--- title: "Project management knowledge areas" subject: "ICT Project Management" chapter: 2 key: "semester_7/ict_project_management:pm-knowledge-areas" source: https://www.bctengineer.com/q/semester_7/ict_project_management/pm-knowledge-areas site: BCT Engineering --- # Project management knowledge areas ICT Project Management · Chapter 2: Project Management Body of Knowledge - Asked in: year not given - Answer checked by Claude Opus 5.5 (high effort) on 2026-10-14 - Page: https://www.bctengineer.com/q/semester_7/ict_project_management/pm-knowledge-areas - Whole chapter: https://www.bctengineer.com/md/semester_7/ict_project_management/chapter-2 ## Question Explain the project management knowledge areas. ## Short answer PMBOK defines ten knowledge areas: four core (scope, time, cost, quality), five facilitating (HR, communications, risk, procurement, stakeholder) and integration, which coordinates all. Each area has processes tied to the five process groups. ## Answer Project management knowledge areas describe the key competencies a project manager must have. PMBOK (up to the 6th edition) defines **ten knowledge areas**: four core areas that lead to specific project objectives, five facilitating areas and one integrating area. #### Core knowledge areas (objectives) 1. **Scope management**: defines and controls what is and is not in the project. Processes: plan scope management, collect requirements, define scope, create WBS, validate scope, control scope. 2. **Time (schedule) management**: ensures timely completion. Define activities, sequence them, estimate durations, and develop and control the schedule. 3. **Cost management**: estimate, budget and control costs so the project finishes within budget. Technique: earned value. 4. **Quality management**: ensures the product satisfies requirements. Plan quality, perform quality assurance, control quality. #### Facilitating knowledge areas 5. **Human resource management**: plan, acquire, develop and manage the team. 6. **Communications management**: plan communications, manage communications and control communications. 7. **Risk management**: identify and analyse risks, plan responses to them and monitor them. 8. **Procurement management**: buy goods and services from outside the organisation: plan, conduct, control and close procurements. 9. **Stakeholder management** (added in the 5th edition): identify stakeholders, plan stakeholder management, and manage and control stakeholder engagement. #### Integrating area 10. **Integration management**: coordinates all the other areas. Develop the charter and plan, direct and manage work, monitor and control work, perform integrated change control, close the project. ```text Integration --------------------------- Scope Time Cost Quality <- objectives HR Comm Risk Procure Stake <- facilitators ``` Each area has processes belonging to the five process groups. The manager needs to balance them because decisions in one area affect others. ## Check yourself The answer's key points as multiple-choice questions, with the correct option and why. 1. Which four knowledge areas are the core areas that lead to specific project objectives? A. HR, communications, risk, procurement B. Scope, time, cost, quality C. Integration, scope, risk, quality D. Cost, risk, HR, scope Answer: B. Scope, time, cost and quality are the core (objective) areas. (Key point: Core areas) 2. What is the role of integration management? A. Buy goods from outside B. Manage the team only C. Estimate cost only D. Coordinate all other areas, including the charter, plan and integrated change control Answer: D. Integration is the integrating area that ties all other areas together. (Key point: Integration role) 3. Procurement management deals with: A. Purchasing goods and services from outside the organisation B. Building the WBS C. Acquiring the team D. Reporting performance Answer: A. Procurement plans, conducts, administers and closes purchases from outside. (Key point: Procurement) 4. Stakeholder management was added in which PMBOK edition? A. Third B. Fourth C. Fifth D. Seventh only Answer: C. It was added in the 5th edition as the tenth area. (Key point: Stakeholder area) ## Related in ICT Project Management - [Project management body of knowledge](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_7%2Fict_project_management%3Adefine-pmbok) — ICT Project Management, chapter 2 - [General management skills and project management](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_7%2Fict_project_management%3Ageneral-management-skill) — ICT Project Management, chapter 2 - [Project portfolio management](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_7%2Fict_project_management%3Aportfolio-management) — ICT Project Management, chapter 3 - [Define project management](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_7%2Fict_project_management%3Adefine-project-management) — ICT Project Management, chapter 4 - [Advantages of project management](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_7%2Fict_project_management%3Aadvantages-project-management) — ICT Project Management, chapter 4 - [System view of project management](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_7%2Fict_project_management%3Asystem-view-three-parts) — ICT Project Management, chapter 5 ## Related in other subjects - [Knowledge management vs expert systems](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_8%2Finformation_system%3Akm-vs-expert-systems) — Information System, chapter 4 - [Knowledge management and KM triangle](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_8%2Finformation_system%3Aknowledge-management-hierarchy) — Information System, chapter 4 - [Function of project management in Nepal](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_8%2Fconstruction_management%3Acpm-function-nepal) — Construction Management, chapter 1 - [Types of projects; effect of project management](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_7%2Fproject_engineering%3Aproject-types-effect-of-management) — Project Engineering, chapter 1