-          The progression through the project management process groups exhibits the same characteristics as progression through the project phases

-          Costs are lowest during the initiating processes and few team members are involved

-          Costs and staffing levels increase in the executing process group and decrease as you approach the closing process group

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The Process Flow

-          Process groups interact and overlap with each other

-          Process groups are iterative and might be revised throughout the project’s life several times as the project is refined

-          Iterative Process – According to the PMBOK Guide, the process of going back through the process groups

-          The conclusion of each process group allows the project manager and stakeholder to reexamine the business needs of the project and determine whether the project is satisfying those needs

Process Interactions

-          Underlying the concept that process groups are iterative is a cycle the PMBOK Guide describes as the Plan-Do-Check-Act cycle, which was originally defined by Walter Shewhart and later modified by Edward Deming à idea behind the concept is that each element in the cycle is results-oriented

-          Project Phases – describes how the work required to produce the product of the project will be completed

-          Project Management Process Groups – organize and describe how the project activities will be completed in order to meet the goals of the project

-          Plan-Do-Check-Act Cycle – an underlying concept that shows the integrative nature of the process groups

Reference:

PMP Project Management Professional Exam Study Guide, Includes Audio CD

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-          Usually a centralized organizational unite that oversees the management of projects and programs throughout the organization

-          Most common reason for establishing: To establish and maintain procedures and standards for project management methodologies and to manage resources assigned to the projects in the PMO

-          Can exist in all organizational structures – functional, projectized or matrix

-          Usually has the responsibility for maintaining and archiving project documentation for future reference

-          Compares project goals with project progress and gives feedback to the project teams

-          Measures the project performance of active projects and suggests corrective actions

-          Evaluates completed projects for their adherence to the project plan

-          Responsible for managing the objectives of a collective set of projects, managing resources across projects and the managing the interdependencies of all the projects within the PMO’s authority

-    Brings together a set of tools and techniques – performed by people – to describe, organize and monitor the work of project activities
-    According to PMBOK Guide: involves applying knowledge skills, tools and techniques during the course of the project to accomplish the project’s objective; it is the responsibility of the project manager to ensure that project management techniques are applied and followed

-    Exam Spotlight: Per the PMBOK Guide, the definition of project management is applying tools, techniques, skills and knowledge to project activities to bring about successful results and meet the project requirements
-    A process that includes initiating a new project, planning, putting the project plan into action, and measuring progress and performance
-    Involves identifying the project requirements, establishing project objectives, balancing constraints and taking the needs and expectations of key stakeholders into consideration
-    Planning – one of the most important functions you’ll perform during the course of a project

Project Managers – The people responsible for managing the project processes and applying the tools and techniques to carry out the project activities

Reference: PMP Project Management Professional Exam Study Guide, Includes Audio CD