Category Archives: PMI Standards

Exposure Draft for the PMBOK Guide – Sixth Edition

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PMBOK Guide 5th EditionPMI is updating the PMBOK Guide, once again. As they have done with prior updates, an exposure draft is available from now through April 6, 2016 for comment by PMI members in good standing.

Key changes to this edition are:

  • The inclusion of more detailed information on agile and other iterative practices including:
    • Information about agile and other practices often used in an adaptive environment in each Knowledge Area section (Sections 4–13)
    • An appendix to The Standard for Project Management on agile and other iterative practices
  • A new chapter on the role of the project manager which discusses the PMI Talent Triangle™, including greater emphasis on the strategic and business knowledge aspect of project management

It seems that each release of the PMBOK Guide includes a bit more input from advocates for Agile methods. It’s good to see the Standard keeping pace with current notions of best practices.

PMI Publishes Navigating Complexity: A Practice Guide

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Navigating ComplexityLast week, PMI announced availability of a new publication on managing complexity in projects, programs, and project portfolios. Called “Navigating Complexity: A Practice Guide,” it is now available for download in PDF format at no cost, for a limited time. The print version will be available in mid-March.

The Guide organizes the causes of complexity into three categories, including human behavior, system behavior, and ambiguity. The need to align people, programs, and projects to manage complexity is addressed through organizational support structures, and useful practices in four areas: scope, communications, stakeholders, and risk. Principles are demonstrated via several scenarios, each with suggested actions. Key considerations in developing, implementing, and managing an action plan are included. An extensive literature review is included as an appendix, along with a glossary.

The PDF file is 113 pages, and includes an assessment questionnaire. The questionnaire is available as a separate download, along with a companion resource gap analysis and skills assessment. Additional resources, including white papers and case studies, are available on the same complexity program page as the downloadable files.

Software Extension to the PMBOK Now Available

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Software ExtensionThe Software Extension to the PMBOK Guide Fifth Edition is now available. According to the PMI web site, “This standard, developed by PMI jointly with IEEE Computer Society, provides guidance on the management of software development projects, and bridges the gap between the traditional, predictive approach described in the PMBOK® Guide and iterative approaches such as agile more commonly used in software development.”

“This groundbreaking work … draws upon the wisdom of programmers, IT professionals, and working project managers from around the globe. Designed to be used in tandem with the latest edition of the PMBOK® Guide, this comprehensive volume closely follows the PMBOK® Guide’s approach to style, structure, and naming, while providing readers a balanced view of methods, tools, and techniques for managing software projects across the life cycle continuum from highly predictive life cycles to highly adaptive life cycles.”

If you are a current PMI member, you can download a complimentary PDF copy here. Scroll down to the PMI Standards Extensions section and expand the section related to the Software Extension. If you’re not a member, or you just want a paper copy, you can order it here. The price for non-members is $52.95. PMI members get a 20% discount.