Describe the five process groups in the project management framework.
The project management framework is structured around five process groups that represent the phases of a project's life cycle. These process groups provide a systematic and organized approach to managing projects. The five process groups are:
- Initiating Process Group:
- Objective: Define the project at a broad level and authorize the project.
- Key Activities:
- Develop a project charter: This document formally authorizes the existence of a project and provides the project manager with the authority to apply organizational resources to project activities.
- Identify stakeholders: Identify all individuals or groups that may be impacted by the project or who can influence it.
- Planning Process Group:
- Objective: Define the project scope, refine objectives, and plan the course of action to attain project goals.
- Key Activities:
- Develop a project management plan: Document how the project will be executed, monitored, and controlled. This includes plans for scope, schedule, cost, quality, communication, risk, and procurement.
- Create a work breakdown structure (WBS): Break down the project into smaller, manageable pieces to facilitate better understanding and management.
- Develop a schedule: Create a detailed timeline of project activities and their dependencies.
- Plan for resources, costs, and quality: Define how resources will be allocated, estimate costs, and establish quality standards.
- Executing Process Group:
- Objective: Carry out the project management plan and execute the project work.
- Key Activities:
- Direct and manage project execution: Implement the project plan, coordinate people and resources, and integrate and perform the activities.
- Acquire and develop the project team: Build a cohesive team by assigning roles, responsibilities, and providing necessary training.
- Conduct procurement: Obtain goods and services needed to perform the project work.
- Monitoring and Controlling Process Group:
- Objective: Track, review, and regulate the progress and performance of the project.
- Key Activities:
- Monitor and control project work: Track project performance and compare it to the project management plan, identifying any variances.
- Perform integrated change control: Review and approve/reject changes to the project scope, schedule, or costs.
- Control scope, schedule, costs, quality, risks, and communications: Take corrective actions to bring the project back on track if deviations occur.
- Monitor and control procurements: Ensure that the procurement processes are progressing as planned.
- Closing Process Group:
- Objective: Finalize all project activities and formally close the project.
- Key Activities:
- Close project or phase: Complete all activities and obtain formal acceptance of the project or project phase.
- Close procurements: Complete and settle all procurement activities.
- Conduct lessons learned: Document and analyze the project's successes and failures to improve future project performance.
- Archive project records: Ensure that all project documentation and artifacts are appropriately stored for future reference.