PMBOK 3 Vs PMBOK 4

[Senthil]

Hi,

As the exam after June 30th , is going to be based on PMBOK4 (2008), I
feel sharing below information may be useful for the aspirants.

Conclusion: More or less the contents of PMBOK4 is same as PMBOK3 (up
to 90%). Section I. “Project Management Frame Work” is well
structured , styled, sequenced in PMBOK4 compared to earlier version.
The confusing inputs, T&Ts, outputs for various processes in PMBOK3
are removed greatly in PMBOK4. This is a big plus for the aspirants
who are going to give exam based on PMBOK4. So, I feel preparation
time for aspirants based on PMBOK4 would be reduced by few days due to
great extent reduction of confusion contents in PMBOK3. Also aspirants
who prepared/preparing on PMBOK3 also can switch over very easily to
PMBOK4 just in couple of days and appear for exam based on PMBOK4 , if
they have no option (i.e. after June 09). Over all with respective to
clarity PMBOK4 is way before PMBOK3. Even the font used in PMBOK4 is
also inspiring.


********************************************************************************************************************************************************
Detailed Observations:

As mentioned in PMBOK4, all the processes were modified to verb noun
format.
For example, Activity Sequencing is modified to Sequence Activities.
Similarly Scope Verification to Verify Scope
1. In PMBOK4, lot of tools & techniques like “Project Management
Methodology”, “Project Management Information System” for processes
“Develop Project Charter”, “Develop Project Management Plan”, “Monitor
& Control Project work”, were removed
2. Another confusion in PMBOK3 i.e. input of “Rejected Changes” to
process “Monitor & Control Project work” was removed
3. In PMBOK4 naming is very clear. For example “Requested Changes” is
modified to more popular “Change Requests”
4. In PMBOK4, Input, Tools & techniques , output for various processes
were reduced

Process I/P, O/P, T&T PMBOK3 PMBOK4
Direct & Manage Project Execution Input 7 4
Output 7 5
Monitor & Control Project Work Output 5 3
Integrated Change Control Input 7 5
Output 9 3
T & T 3 2
Close Project Input 6 3
Output 4 2
T & T 3 1
Scope Control Output 8 5
Create WBS Output 6 4
Quality Assurance Input 10 4
Quality Control Output 10 7

5. In new process “Collect Requirements”, introduced new term of
“Stake-holder Register”
6. In PMBOK4, Idea /mind mapping was introduced in Groups Creativity
Techniques. Also Group decision making techniques like Unanimity,
majority, plurality, dictatorship were introduced
7. For process “Control Costs” new tool& technique “To-Complete
Performance Index(TCPI)” is introduced
8. For process “Quality Planning” T& T are increased to 9 from earlier
5. New ones are “Control Charts”, “Flow Charts”, “Cost of Quality”,
“Proprietary Quality Management Methodologies”
9. For process “Human Resource Planning”, PMBOK3 individual outputs of
i) Roles & Responsibilities ii) Project Organization Charts iii)
Staffing Management Plan are combined in to single output of “Human
Resource Plan” in PMBOK4 which looks like more contemporary
10. Team Building Activities (T&T of process “Develop Project team”)
are very much elaborated in PMBOK4 detailing out Forming, Norming,
Storming, Performing and Adjourning which were not given in PMBOK3
11. Outputs of process “Manage Project Team” like i) Recommended
Corrective Action ii) Recommended Preventive Action were removed as
this process is moved to “Execution Process Group” in PMBOK4 from
earlier “Controlling Process Group” in PMBOK3
12. For process “Plan Communications” new T&Ts i) Communication models
ii) Communication Methods are added
13. In Risk mgmt. specific management plans like Cost Management Plan,
Schedule Management Plan etc. are used as inputs in lieu of previous
Project Management Plan. This has resulted an increase of inputs for
process “Identify Risks” to 11 from earlier 5.
14. For process “Conduct Procurements” lot of T&T like i) Weighting
System ii) Independent Estimates iii) Screening System iv) Seller
Rating System were removed

[Fai]

Senthil,

Thanks for sharing the detailed information. It helps tremendously and
will answer many a questions of the members of this forum.

