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Does PMIS(Project Management Information System) belong to EEFs?

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youngho seok Director| NEXTEP Uiwang-Si, Gyeonggi-Do, South Korea
Hi

I am very confused whether PMIS belongs to EEFs or OPA.
Please let me know....
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Kiron Bondale Retired | Mentor| Retired Welland, Ontario, Canada
A PMIS is a tool/technique in the PMBOK framework whereas an EEF or OPA is usually an input. The information within a PMIS could be considered an OPA if it is used as an input. Also, remember that a PMIS does not automatically imply a computer application - it could be a filing cabinet with a bunch of file folders in it...

Kiron
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Drew Craig Sr. Agile & Product Coach| Vanguard Philadelphia, Pa, United States
Yes, agree with Kiron. The PMIS is more of a 'capture mechanism'.
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youngho seok Director| NEXTEP Uiwang-Si, Gyeonggi-Do, South Korea
Thanks for your reply

PMBOK says EEFS INTERNAL include information technology software
and OPA includes knowledge repositories. I think knowledge repositories may equal to PMIS.

If you have to choose EEFS factor in some examples that have PMIS.
What would you choose PMIS?
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1 reply by Keith Novak
Jan 01, 2019 3:49 PM
Keith Novak
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Knowledge repositories are part of a PMIS, but they are not equal.

As Sergio points out, the term system is often misunderstood. It is really any group of items, whether electronic, mechanical, human, etc. that when organized together provide capabilities beyond what they can achieve separately.

OPAs can include many things like servers, paper libraries, policies, and procedures. If they do not interact, they are not part of the same system. Combining them together can create a system from the individual assets.

The system also includes the wiring or internet that allows them to communicate, the people reading a reference book and entering data, the management of all the information, and other items necessary for a system. You would not consider the connections between servers an OPA but they become part of the PMIS because it is required combine the data for a defined purpose.
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Yassine Belkoura Program coordinator| Douja Promotion Groupe Addoha Mohammedia, Outside U.S./Canada, Morocco
I agree with Kiron. PMIS is a tool/technique in the Direct and Manage Project Work process according to the PMBOK v6 and an EEF in the Monitor and Control Project Work process.
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Thomas Walenta Global Project Economy Expert Hackenheim, Germany
PMBoK 4.3.2.2 states that the PMIS provides access to IT SW tools..., so I think it relates to computer applications nowadays.

2.2.1 says that internal EEFs include IT SW, so it safe to say PMIS is an internal EEF, if the IT SW is not under control of the project.

There are projects that have full control over setting up their PMIS and IT SW, for them it would not be a EEF.

Many tools&techniques could also be OPAs or EEFs, if they are defined as policies or set as company standard, e.g. how to use EVM, how to structure meetings etc..
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Sergio Luis Conte Helping to create solutions for everyone| Worldwide based Organizations Buenos Aires, Argentina
Unfortunately the word system is used most of the times as a synonim of software system while is not the same. Inside the PMBOK that situation happen. So, in the context of PMBOK, PMIS is something that belongs to the application layer inside the enterprise architecture.
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4.3.2.2 PROJECT MANAGEMENT INFORMATION SYSTEM (PMIS)
The PMIS provides access to information technology (IT) software tools, such as scheduling software tools, work
authorization systems, configuration management systems, information collection and distribution systems, as well as
interfaces to other online automated systems such as corporate knowledge base repositories. Automated gathering and
reporting on key performance indicators (KPI) can be part of this system.
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Keith Novak Tukwila, Wa, United States
Jan 01, 2019 9:49 AM
Replying to youngho seok
...
Thanks for your reply

PMBOK says EEFS INTERNAL include information technology software
and OPA includes knowledge repositories. I think knowledge repositories may equal to PMIS.

If you have to choose EEFS factor in some examples that have PMIS.
What would you choose PMIS?
Knowledge repositories are part of a PMIS, but they are not equal.

As Sergio points out, the term system is often misunderstood. It is really any group of items, whether electronic, mechanical, human, etc. that when organized together provide capabilities beyond what they can achieve separately.

OPAs can include many things like servers, paper libraries, policies, and procedures. If they do not interact, they are not part of the same system. Combining them together can create a system from the individual assets.

The system also includes the wiring or internet that allows them to communicate, the people reading a reference book and entering data, the management of all the information, and other items necessary for a system. You would not consider the connections between servers an OPA but they become part of the PMIS because it is required combine the data for a defined purpose.
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youngho seok Director| NEXTEP Uiwang-Si, Gyeonggi-Do, South Korea
Thanks for your advice!

As I am preparing for PMP certification, I have faced some confused problems.
I found PMIS is one of EEFs in PMBOK v6 109P.
It says as below.

