Project Management Principles: PMBOK 7 Guide

If you have ever felt that most processes were rigid, and you felt stuck in a step-by-step process, you will appreciate the PMBOK 7th Edition. The Project Management Institute (PMI) publishes The PMBOK Guide, which is the worldwide standard for managing projects. The 7th Edition shifts the focus from following rigid steps to managing by principles.

These principles apply, regardless of whether you are managing a software rollout or a building construction program. And for your PMP exam, a structured PMP certification training program will help you align these principles with exam scenarios.

Considering that PMBOK 6 gave you 49 processes to follow and PMBOK 7 provides 12 principles to think about, one can clearly see that this is not just a minor update. This is a complete change in overall philosophy. Below is a table that shows the differences between the two editions.

PMI has made this change, since in most cases, the 'real world' does not conform to 'scripts', meaning that the team needs to be able to navigate the different industries, methodologies, and sizes from a flexible framework.

These principles should not be considered as a list of rules to follow, but instead should be seen as something to be valued and believed in, and to be incorporated into daily activities.

1. Be a Diligent, Respectful, and Caring Steward. A steward manages design and environmental resources as a caregiver, and with the utmost integrity and diligence. Stewards of the deliverables as well as the whole well-being of the project, including the people, the environment, and the community.

2. Foster an Environment for Collaborative Project Teams. Assignment of tasks is only the beginning of collaboration. When team builders create a sense of psychological safety, they encourage additional contributions. This type of atmosphere can be created intentionally by using the appropriate motivational techniques.

3. Engage Stakeholders Effectively. Stakeholders can greatly impact the success of a project both positively and negatively. Identifying stakeholders and engaging them proactively means managing their expectations, which should be done continuously throughout the project. This is more than just the kickoff meeting.

4. Emphasize Outcomes. Focusing on completing deliverables is not enough. Outcomes-focused project managers ask the question, 'Are we achieving something of value to the organization?' Outputs can be checked off a list, but outcomes must be celebrated. This is a critical distinction that most project managers overlook.

5. Observe, Assess, and Act on System Interactions. Projects are part of larger systems. Changes in an organization, new regulatory requirements, or market changes affect projects. These changes create project interdependencies, and recognizing them will lead to better problem prevention.

6. Exhibit Leadership Behaviors Exceptional project leadership is not about being in charge; it is about motivating the team, using the right leadership style, and leading from the front. Servant leadership is the style of most effective project managers. They prioritize their team over the project deadlines.

7. Tailor-Based on Context Customization is a strategy that acknowledges that no two projects are exactly the same. Tailoring refers to how you customize your tools, methods, and operational processes to fit the different levels of complexity, magnitude scale, and the culture of each project. This is not improvisation; this is informed flexibility.

8. Build Quality into Processes and Deliverables. Quality is not a final gate. Quality is a constant that has to be built into each and every phase of a process, from planning to execution. When a project's internal processes have quality built into them, the cost and stakeholder trust associated with reworking a project are likely to be reduced.

9. Navigate Complexity Understanding the triple constraints of project management is a good starting point, but the intricacies of a project extend far beyond this. Things like scope creep, changing stakeholder relations, and a web of dependent projects and technologies require proactive management.

10. Optimize Risk Responses Opportunity and Threats are both a part of risk management, and the best PMs know how to create plans that respond to each of these in order to minimize the extent of the detrimental impacts and to manage the potential upside. An understanding of the different categories of project risk before work begins is a precursor to being prepared.

11. Embrace Adaptability and Resiliency. An adjustment in response to a change in circumstances is an example of adaptability. When things go awry, the ability to bounce back is known as resiliency. These two traits starkly separate the competent project manager from the excellent one, especially in periods of high uncertainty.

12. Enable Change to Achieve the Envisioned Future State Technical delivery is the means to an end. Projects exist to create change. Managing the experience and adoption of that change is as crucial as the technical delivery for the long-term success of the project.

8 performance domains are also new additions to PMBOK 7.

These domains are interdependent. Each one interacts with one or more of the 12 principles, creating an integrated, adaptable approach to project management.

The PMBOK 7 version is reflected in the most current PMP exam. This means that the scenario-based questions assess your judgment, as opposed to your rote memory. This explains the importance of good PMP preparation resources and an effective PMP exam preparation strategy before the exam.

If you are seeking particular guidance that incorporates the theoretical aspects of PMBOK 7 with practical examples from the exams, Techademy's PMP Certification Training Program offers a complete overview of the principles-based framework as well as the reasoning abilities needed for the PMP exam questions.

Pro Tip: In a complicated examination scenario, think about which PMBOK 7 principle is most relevant, as well as what a values-based Project Manager would do. This will benefit you significantly more than simply memorizing the processes.