{"id":14537,"date":"2021-10-08T12:45:58","date_gmt":"2021-10-08T07:15:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.invensislearning.com\/blog\/?p=14537"},"modified":"2026-04-15T11:39:05","modified_gmt":"2026-04-15T06:09:05","slug":"pmbok-guide-sixth-edition","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.invensislearning.com\/blog\/pmbok-guide-sixth-edition\/","title":{"rendered":"Understanding What is PMBOK 6th Edition: A Guide"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Project Management Body of Knowledge Guide (PMBOK<\/span> Guide) serves as a recognized standard for the profession of project management. A standard is a formal document that defines established norms, methods, processes, rules, and practices. The knowledge and facts contained in this standard are evolved and derived from the acclaimed effective practices of project management practitioners who contributed to the development of this standard. So, the majority of the questions in the PMP Exam are based on or derived from the information given in the PMBOK Guide. As a PMP candidate or aspirant, it is essential to understand the objective, content, and context of this guide. In this article, we will learn about the various components of the PMBOK Guide – Sixth Edition.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

What is the Purpose of the PMBOK Guide?<\/strong><\/h2>\n

The fundamental purpose of the PMBOK Guide is to recognize and explain generally accepted knowledge and systems that can be applied to the projects. The PMBOK Guide is a subset of the project management body of knowledge that is generally recognized as good practice. Here, generally recognized means the knowledge and practices described in the book can be applied to maximum projects most of the time as it is a standard and there is general agreement about their value and usefulness. Good practice means most people agree that the application of the knowledge, skills, tools, and techniques given in the book can improve the chances of success over many projects.<\/span><\/p>\n

Although there have been many establishments of pre-defined facts, the project management profession is still emerging. The dynamism in the industry leads to uncertainty and little commonality around terms. The secondary purpose of the PMBOK Guide is to help provide a common lexicon or vocabulary. It can be used and understood by all for applying <\/span>project management concepts<\/span>. A common vocabulary is a crucial element of any discipline.<\/span><\/p>\n

However, it is possible that these practices are followed by the masses but cannot be expected to be applied uniformly to all projects. It\u2019s always the decision of the project team to determine what the most suitable and feasible practice for any given project would be.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"PMP<\/a><\/p>\n

What Changed in the PMBOK Guide – Sixth Edition?<\/strong><\/h2>\n

1. Processes Organized by Process Groups<\/strong><\/h3>\n

In PMBOK Guide – sixth edition, the processes are organized by <\/span>process groups<\/span><\/a>. This is because processes are more relevant to the process group as compared to a knowledge area.<\/span><\/p>\n

2. Content of Chapters<\/strong><\/h3>\n

In PMBOK 5th edition, there were a total of 13 chapters covering the concepts of the project, program, portfolio, and organizational structures in addition to the life cycle of the project. The PMBOK Guide – the sixth edition combines and strengthens these chapters. In addition to this, the skills and competencies a project manager should possess have been aligned to the PMI Talent Triangle.<\/span>
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\"Talent<\/p>\n

3. Names of two Knowledge Areas<\/strong><\/h3>\n

The ten knowledge areas in PMBOK 5 still exist in PMBOK 6th edition, but 2 of these knowledge areas\u2019 names have been changed. The time management knowledge area changed to schedule management<\/a>, and the human resource management changed to resource management in the PMBOK guide – sixth edition.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

4. Six Changes in Existing Processes<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Estimate Activity Resources<\/a> belonged to the Planning Process Group and Time Management Knowledge Area. In PMBOK Guide – Sixth Edition, it still belongs to the Planning Process Group, but now it will be part of the Resource Management knowledge area. Six processes are renamed in PMBOK 6 although their content stays the same mainly. The table below shows the changes in process names from PMBOK 5 to PMBOK Guide – Sixth Edition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
PMBOK 5th Edition<\/strong><\/td>\nPMBOK 6th Edition<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Perform Quality Assurance<\/td>\nManage Quality<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Plan Human Resource Management<\/td>\nPlan Resource Management<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Control Communications<\/td>\nMonitor Communications<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Control Risks<\/td>\nMonitor Risks<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Plan Stakeholder Management<\/td>\nPlan Stakeholder Engagement<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Control Stakeholder Engagement<\/td>\nMonitor Stakeholder Engagement<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

5. Addition of Information on Agile Methodologies<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Adding more information on the adaptive and iterative methods helps one to keep up with current practices. Agile and adaptive practices are a significant part of all business strategies and projects now. Numerous projects are incorporating the agile methodology on their projects. So, PMI has added the relevant agile practices needed for each knowledge area in the PMBOK Guide – Sixth Edition.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Enroll in our Online PMP Certification Training<\/span><\/a> today, and develop a strong foundation in the principles of Project Management.<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

6. Addition of Three New Processes<\/strong><\/h3>\n

The process of close procurement in the procurement Knowledge area has been removed in the PMBOK Guide – Sixth Edition. On the other hand, three new processes in different Knowledge areas are added. The following table lists the processes and the process group and knowledge area to which they belong:<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Process<\/strong><\/th>\nProcess Group<\/strong><\/th>\nKnowledge Area<\/strong><\/th>\n<\/tr>\n
Manage Project Knowledge<\/td>\nExecuting<\/td>\nIntegration Management<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Implement Risk Responses<\/td>\nExecuting<\/td>\nRisk Management<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Control Resources<\/td>\nMonitoring and Controlling<\/td>\nResource Management<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Therefore, to PMBOK\u2019s 5th edition 47 processes, three are added. Then, from that, one is removed. So, essentially 49 processes are mentioned in PMBOK 6th edition.<\/p>\n

7. Other Changes<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Some other additions included in the 6th edition are:<\/p>\n