The Project Management Institute (PMI®) has released a new Fourth Edition of the “Guide to Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK®). A new version of the Project Management Professional (PMP®) Exam, based upon the PMBOK® Guide – Fourth Edition, will be placed into use for credential exams taken on or after June 30th of 2009. PMI® indications are that there would be no changes to the exam eligibility criteria, the application process or the passing score for the PMP® Exam.
Major differences between the Third Edition and the Fourth Edition PMBOK® Guide summarization:
All process names start with an action verb format, for example the Scope Definition process is now the Define Scope process and Risk Identification process is now the Identify Risks process
The number of processes is now forty-two. This was accomplished by deleting two processes, adding two processes and the six processes for Project Procurement Management knowledge area have been merged into four processes. The following bullets illustrate the differences by project management process name:
- Process 4.2 Develop Preliminary Project Scope Statement was deleted since the data is reflected in other scope planning documents
- Process 5.1 Scope Planning is deleted and replaced with a new process 5.1 Collect Requirements
- Process 12.1 Plan Purchases and Acquisitions and process 12.2 Plan Contracting was merged to one process of 12.1 Plan Procurements, Process 12.3 Request Seller Responses and process 12.4 Select Sellers was merged to one process of 12.2 Conduct Procurements
Appendix G is added and addresses key communication, leadership and management skills for a project manager
Where process flow diagrams were displayed, they are deleted and replaced with data flow diagrams which clarify inputs and outputs for each process
Within Project Management Framework, clearer definition is given to the differences between the Project Management Plan and other project management documents
Project Charter and the Project Scope Statement information have clearer distinctions
The classic three triple constraints of schedule, scope and cost were removed. The replacement is six project performance demands of scope, quality, schedule, budget, resources and risk
Addition of a new section on project management versus operations management
Deleted the Arrow Diagramming Method (ADM) for network diagrams
Two new Earned Value Management (EVM) forecasting metrics have been added for To-Complete Performance Index (TPIC) and revised the Estimate at Completion (EAC) calculation
Clearer definitions and differences between enterprise environmental factors and organizational process assets
If you are a PMI® member, be sure to download a digital edition of the PMBOK® Guide – Fourth Edition at no cost.
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