What's New in PMBOK® Guide Guide - Seventh Edition?

There has been a significant change from the Sixth to the Seventh Edition of the PMBOK® (Project Management Body of Knowledge) Guide in various aspects. Therefore, from now onwards, users of The Standard for Project Management and the PMBOK® Guide can find the necessary information in PMIstandards+ that will possess information included in the printed version. If you’re planning to take your PMP certification exam in 2023 and after, you must know the changes in PMBOK® Guide - Seventh Edition vs. PMBOK® Guide - Sixth Edition. But, again, the PMBOK® Guide offers comprehensive coverage of the exam’s required knowledge. The PMBOK® Guide - Seventh Edition release date was August 1st, 2021. In concise, the PMBOK® Guide - Seventh Edition contains twelve Project Management Principles and eight Performance domains. We have described the exact changes that have been incorporated in PMBOK® Guide - Seventh Edition in comparison with PMBOK® Guide - Sixth Edition. Before we begin, you must know that PMBOK® Guide - Seventh and PMBOK® Guide - sixth edition is segregated into two sections: The Standard for Project Management and A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge.

Process-Based vs. Principle-Based Project management

In PMBOK® Guide - Seventh edition, the project management standards will be principle-based rather than processes. There are knowledge areas in the previous editions, including PMBOK® Guide - Sixth Edition, and each has certain processes, inputs, tools, techniques, and outputs. The following is the list of the 10 Knowledge Areas:

1. Integration – Implement the right procedures to complete the project’s required tasks.
2. Scope – Document all project goals and deliverables, deadlines, and budgets to better plan the project.
3. Schedule – Maintain a steady pace to complete the project within the required timeframe.
4. Cost – Manage the project’s budget through estimating and allocating all related costs.
5. Quality – Manage and maintain a high level of quality throughout the project.
6. Resource – Improve project efficiency through planning and scheduling the project’s resources.
7. Communications - Plan, manage, and monitor communications to ensure the right people receive the right messages.
8. Risk – Anticipating potential risks to better plan for their potential outcomes.
9. Procurement – Secure all required materials and services to deliver the project.
10. Stakeholder – Keep stakeholders engaged throughout the project’s duration

But, there are 12 Project management principles in the PMBOK® Guide - Seventh edition, along with a Value delivery system that will focus on delivering valuable outcomes rather than just delivering a project.

The 12 project Management principles are as follows:

1. Be a diligent, respectful, and caring steward
2. Create a collaborative project team environment
3. Effectively engage with stakeholders
4. Focus on value
5. Recognize, evaluate, and respond to system interactions
6. Demonstrate leadership behaviors
7. Tailor based on context
8. Build quality into processes and deliverables
9. Navigate complexity
10. Optimize risk responses
11. Embrace adaptability and resilience
12. Enable change to achieve the envisioned future state

Performance Domains Replace Knowledge Areas

We know that the earlier versions of the PMBOK® Guide focused on knowledge areas, but the PMBOK® Guide - Seventh Edition has replaced the knowledge areas with performance domains. The eight performance domains sum up the related elements necessary for a project’s success:

1. Stakeholders
2. Team
3. Development approach and Life cycle
4. Planning
5. Project work
6. Delivery
7. Measurement
8. Uncertainty

Inclusion of Tailoring, Models, Methods, and Artifacts

This new structure implies that a single methodology may hinder a project’s goals based on its deliverables, organizational demands, and its needs, A project manager needs to select an appropriate development approach initially, and eventually, tailoring would encourage adaptation according to the specifications to meet all of the requirements. On the other hand, the new section models, methods, and artifacts found in the PMBOK® Guide latest edition provide users with many resources like videos, templates, artifacts, etc., associating them to any one of the eight performance domains.

Introduction to a New Interactive Digital Platform With PMBOK® Guide - Seventh Edition

The latest PMBOK® Guide edition will be linked with a new interactive digital content platform: Standards Plus™, via the models, methods, and artifacts section in the Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge. This platform will start with ITTOs from the PMBOK® Guide - Sixth edition and implement new resources with the evolving changes in project management.

PMBOK® Guide - Sixth Edition vs PMBOK® Guide - Seventh Edition

Conclusion

In summary, the most prominent change is the shift from “process-based project management” to “principle-based project delivery.” Instead of various processes, inputs, outputs, tools, and techniques, project delivery in PMBOK® Guide - Seventh edition mainly focuses on principles and their outcomes. Also, knowledge areas will be eliminated from PMBOK® Guide - Seventh edition onwards. Instead, there will be the eight performance domains. There will also be a new digital platform: Standards Plus, allowing users to access current, emerging, and future project delivery practices. If your PMP certification training course outline covers all these topics, you will be able to attend the examination confidently and clear it with ease. Become a part of the ecosystem with more than 1 million certified project management professionals and take your project management career to the next level.

FAQs on PMBOK® Guide - Seventh Edition

What is the difference between PMBOK® Guide - Sixth and PMBOK® Guide - Seventh Edition?

In PMBOK® Guide - Seventh Edition, the 8 performance domains will replace the 10 knowledge areas. Also, there will be a separate session Tailoring, Models, Methods, and Artifacts chapters. Finally, there will be an introduction to a new digital platform to allow users to access various content regarding project management and its practices.

Should I wait for the PMBOK® Guide - Seventh Edition?

Once the PMBOK® Guide - Seventh Edition is released, it will replace the 6th Edition as a reference to validate the content. But practitioners are encouraged to sign up for the exam at any point of time.

Is the PMP exam based on the PMBOK® Guide - Seventh Edition?

The PMBOK® Guide release date is the 1st of August 2021, PMP aspirants must be wondering if it'll have any impact on the PMP Certification exam. Firstly, the exam is not based on the PMBOK® Guide; secondly, the PMP exam follows the Examination Content Outline (ECO).