly estimating the cost and making budget during ‘planning’ and later controlling the cost in ‘monitoring and controlling’ process groups.

The important thing to understand here is that these process groups and knowledge areas are continuously evolving with the progressive research in the field of project management. Project managers encounter new problems and find new solutions to tackle them. These solutions and their forming steps are later refined into processes which are placed under the matrix of process groups and knowledge areas. Following is the list of knowledge areas and process groups as listed in the 4th edition of PMBOK:

Process Groups

1. Initiating
2. Planning
3. Executing
4. Monitoring & Controlling
5. Closing

Knowledge Areas

1. Project Integration Management
2. Project Scope Management
3. Project Time Management
4. Project Cost Management
5. Project Quality Management
6. Project Human Resources Management
7. Project Communications Management
8. Project Risk Management
9. Project Procurement Management
10. Project Stakeholder Management (newly added knowledge area in PMBOK guide 5th edition)

An easier way to remember these knowledge areas by heart, which I learnt from my teacher, is to remember this phrase ‘I Saw The Cute Quality Hens Commonly Rated PeacockS‘. The bold letters are the initial characters of all the knowledge areas in proper sequence. All these knowledge areas are discussed in detail in preceding articles.