PMBOK 7 vs PMBOK 6: Top Differences You Need to Know

What Is PMBOK in Project Management?

The project management industry accepts the PMBOK as the complete procedures, best practices, terminologies, and recommendations. Companies value PMBOK because it enables them to standardize procedures across diverse divisions, modify procedures to meet particular requirements, and avoid project failures.

What is the PMBOK Methodology?

Technically speaking, PMBOK is a framework for the project management business rather than a methodology. The waterfall methodology, which linearly aligns project stages, is frequently linked to it; however, it is also compatible with more recent methodologies like Agile. Since the PMBOK procedures can be customized to fit a range of project management scenarios, the PMI does not support any specific methodology. Instead, managers choose the best processes for their businesses, teams, and projects.

What is the History of PMBOK?

The PMI was established in 1969 to give professionals a venue to exchange knowledge and discuss issues related to project management, and this is where the PMBOK got its start.

The organization's first credential, the Project Management Professional, was released in 1984. (PMP). The PMP exam has been called "an essential tool for aspiring project managers to test and exhibit their ability to accomplish their obligations" by Forbes. In 1987, a PMBOK whitepaper was released, and then in 1994, the PMBOK Guide's exposure draft.

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What is the PMBOK Guide?

Emerging technologies, novel strategies, and quick market changes have altered the nature of labor over the past few years, forcing the profession to advance. The 7th edition of A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK® Guide) has been updated to address these issues, better reflect how people work today and support you in being more proactive and inventive.

PMBOK Content

The latest version of the PMBOK set to be released this summer includes a major content overhaul from the PMBOK 6 edition. Reflective of shifting project management priorities, PMBOK 7 focuses performance over processes.

PMBOK 6

PMBOK 6 covers project environment, the role of the project manager, and the 10 essential knowledge areas within project management.

PMBOK 6 Knowledge Areas

Within PMBOK 6, each knowledge area is accompanied by processes, inputs, tools, techniques, and outputs. The 10 project management knowledge areas in PMBOK 6 are defined as:

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 for 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 are receiving 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

PMBOK 7

The contents within PMBOK 7 include tailoring, models, methods, and artifacts, and eight performance domains. There’s a drastic shift from processes to performance. 

The performance domains are focused on overall outcomes rather than just the processes and techniques used within a project’s executions. The importance of project quality is emphasized.

PMBOK 7 Tailoring

Tailoring is a new framework found in PMBOK 7 and is based on the concept that a single approach may not allow project managers to meet the required project deliverables, organizational demands, and project needs. 

Once a project manager has selected an initial development approach, project tailoring encourages the manager to adapt a project’s specs to meet all project requirements.

PMBOK 7 Models, Methods, Artifacts

The new models, methods, and artifacts section found in PMBOK 7 vs PMBOK 6 provides users with a plethora of resources such as articles, videos, and templates, tying them to the performance domain of which they would be most useful. This offers great value for aspiring and working project managers alike.

PMBOK 7 Performance Domains 

While earlier PMBOK versions focused on knowledge areas, the 7th edition has replaced the traditional knowledge areas with performance domains. 

The eight performance domains summarize the related elements essential to a project’s success: 

1. Team
2. Stakeholders
3. Life cycle
4. Planning
5. Uncertainty and ambiguity
6. Delivery
7. Performance
8. Project work

The new PMBOK performance domains focus on delivering value to the organization and its stakeholders through the project delivery.

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Retiring the PMBOK® Guide – 6th Edition

The PMBOK® Guide - 6th Edition phased down starting on March 31, 2022, or "sunsetting." While supplies remain, stakeholders may still order print copies through merchants and resellers. PMI will not reprint the 6th Edition after the current supply has run out.

Many professionals, particularly those getting ready for the CAPM® exam, continue to utilize and refer to the Sixth Edition daily. As a result, we will continue to offer various options for stakeholders to access the content shortly.

Project Management Standards

A second substantial change between PMBOK 7 vs PMBOK 6 can be found under their unique project management standards.

PMBOK 6

In PMBOK 6, the standard for project management included five comprehensive domains — initiating, planning, executing, monitoring and controlling, and closing. These standards summarize the processes that project managers apply to deliver a successful project. 

PMBOK 7

In the 7th edition of PMBOK, we see these standards pivot from project management processes to project delivery principles. 

PMBOK 7 Value Delivery System

In the past, the PMI considered a project and operations to be two separate entities until the project was completed. The new Value Delivery System introduced in PMBOK 7 integrates projects and operations to deliver the best value for the business.

PMBOK 7 Project Management Standards

The 7th PMBOK edition sheds the 6th edition’s five project domains and replaces them with 12 new project management standards:

1. Stewardship 
2. Team 
3. Stakeholders 
4. Value 
5. Holistic Thinking 
6. Leadership 
7. Tailoring 
8. Quality  
9. Complexity  
10. Opportunities & Threats 
11. Adaptability & Resilience 
12. Change Management

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What Determines PMBOK Standards?

The PMI standards offer guidance for achieving particular project, program, and portfolio management results. They were created through a process based on the ideas of consensus, openness, due process, and balance.

More Inclusive Content

The updated standards and guides will reflect the entire value delivery environment in recognition of practitioners' ability to use a variety of methodologies and approaches. As practitioners require flexibility to provide results and value to their businesses, format and content changes are to be expected.

Digitization of Content

Our new standard goods will be accessible in a digital format for quick reference in practical situations, increasing value as an on-the-job reference. Additional information aimed at assisting practitioners in using the standards in context and incorporating different methodologies will be included.

Practice Standards & Frameworks

The use of a tool, approach, or process mentioned in the PMBOK® Guide or other fundamental standards is described by practice standards. Practice manuals offer advice and guidance to assist you in applying PMI standards. They grow into potential standards and, in that case, would go through the process of becoming complete consensus standards.

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