Memorize PMP Processes – The Easy Way

May 27, 2012 by Wafi Mohtaseb 8 Comments

In this Article I will try to give some insight on how to memorize PMP processes, and how to relate them to the correspondent Process Group, and Knowledge Area.

We will be using the famous Project Management Process Groups and Knowledge Areas Mapping table from PMBOK guide, which is shown below, to demonstrate how we can easily relate the process to its Process Group and Knowledge Area.

As we all know, according to PMBOK® 4^th Edition we have 42 PM processes, and these processes are scattered among 5 process groups, and 9 knowledge areas:

Initiating : 2 processes
Planning: 20 processes
Execution: 8 processes
Monitoring & Controlling: 10 processes
Closing: 2 processes.

So what is the easiest way we can use to relate each process to its process group? It’s very obvious that Initiating & Closing process groups are not the ones that causing confusion here, since both of them has 4 processes in total, which leaves us with three Process Groups to focus on.

You don’t have to memorize the 42 processes names; you just want to focus on some flash words, such as “Plan“, “Estimate“, “Perform“, “Develop“, “Control“, and “Verify“.

Will discuss each one of them below.

Plan:
- 7 processes have this word in its description:
  - Develop Project Management Plan: Integration Management Knowledge Area.
  - Plan Quality: Quality Management Knowledge Area.
  - Develop Human Resource Plan: Human Resource Management Knowledge Area.
  - Plan Communication: Communication Management Knowledge Area.
  - Plan Risk Management: Risk Management Knowledge Area.
  - Plan Risk Responses: Risk Management Knowledge Area.
  - Plan Procurement: Procurement Management Knowledge Area.

All of the mentioned above processes belongs to the Planning Process Group, so if there is any question stating that you are in a process that has “plan” word, and then asks what you should do next, you should know that you are in the Planning phase of the project.

Estimate:
- 3 processes have this word in its description:
  - Estimate Activity Resources: Time Management Knowledge Area.
  - Estimate Activity Duration: Time Management Knowledge Area.
  - Estimate Costs: Cost Management Knowledge Area.

All of the mentioned above processes belongs to the Planning Process Group.

Perform:
- 5 processes have this word in its description:
  - Perform Integrated Change Control: Integration Management Knowledge Area.
  - Perform Quality Control: Quality Management Knowledge Area.
  - Perform Quality Assurance: Quality Management Knowledge Area.
  - Perform Qualitative Risk Analysis: Risk Management Knowledge Area.
  - Perform Quantitative Risk Analysis: Risk Management Knowledge Area.

The first two belongs to Monitoring & Controlling Process Group and that because they have the “Control” word, “Perform Quality Assurance” goes under Executing Process Group, and the last two belongs to the Planning Process Group.

Develop:
- 5 processes have this word in its description:
  - Develop Project Charter: Integration Management Knowledge Area.
  - Develop Project Management Plan: Integration Management Knowledge Area.
  - Develop Schedule: Time Management Knowledge Area.
  - Develop Human Resource Plan: Human Resource Management Knowledge Area.
  - Develop Project Team: Human Resource Management Knowledge Area.

All of the mentioned above processes belong to the Planning Process Group, except for the “Develop Project Team” belongs to Executing Process Group, and “Develop Project Charter” it belongs to Initiating Process Group.

Control:
- 7 processes have this word in its description:
  - Monitor & Control Project Work: Integration Management Knowledge Area.
  - Perform Integrated Change Control: Integration Management Knowledge Area.
  - Control Scope: Scope Management Knowledge Area.
  - Control Schedule: Time Management Knowledge Area.
  - Control Costs: Cost Management Knowledge Area.
  - Perform Quality Control: Quality Management Knowledge Area.
  - Monitor and Control Risk: Risk Management Knowledge Area.

All of the mentioned above processes belong to the Monitoring & Controlling Process Group, the good news that 7 of 10 processes in the Monitoring & Controlling has the word “Control“ .

Verify:
- only 1 process has this word in its description:
  - Verify Scope: Scope Management Knowledge Area, this process belongs to Monitoring & Controlling Process Group.

Project Management Process Groups and Knowledge Areas Mapping

So the advice here is you don’t have to memorize all and every process and in which Process Group and Knowledge Area it belongs, you need to focus on the flash words, as mentioned above.

I hope you will find this post useful and it can help you in passing your PMP exam. Your feedback is highly appreciated.

References: PMBOK® Guide 4^th Edition by PMI