Project management process groups and knowledge areas

Several management processes, grouped together in process groups, will enable a project and its successive phases to run smoothly.

Five groups of processes can be listed and described.

• The group of start-up processes: the project must begin with an initiation phase requiring prerequisites and authorizations to get it off the ground. These processes will enable you to do just that.

• The group of planning processes: the project has deliverables, generally corresponding to objectives to be achieved during the course of the project. These processes define the content of the project (the scope), and understand and specify the objectives.

• The execution process group: the project includes a management plan that defines specifications. These processes will make it possible to address the entire scope of the project, in order to bring it to a successful conclusion.

• A group of monitoring and control processes: the project's progress requires the implementation of regular controls. These processes will enable action plans to be implemented as soon as deviations from a baseline (budget "as sold" – as sold) are detected, in terms of costs, and a "baseline" in terms of planning (fixed schedule).

• The closure process group: once the project has been completed, it must be closed in order to draw out all the feedback and transfer practical information for future projects.

These processes will close all project activities to ensure closure.