Regards,

Fai!

[vira...@gmail.com]

Hi,

Thanks Senthil, for clearing mentioning the difference btw. PMBOK3 & PMBOK4. I will go with PMBOK4 syllabus.

Can anyone let me know, when can i download PMBOK4

Regards,
Viraj Rao

[Senthil]

Thanks Fai.

On Jun 9, 12:13 am, Fai <its...@gmail.com> wrote:
> Senthil,
>
> Thanks for sharing the detailed information. It helps tremendously and
> will answer many a questions of the members of this forum.
>
> Regards,
>
> Fai!
>
> On Jun 8, 4:10 am, Senthil <vmsenthilku...@gmail.com> wrote:
>
>
>
> > Hi,
>
> > As the exam after June 30th , is going to be based on PMBOK4 (2008), I
> > feel sharing below information may be useful for the aspirants.
>
> > Conclusion: More or less the contents of PMBOK4 is same as PMBOK3 (up
> > to 90%). Section I. “Project Management Frame Work” is well
> > structured , styled, sequenced in PMBOK4 compared to earlier version.
> > The confusing inputs, T&Ts, outputs for various processes in PMBOK3
> > are removed greatly in PMBOK4. This is a big plus for the aspirants
> > who are going to  give exam based on PMBOK4. So, I feel preparation
> > time for aspirants based on PMBOK4 would be reduced by few days due to
> > great extent reduction of confusion contents in PMBOK3. Also aspirants
> > who prepared/preparing on PMBOK3 also can switch over very easily to
> > PMBOK4 just in couple of days and appear for exam based on PMBOK4 , if
> > they have no option (i.e. after June 09). Over all with respective to
> > clarity PMBOK4 is way before PMBOK3. Even the font used in PMBOK4 is
> > also inspiring.
>

> > ***************************************************************************­***************************************************************************­**

> > Rating System were removed- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -

[Vinod Kumar]

You can download a complimentry copy of the PMBOK 4 from www.pmi.org. BTW, you will have to be a paid member to download this copy. However when you become a member, would will gain access to other very valuable study tips and resouces.

 

Good luck!

 

VK.

 

&gt

[The PM Podcast™]

All,

I have written the following article about how to study Version 4, if you have previously studied version 3 of the PMBOK Guide:

=================================================
How to upgrade yourself to the new PMBOK® Guide 4th edition
=================================================

By Cornelius Fichtner, PMP - www.project-management-prepcast.com

If you studied to take your PMP exam using the PMBOK® Guide 3rd edition and were unable to take and pass the exam before June 30th 2009, then you are now required to take the exam based on the new PMBOK® Guide 4th edition. The PMI will not make any exceptions. This article will show you a possible approach to "upgrade" yourself from having studied the 3rd edition, and you now have to take the 4th edition exam. However, we all learn differently. You should adjust this approach to your own needs.

There are notable changes between version 3 and version 4 of the PMBOK® Guide. For instance the number of processes has been reduced from 44 to 42. This seems straightforward at first. But if you look deeper into this, you will realize that the change wasn't simply that 2 processes have been removed. Instead what happened is that some processes have been removed from the Guide, some have been combined and several new processes have also been added. So what looks like a simple reduction in numbers is in fact more complex than that.

Appendix A in the PMBOK® Guide 4th edition describes these changes in detail. A number of authors have also described these changes and made their analysis available for free:

• By Joseph Pignato, PMP...
• By Germán Bernate...
• By Global Knowledge (free registration required)...

It is important to note that these descriptions don't list all the detailed changes. For instance, the inputs, tools & techniques and outputs of many processes have changed. Some have been removed and new ones have been added. You will not find a complete description of all the changes.

Because of this large amount of changes throughout the PMBOK® Guide it is impossible to simply "study the difference". The changes are sometimes conceptual, sometimes dramatic and sometimes minor. But they are here and your PMP Exam may require you to know them. "Upgrading" your knowledge from the 3rd to the 4th edition can therefore not be done "change-by-change". It has to be a holistic approach.

