-          Organize and describe the work of the project

-          Per PMBOK Guide: 5 process groups

• Initiating
• Planning
• Execution
• Monitoring and Controlling
• Closing

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Project Phases & Life Cycles v. Project Management Process Groups

-          Project phases and lifecycles describe how the work associated with the product of the project will be completed

-          The five project management process groups organize and describe how the project will conducted in order to meet the requirements

Initiating Process Group

-          Occurs at the beginning of the project and at the beginning of each project phase for large projects

-          Acknowledges that a project or the next project phase should begin

Planning Process Group

-          The process group of formulating and revising project goals and objectives and creating the project management plan that will be used to achieve the goals of the project was undertaken to address

-          Also involves determining alternative courses of action and selecting from a month the best of those to produce the project goals

-          Where the project requirements are fleshed out and stakeholders are identified

-          Has more processes that any of the other project management process groups

-          Project Prioritization Issues – The greatest conflicts a project manager will encounter in this process group

Executing Process Group

-          Involves putting the project management plan into action

-          The project manager will coordinate and direct the project resources to meet the objectives of the project plan

-          Typically where the approved changes are implemented

-          Will utilize the most project time and resources, and as a result, cost are usually the highest

-          Schedules – greatest conflict project managers will encounter

Monitoring and Controlling Process Group

-          Where project performance measurements are taken and analyzed to determine whether the project is staying true to the project plan

-          The idea is to identify the problems as soon as possible and apply corrective action to control the work of the project and assure successful outcomes

-          Used to track the progress of the work being performed and identify problems and variances within a process group as well as the project as a whole

Closing Process Group

-          Probably the most often skipped process group

-          Brings a formal, orderly end to the activities of a project phase or the project itself

-          Important because all the project information are gathered and stored for future reference

-          Where contract close-out occurs and formal acceptance and approval are obtained from project stakeholders

Tailoring

-          Determining which processes within each process group are appropriate for the project

-          Responsibility of the project manager and the project team

Reference:

PMP Project Management Professional Exam Study Guide, Includes Audio CD

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Synopsis: Jeff Minder uses his interactive whiteboard to show you some tips you need to follow if you expect to pass the PMP Exam. Jeff is an award winning instructor and entrepreneur who teaches Project Management and Business Analysis classes all over the nation. You can contact Jeff at www.VictoryVets.com.