Sergio BarrakProject Manager| RiskAIXpertVantaa, Finland
Hi,
According to PMBOK, reports are formal communication while email is informal. When Reports are sent by email, is the communication still considered informal?
Just one more comment. The last project I worked on in the USA before moving to West Asia was a $350 million US, petrochemical plant project. I was part of the project owner PMT.
We had agreed with the contractors (EPC) that all communications, schedule, changes, project documents will be electronic - no papers; except where absolutely necessary. For example, in the case of a change - all documents will be electronic only the page that requires signature would be printed. (that was in 1998) Saving Changes...
Andrey GrubinPMP, PMI-ACPBrooklyn, Ny, United States
Sergio, PMBOK still consider email is an informal type of communications, but me personally think that it should be formal. It's about the time :) Saving Changes...
Anonymous
Andrey
Your message is a perfect lead to the following point.
I am not sure how many people understand the difference between the PMBOK and the PMBOK Guide. In the PMBOK Guide, emails might be treated as informal as many have posted.
However, the PMBOK is the PM Body of Knowledge which is not limited to the Guide (the book that PMI publishes). The PMBOK (not the guide) include the Guide, the Standard, and numerous other things such as laws, organizational policies, and preferences.
So, keep in mind that the PMBOK GUIDE is only a guide and it is not (1) the full body of knowledge and (2) a holy book or law that mandates things to us.
So it is very important to understand the above and being able to differentiate.
Another thing to keep in mind, projects require resources - this has been the case since ancient times - PMBOK Guide did not address resources (other than HR) until now; in other words, this is an example of understanding the differences.
Thank you Saving Changes...
Dileep SankarProject Engineer| Mechon Trading and ContractingDoha, Qatar
In the recent projects which I did, e-mail was & is considered as a mode of formal communication. There were even instances that for obtaining resources from the client, (ours was a construction project & the major machines were the scope of the client) we had to send requests through e-mail and verbal communication was unofficial & received no response, which was undesirable.
Furthermore, I think the formal & informal nature of different communication methods will be discussed during the planning phase & official methods would also be decided upon then, in many projects.
Moreover, in general, e-mails are now considered as formal communication as many have already pointed out.
But, winding up, the question of e-mails being formal or informal will depend on the project & the stakeholders conditions. Saving Changes...
Zawar SheikhConsultant| IndependentE Northport, Ny, United States
When buying or renting a home, all the documents are e-signed and passed around in email. So according to PMI, this is all informal? Saving Changes...
A request for action send by email is formal to me. Saving Changes...
William DarbySenior Technical Program Manager| GE AerospaceMcdonough, Ga, United States
In all the organizations I have worked for PMI is viewed as a governing body that validates to companies that individuals have passed an administered exam that emboddies Project Management fundamentals. The companies I have worked for thus far do not abide by all the principles that are exam based or listed in the PMBOK guide as Project Management Law. Email is most definetely utilized as official and formal communication at the organization that Ive worked for to date. Im not sure if american businesses are going to change based on an exam question Saving Changes...
RAJESH K LProject Manager, PMP| Bharat Electronics, Bengaluru, IndiaBengaluru, Karnataka, India