However, it must also be said that just because the PMBOK® Guide has changed, project management itself hasn't changed. The fundamental way in which projects are managed is still the same. The PMBOK® Guide is our general framework describing the activities & techniques that are commonly accepted to be good practices on most projects most of the time. Just because the PMBOK® Guide has changed its procurement section from 6 to 4 processes doesn't mean that procurement systems need to be changed immediately.

But in order to pass your PMP exam you will have to be aware of the new definitions in the PMBOK® Guide. Studying them takes effort, dedication and time. Here is a  possible study approach to "upgrade" yourself to the PMBOK® Guide 4th edition:

• Read Appendix A and familiarize yourself with the changes. In particular:
  
  • Familiarize yourself with the processes that have been added, removed and combined
  • Learn the new process names
  • Study table A1 on page 350 and know which documents are part of the PM Plan and which ones are "other" project documents
• Read Appendix F and familiarize yourself with the summary descriptions of the 9 knowledge areas and the 42 processes.
  • At this time you may also wish to read the introductions to chapters 4-12.
• Read Appendix G and familiarize yourself with the Interpersonal Skills
• Study table 3-1 on page 43 and know which process belongs to which process group.
  • It is a good idea to start with a blank piece of paper and be able to draw this table from memory.
• And finally (and unfortunately): Read the complete PMBOK® Guide 4th edition twice.
  • Familiarize yourself with the new inputs, tools & techniques and outputs of all the processes
  • Study figure 3 in chapters 4 through 12. This is the Data Flow Diagram for each process. These diagrams illustrate the flow of the inputs and outputs and will strengthen your understanding of the flow of all the inputs & outputs. It will also help you understand the integrated nature of all the processes in the PMBOK® Guide.
  • Get to know the new processes that have been added.
  • Make special note of the changes to the Earned Value Formulas in Chapter 7.3.2

"Upgrading" your knowledge to this new version of the PMBOK® Guide is not something that you can do in just a day. Even though the PMP Exam consists mainly of scenario-based question, it will be necessary for you to have an in-depth understanding of the PMBOK® Guide 4th Edition to be able to answer questions correctly.

Plan a minimum of two weeks of intense study.

=================================================

Hope that you find this helpful!


Until next time,
Cornelius Fichtner, PMP
The Project Management PrepCast™ - http://www.pm-prepcast.com
The Project Management Podcast™ - http://www.thepmpodcast.com
Project Management Lectures - http://www.project-management-lectures.com
Follow me on Twitter: http://twitter.com/corneliusficht
pmpo...@gmail.com
+1 714 710 9091

PS. Read unbiased reviews of our products at http://www.pmopinions.com. They have hundreds of other project management products and services, too.

[Brijesh Tripathi]

Thank you so much Mr. Fichtner.

 

This would be really helpful to people like me who have cleared PMP on version 3 and would like to know the changes/additions introduced in version 4.

 

Thanks much.

 

Regards,

Brijesh Tripathi, PMP

[Kristie]

You can download this now after you sign in to PMI's website at
http://www.pmi.org/Pages/default.aspx

> > > they have no option (ie after June 09). Over all with respective to

> > > clarity PMBOK4 is way before PMBOK3. Even the font used in PMBOK4 is
> > > also inspiring.
>

> > ***************************************************************************­***************************************************************************­**

> > > Detailed Observations:
>
> > > As mentioned in PMBOK4, all the processes were modified to verb noun
> > > format.
> > > For example, Activity Sequencing is modified to Sequence Activities.
> > > Similarly Scope Verification to Verify Scope
> > > 1. In PMBOK4, lot of tools & techniques like “Project Management
> > > Methodology”, “Project Management Information System” for processes
> > > “Develop Project Charter”, “Develop Project Management Plan”, “Monitor
> > > & Control Project work”, were removed

> > > 2. Another confusion in PMBOK3 ie input of “Rejected Changes” to