PMI framework

The PMI framework (PMBOK framework) shows the components of project management and how they relate. It consists of the project management context, the knowledge areas, tools and techniques, and the key outcome of project success.

Sketch (Schwalbe's framework)

 PROJECT STAKEHOLDERS
 +----------------------------------+
 | KNOWLEDGE AREAS                  |
 | Integration Scope Time Cost      |
 | Quality HR Comm Risk Procurement |
 |             |                    |
 | TOOLS & TECHNIQUES               |
 | Gantt, WBS, CPM, EVM, ...        |
 |             |                    |
 |     PROJECT SUCCESS              |
 +----------------------------------+
 PROJECT MANAGEMENT CONTEXT: process
 groups, life cycle, environment

Components and relation

1. Stakeholders: people involved in or affected by the project (sponsor, customer, team, suppliers). Their needs and expectations drive the project.
2. Project management knowledge areas: scope, time, cost, quality, HR, communications, risk, procurement, integration (and stakeholder). They describe the competencies required.
3. Project management tools and techniques: practical methods that help to apply each knowledge area, e.g. WBS and scope statement for scope, Gantt chart/CPM/PERT for time, EVM for cost, Pareto/control charts for quality, risk register for risk.
4. Project success: the outcome, meaning meeting scope, time and cost goals, satisfying the customer and achieving the expected benefits.
5. Context: process groups, life cycle phases and the organisational environment in which the project occurs.

Relationship

• Stakeholders set requirements.
• Managers use the knowledge areas with suitable tools and techniques.
• Applied correctly in the context, these lead to project success, which in turn satisfies the stakeholders.

The framework helps students understand that project management is more than tools: it is a set of knowledge areas applied in an organisational context to meet stakeholder needs.