What Can We Expect from the PMBOK® - Sixth Edition

As we speak, the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK® Guide – Sixth Edition) is under development and from what we can tell, the new PMBOK® will contain considerable changes. PMI has done a great job of defining the roles that project managers play and identifying the knowledge areas that we need to perform in our jobs. For starters, the 6th edition justifies the need for the Talent Triangle that mandates that project managers must be educated in technical project management, leadership and strategic and business management. In addition, Agile practices will be a major addition to the new PMBOK®. Find an overview of the changes coming below:

• The first 3 chapters have been totally rewritten to highlight project management’s evolving role in organizational change and business value creation.
• Each of the 10 Knowledge areas will contain new topics such as Key Concepts, Trends and Emerging Practices, Tailoring Considerations, and Approaches in Agile, Iterative and Adaptive Environments.
• Agile is discussed in all 10 Knowledge Areas and an Agile Practice Guide will accompany the PMBOK®
• The project manager’s role as a leader, strategic thinker, and business expert has been expanded.
• An expanded Business Case has been added in Initiation as well as the requirement for a Project Benefits Management Plan, a new output in the Planning Domain.
• Project Human Resource Management has been renamed Project Resource Management to include more than just human resource management but include the management of both physical and human resources.  
• Project Time Management has been renamed Project Schedule Management.
• Three New Processes have been added: Manage Project Knowledge, Implement Risk Responses, and Control Resources.
• Close Procurements has been deleted because studies have shown that project managers do not typically close contracts.

The final draft of the PMBOK® Guide – Sixth Edition will be released in Q3 of 2017 with the PMP® slated to change in Q1 of 2018.

PMBOK and PMP are registered marks of the Project Management Institute