The PMBOK Guide is compiled by the Project Management Institute, and is comprised of 5 Project Management Process Groups, known together as the IPECC, and 10 Project Management Knowledge Areas.
The IPECC consists of:
- Initiating Group: Includes the beginning stages of a project, and oversees processes such as development of the project charter, naming relevant stakeholders, and controlling stakeholder involvement.
- Planning Group: This group contains the planning stages, including organization of the project plan, budget development, Work Breakdown Structure creation and determining the scope of the project.
- Executing Group: Includes all processes related to executing the project plan, such as controlling the communications, procuring resources, and management of the project team.
- Controlling Group: This group of processes tracks and oversees progress on the project, including those that control scope, cost, and quality.
- Closing Group: Everything required to complete a project, such as closing each phase of the project or procuring supplies needed for closure.
The 10 Project Management Knowledge Areas Include:
- Project Communications: Processes that relay relevant information to team members and external stakeholders, ensuring consistent exchange of information and that the information is understood by all parties.
- Project Cost: Processes regarding budgets, funding, and spending allotments. Cost management is also dependent upon activity estimates from time management.
- Project Human Resources: Processes involving managing the project team, such as sourcing employees, hiring qualified people, assigning their roles, as well as professional development and advancing team spirit along the way.
- Project Integration: Processes related to overseeing and coordinating all the other processes and project management responsibilities.
- Project Procurement: Processes for planning, budgeting, and purchasing any kind of resource needed in order to complete work.
- Project Quality: Processes that determine the success of a project or criteria needed to determine whether the project is complete. These processes are in effect at every stage of the project.
- Project Risk: Processes involved with preparing for and managing risk.
- Project Scope: Processes managing the scope and guidelines of a project.
These processes ensure that the project’s boundaries are well-defined and that all requirements remain within the scope limits. - Project Stakeholder: Processes involved with identifying who will be affected by the project and ensuring that a positive relationship is maintained. This includes collaboration efforts on the direction and execution of the project.
- Project Time: Processes needed to ensure the project is completed on schedule.




