The Project Management Process

The work completed in an organization can be described as either operational or project in nature. Operational work is ongoing whereas projects have an end. Projects are initiated and planned to produce a unique product, service or result that is aligned with the organization’s business goal.
In 1969 the project Management Institute (PMI) was founded. PMI wanted to create an international standard of Project Management best practices. Project practitioners worldwide were encouraged to contribute to the development of the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK) Guide which describes in detail the project management process.
The project management process consists of five process groups:-
Initiation Defines a preliminary version of the project’s scope and identifies Key stakeholders
Planning This is where the project manager & team plan how they will manage all aspects of the project including, scope risk, time, cost, quality, procurement, communication, Human Resources and integration
Executing This is where the work is done

Monitoring & Controlling This is where the team compares the actual work being done to the project plan and makes adjustments and takes corrective action as needed

Closing Once the execution process is accomplished and the product or service has been accepted the necessary paperwork needs to be completed and filed. The team is released and the procurement contracts are closed. The lessons learnt file is updated for use on future projects

Besides these five process groups, the project management process also relates to 42 processes and nine knowledge areas. The 9 knowledge areas include:-
Integration Deals with changes and keeps everyone working towards the same goal

Scope Defines the work will and will not be completed on the