What Are PMI’s Process Groups?
What Are PMI’s Process Groups? (#6 in the series PMI Project Life Cycle)
By Brian Denis Egan, B.Sc, M.Sc., M.B.A., PMP – Global Knowledge Course Director
PMI uses the term “process groups” to refer to stages in the project life cycle, which appear as the columns in the below figure. Each column is therefore referred to as a ‘process group’. Each stage of the project life cycle is referred to as a process group rather than a stage or step in the life cycle.
About the Author
Brian Denis Egan is CEO of a manufacturing company (Book Box Company) and a management consultant. He has written three professional development manuals and numerous white papers on aspects of management science. Since 2000, Brian has been a part-time instructor for Global Knowledge within the Management product line.
This article was originally published in Global Knowledge’s Business Brief e-newsletter. Global Knowledge delivers comprehensive hands-on project management, business process, and professional skills training. Visit our online Knowledge Center at www.globalknowledge.com/business for free white papers, webinars, and more.
© Copyright 2008, Global Knowledge. All rights reserved.
Brian,
You state that “PMI uses the term ‘process groups’ to refer to stages in the project life cycle, which appear as the columns in the below figure. Each column is therefore referred to as a ‘process group’. Each stage of the project life cycle is referred to as a process group rather than a stage or step in the life cycle.”
This is incorrect. The process groups are NOT stages, phases, or any part of a project life cycle. They provide a grouping of the project management processes described in the PMBOK Guide to facilitate their proper application. In a multi-phase project (i.e., one that is organized by a defined and understood project life cycle), the processes of the process groups are conducted iteratively within each phase of the project.