---
title: "Project management process groups"
subject: "ICT Project Management"
chapter: 6
key: "semester_7/ict_project_management:pm-process-groups"
source: https://www.bctengineer.com/q/semester_7/ict_project_management/pm-process-groups
site: BCT Engineering
---

# Project management process groups

ICT Project Management · Chapter 6: Project Management Process Groups

- 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-process-groups
- Whole chapter: https://www.bctengineer.com/md/semester_7/ict_project_management/chapter-6

## Question

Discuss the project management process groups.

## Short answer

The five process groups are initiating, planning, executing, monitoring and controlling, and closing. They overlap and repeat within each phase, not equal to phases. Planning contains the most processes; monitoring and controlling links all groups, and outputs of one group feed the next.

## Answer

A **process group** is a logical grouping of project management processes that work toward a specific result. PMBOK defines **five process groups**, which apply to every project, phase and industry. They are not phases; they overlap and may be repeated in each phase.

```text
Initiating -> Planning -> Executing -> Closing
                 ^            |
                 |            v
           Monitoring & Controlling
          (oversees all the groups)
```

#### 1. Initiating
- Authorise the project or phase and define it at a high level.
- Processes: develop the project charter, identify stakeholders.
- Outputs: charter, stakeholder register.

#### 2. Planning
- Establish the total scope, refine objectives and define the actions to attain them.
- Processes: develop the project management plan, plan scope, collect requirements, create WBS, define and sequence activities, estimate, develop schedule, and plan cost, quality, human resources, communications, risk and procurement.
- Outputs: project management plan and project documents. Most processes are in this group (24 of the 47 in the 5th edition).

#### 3. Executing
- Complete the work defined in the plan to meet specifications.
- Processes: direct and manage work, perform quality assurance, acquire/develop/manage the team, manage communications, conduct procurements, manage stakeholder engagement.
- Outputs: deliverables, work performance data.

#### 4. Monitoring and controlling
- Track, review and regulate progress and performance; identify changes.
- Processes: monitor and control work, perform integrated change control, validate and control scope, and control schedule, cost, quality, risks and procurements.
- Outputs: change requests, performance reports.

#### 5. Closing
- Formally complete all activities, accept the product and close the contracts.
- Processes: close project or phase, close procurements.
- Outputs: final product, lessons learned, archives.

| Group | Typical question |
|---|---|
| Initiating | Should we do this? |
| Planning | How will we do it? |
| Executing | How do we get the work done? |
| M&C | Are we on track? |
| Closing | Is it finished and accepted? |

The groups interact through their outputs: the output of one is the input of another, and monitoring and controlling interacts with all of them.

## Check yourself

The answer's key points as multiple-choice questions, with the correct option and why.

1. How many PMBOK process groups are there?
   A. Five
   B. Three
   C. Seven
   D. Ten
   Answer: A. Initiating, Planning, Executing, Monitoring and Controlling, Closing. (Key point: Number of groups)

2. How do process groups differ from phases?
   A. They are identical to phases
   B. They occur once only
   C. They apply only to software
   D. They overlap and repeat in each phase rather than being sequential phases
   Answer: D. Process groups divide management processes; phases divide the life cycle. (Key point: Groups vs phases)

3. Which group contains the most processes?
   A. Initiating
   B. Closing
   C. Planning
   D. Executing
   Answer: C. Planning has 24 of the 47 processes. (Key point: Planning size)

4. Which are outputs of Monitoring and controlling?
   A. Charter and stakeholder register
   B. Change requests and performance reports
   C. Lessons learned and archives
   D. Deliverables
   Answer: B. Initiating gives the charter; closing gives lessons learned. (Key point: M&C outputs)

## Related in ICT Project Management

- [Overlaps of process groups in a phase](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_7%2Fict_project_management%3Aprocess-group-overlaps) — ICT Project Management, chapter 6
- [Procurement management process flow](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_7%2Fict_project_management%3Aprocurement-process-flow) — ICT Project Management, chapter 13
- [Close project process](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_7%2Fict_project_management%3Aclose-project-process) — ICT Project Management, chapter 7
- [Project management body of knowledge](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_7%2Fict_project_management%3Adefine-pmbok) — ICT Project Management, chapter 2
- [Project management knowledge areas](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_7%2Fict_project_management%3Apm-knowledge-areas) — 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

## Related in other subjects

- [Requirement management process](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_5%2Fsoftware_engineering%3Arequirement-management) — Software Engineering, chapter 1
- [Process management in OS](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_6%2Fembedded_system%3Aprocess-management) — Embedded System, chapter 6
- [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