Maybe first we should ask the reader if we know the difference between the PMBOK and the PMBOK Guide?
Second, the guide is only a guide. It is not the holy book.
So,
Why many PMP and PMI students feel like the answers to every question lies in the PMBOK Guide? What trigger this post is another post when we mentioned firing someone. The response was "it does not align with the PMBOK Guide". Although this is what triggered this post, there are many situations like this.
For example, before 6th edition, the guide did not talk about benefits management - so does that mean managing projects should not consider this topic?
Also before the latest edition, the guide did not talk about stage gates, does not mean we do not need gates on projects?
The guide does not offer a clear project life cycle, does it mean we do not need life cycles? Or it is ok to confuse the process groups as project phases and the project life cycle? Saving Changes...
Well well I know Very well that the standards started at the time of Hammurabi set the code if a contractor built a house for someone and the house felt on the occupant and killed him the the contractor would be punished. So we can see how they set standards and even then so many projects has been done without ....look at the pyramids in Egypt still standing and so forth
But the question now can anyone tell me nowadays that anybody pass his exam and gain PMP without giving answers referred to PMBOK Saving Changes...
At a previous job, I had a coworker who would regularly point out that something I said or did was not in the PMBOK. I, in turn, regularly reminded him that the PMBOK is a guide and, while it covers what you need to know to pass the exam, it does not cover everything you need to know to do your job, and that it's not required to follow every single line item from the PMBOK Guide on every project.
I approach the PMBOK Guide the same way I approach other standards or guidelines I have need to follow - know it well enough so that when you have to step away from it, you are able to get back to it. Saving Changes...
Stéphane ParentSelf Employed / Semi-retired| Leader MakerPrince Edward Island, Canada
I must admit I've used "PMBOK" mostly as a short form for the PMBOK Guide.
We all have our very own PMBOK. Some of it comes from published material, such as the PMBOK Guide, we reference and a lot of it is from our knowledge and experience.
Given that our PMBOKs are unique, though overlapping, it stands that no one has, or ever will have, the full PMBOK. Saving Changes...
Anonymous
Dec 10, 2017 6:18 AM
Replying to Rajeev Sharma
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Project management as a practice existed even before PMBOK, many old wicked project got managed successfully, with high performance and outcomes even without adopting any modern project governance framework.
Project management is a practice which has been formalized and compiled by PMBOK, PRINCE2 and few other similar bodies. PMBOK is a great compilation of best practices however it is not static this will keep on growing and manager needs to bring dynamism through their ledership style, capabilities, knowledge and environment....outcome could varies one individual to other.
Rajeev
1. There is no book called PMBOK - there a PMBOK Guide
2. The PMBOK Guide does not cover best practices. Best practices are possible within a domain and not in a generic guide like the PMBOK Guide. The definition of the guide clearly states that it is about "good practices" Saving Changes...
Anonymous
Dec 11, 2017 10:01 AM
Replying to Riyadh Salih
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Well well I know Very well that the standards started at the time of Hammurabi set the code if a contractor built a house for someone and the house felt on the occupant and killed him the the contractor would be punished. So we can see how they set standards and even then so many projects has been done without ....look at the pyramids in Egypt still standing and so forth
But the question now can anyone tell me nowadays that anybody pass his exam and gain PMP without giving answers referred to PMBOK
Riyadh
Did you know that the PMP existed for many years before there was a PMBOK Guide as a consolidated book?
Sure, the PMBOK Guide is a key resource for the PMP today but Project Management does not equal PMP. You can manage projects without ever reading the PMBOK Guide. I was in PM for 8 years before reading the 1996 copy of the guide.
Many forget that PMI does not have a think tank or a group of experts developing standards. The standards are developed by volunteers who have learned a few things in their organizations and form other references and books. Sure, now the PMBOK Guide is popular so many learn the guide or, think they know it :)
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1 reply by Riyadh Salih
Dec 11, 2017 4:50 PM
Riyadh Salih
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Sir Mounir,Honestly and very frankly I have been doing many successful projects after my graduation in electrical engineering since the end of eighties till now I have done many projects in middle east and Asia but never heard of the PMI or PMP until I came to north America after nine years I was a Project Manager for one of big projects then I started to hear about PMI and PMP, so you can see we were doing management without the fancy terminology just by natural approach also as I mentioned that Haman the Minister of the pharaohs was the project sponsor for the pyramids project but who was the project manager who carried out that big work with so many team members. Unfortunately the Arab now lost all standards created by them in all subjects medical, pharmacy, arithmetic, algebra, engineering an so forth and started to seek what ever standards of western society like ANSI, SAE, NFPA, CSA, IEEE, and many more,however many looks at the designation when hiring people but even the PMBOK guide state that you don't have to be certified to be a successful PM or if you are certified does not guarantee that you will be a successful for those fresh with no much experience. Age factor play big part for young generation to memorize and pass.however It was a good topic.
Saving Changes...
Anonymous
Why am I against the use of the term PMBOK, even for convenience
Because we already have a large percent of practitioners think that the guide is THE STANDARD, or the BODY OF KNOWLEDGE, or the BEST PRACTICE
As a fun of how we trick the brain - the above practice implies that we have the BEST STANDARD and COMPLETE BODY of KNOWLEDGE so why look elsewhere?
Well, if you do not look elsewhere than either you are not working on projects or the results of your projects are less than optimal, if not failing in meeting many of the objectives.
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1 reply by Sante Delle-Vergini, PhD
Dec 11, 2017 4:02 PM
Sante Delle-Vergini, PhD
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Mounir, I don't think there is a PM on the planet that doesn't look "elsewhere". A perfect example is everyone is this forum, its posts, articles, webinars etc.
Saving Changes...
Stéphane ParentSelf Employed / Semi-retired| Leader MakerPrince Edward Island, Canada
It's the old proverb: "If all you have is a hammer, then everything looks like a nail." Saving Changes...
Mounir, I don't think there is a PM on the planet that doesn't look "elsewhere". A perfect example is everyone is this forum, its posts, articles, webinars etc. Saving Changes...
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