4.5.1.5 ENTERPRISE ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS

The enterprise environmental factors that can influence the Monitor and Control Project Work process include but are not limited to:

- Project management information systems such as scheduling, cost, resourcing tools, performance indicators, databases, project records, and financials;
- Infrastructure (e.g., existing facilities and equipment, organization ?s telecommunications channels);
- Stakeholders’ expectations and risk thresholds; and
- Government or industry standards (e.g., regulatory agency regulations, product standards, quality standards, and workmanship standards).
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1 reply by Sergio Luis Conte
Jan 02, 2019 5:46 AM
Sergio Luis Conte
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@Youngho You will hate what I will write but here comes. First of all, if you are preparing the exam, remember that you have to answer what the PMI expect as an answer and not what you do or know in your daily life. Second, you will find inside the PMBOK that sometimes the PMIS is listed as an EEF and sometimes it is not. My recommendation in this case is: if you do not see the word PMIS then it is not the PMIS as stated in 4.3.2.2. For example, in the case you stated above, is not the same PMIS because the word PMIS and the word IT is not inside the statement you posted (in the case system is not used as software system).
The situation is wrost when you go to the glossary of terms where EEF is defined (this is the right definition) as "Conditions, not under the immediate control of the team, that influence, constrain,or direct the project, program, or portfolio." and you see the defintion of PMIS as "An information system consisting of the tools and techniques used to
gather, integrate, and disseminate the outputs of project management processes."
In both cases, those are definitions that are created without "software or IT" in mind.
So, by definition, PMIS must be an OPA (Organizational Process Asset).
I have debated a lot about this type of things from 2000 up to date, but I am one more inside a group of nominated SMEs. I have debated it because my main role as "author" is the creation of glossary of terms and as a "reviewer" is to review the whole document and aligned it to business analysis and agile). When I see this type of ambiguities it makes me nervous. Because of that, I have participated as SME in QA inside the exam questions creation group for PMP/PMI-PBA/PMI-ACP/Progran and Portfolio exams but the only thing I have got is that all exam questions for those exams becomes situational questions today then ambiguities into the answers have been avoided (as much as it can be). But, as you know, it is a voluntary work and final decisions are taking by the PMI directly. I made this final comment just trying to add some extra information. If you ask me about how to prepare the exam put your focus on answered tons of "exam like" questions (prehaps 4-5 the amount of exam questions quantity) and put your focus on understanding what is stated inside the Content Outline document you will find into the certification credential web site.
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Keith Novak Tukwila, Wa, United States
Youngho - You are not alone my friend. I took the PMP exam after many years as a PM and found some sections confusing. You have found one where things can overlap. See if this helps:

A PMIS may or may not be an environmental factor. My enterprise has multiple PMIS depending on where I work in the enterprise. A requirement to use a specific one, or the option to choose one is an EEF that will influence how I may execute a project. An OPA can be a process such as how to use a tool. A requirement to follow that process would be an EEF.

A single tool or process is generally an asset or OPA. Combining multiple assets together to gather data and how to turn it into useful information for guiding a project is where it become a PMIS. External influences on the project which guide the planning and execution are EEFs.

There are many such examples of overlap such as how customer requirements are EEFs. I can put them together in a database and it becomes an OPA. The database and how I manage the requirements from beginning to end fits into a PMIS
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1 reply by youngho seok
Jan 01, 2019 11:35 PM
youngho seok
...
Such kind of you to give me a long reply!
I am very impressed. My 2019 will be happier thanks to you.

Thanks for your sincere advice and keep it in my mind!

Happy new year!
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youngho seok Director| NEXTEP Uiwang-Si, Gyeonggi-Do, South Korea
Jan 01, 2019 10:18 PM
Replying to Keith Novak
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Youngho - You are not alone my friend. I took the PMP exam after many years as a PM and found some sections confusing. You have found one where things can overlap. See if this helps:

A PMIS may or may not be an environmental factor. My enterprise has multiple PMIS depending on where I work in the enterprise. A requirement to use a specific one, or the option to choose one is an EEF that will influence how I may execute a project. An OPA can be a process such as how to use a tool. A requirement to follow that process would be an EEF.

A single tool or process is generally an asset or OPA. Combining multiple assets together to gather data and how to turn it into useful information for guiding a project is where it become a PMIS. External influences on the project which guide the planning and execution are EEFs.

There are many such examples of overlap such as how customer requirements are EEFs. I can put them together in a database and it becomes an OPA. The database and how I manage the requirements from beginning to end fits into a PMIS
Such kind of you to give me a long reply!
I am very impressed. My 2019 will be happier thanks to you.

Thanks for your sincere advice and keep it in my mind!

Happy new year!
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