Project Management Process Groups

There are five Project management process groups in Project. They all interact with each other as per requirement. Its order may vary as per Project or Organisation.

Project management processes are connected by inputs/outputs. Output of the one process may be input for the other process. Process groups are not project management life cycle phases. Process groups may be processed during phases like requirements, planning, design etc.

Classic Project management process groups are: Initiating, Planning, Executing, Monitoring and controlling, and Closing.

Initiating:

"The Initiating Process Group consists of those processes performed to define a new project or a phase of an existing project by obtaining authorization to start the project or phase." – A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK Guide)

To begin work, approval and project definition required. That’s the goal of this group. Initial scope of work is defined and Project charter needs to be made here. Project manager is also assigned to the Project.  High level requirement is also prepared and define constraints and assumptions.

Large project is divided in the phases. Scope, cost to be decided and risk to be identified.

Here, the main goal is to prepare project charter. Success criteria is low and risk factors are high at initial level.

Planning:

"The Planning Process Group consists of those processes required to establish the scope of the project, refine the objectives and define the course of action required to attain the objectives that the project was undertaken to achieve." – A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK Guide)

Planning is the never ending process that take place in the project. This includes project management plan and other plans like scope, time, cost, quality, human resource, communication, risk, staff etc. WBS is created from the Project requirement.

Here, the main goal is to prepare Project management plan.

Executing:

"The Executing Process Group consists of those processes performed to complete the work defined in the project management plan to satisfy the project specifications." – A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK Guide)

During execution, project management plan may require updates or replanning. It includes hold meeting, manage and develop Project team, manage stakeholder expectation. Project Manager can use good tools for project management, quality management, cost management etc.

Here, the main goal is to Direct and manage project work.

Monitoring and Controlling:

 "The Monitoring and Controlling Process Group. Those processes required to track, review and regulate the progress and performance of the project; identify any areas in which changes to the plan are required; and initiate the corresponding changes." –A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK Guide)

It evaluate the project performance and take care of change requests, defects and how to prevent against them. It includes to control scope, time, cost, changes, risks etc. It measure the performance criteria of the project. Project manager can use good Performance measurement tools, cost and plan management techniques.

Here, the main goal is to Monitor and control work and perform integrated change control.

Closing:

"The Closing Process Group consists of those processes performed to finalize all activities across all the Process Groups to formally close the project or phase." – A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK Guide)

It includes to close all activities of the project, obtain acceptance confirmation from customer, team assessment, documents all lesson learned, final product verification and performance verification, make all project document archives.

If project was successful then as a Project manager, the final step is the Celebration for your project management and team efforts.