One of the highly demanded Project Management certifications PMP (Project Management Professional) conducted by PMI (Project Management Institute) is undergoing a drastic change. The guide book for PMP, PMBOK (Project Management Body Of Knowledge), will soon develop the 7th Edition. If you are aspiring for PMP certification, you must be aware of the changes happening.

If you are new to the concept of PMP certification, you must be wondering what are we talking about. PMP is a globally recognized certification that helps validate your knowledge in IT and your skills as a project manager. People who wish to take the next step in their career can opt for PMP certifications as this will enhance their growth and knowledge in the field of project management.

What Is Changing In PMP?

The PMI (Project Management Institute) is the governing body that controls all the decisions for PMP certification, has decided to launch the PMI PMP 7th Edition by evolving the current syllabus of PMP.

Now, if you were planning to give the PMI PMP 7th edition exam this year, then hold on as you should know the facts and changes this new edition will bring.

Moreover, the summary of the 7th Edition can be noted as the approach will be based on principles rather than processes. Also, it will be shorter than the current Edition.

Why Was There A Need For Change?

While working on different projects, a project manager will have to apply different strategies, methods, and approaches to give the best output in a defined time. But, restricting the approaches will also slow down the growth of the project. The processes used by project managers are Practitioner, Agile, Waterfall, and Hybrid. However, a single project doesn’t need to favor a single approach. So, a project should be dealt with various principles rather than a single process.

Since the PMP certification is changing the guide for the examination will also alter. Here is a quick comparison between the PMBOK 6 and PMBOK 7 that will highlight the major changes in the guide.

Difference Between PMBOK 6 Vs PMBOK 7

PMBOK has been a constant companion for aspiring project managers who wish to endeavor success in this field. However, with the launch of PMP 7th edition, the guide for PMP will also undergo a drastic change. This will bring forward a new body of knowledge known as PMBOK 7.

Knowledge Areas:

PMBOK 6:

The basic difference that one can notice in the PMBOK’s is the knowledge areas focused. In PMBOK 6 the knowledge areas are accompanied by the following things- inputs, tools, techniques, and outputs.

PMBOK 7:

The PMBOK 7 includes tailoring, models, artifacts, and methods. Additionally, there are 8 performance domains.

The other changes that will be seen in PMBOK 7 guide are that it will be a shorter version compared to PMBOK 6. The last change in PMBOK was observed in January 2021. The next update will be seen in PMBOK 7 will be in August 2021.

Principle Vs Process-Based Approach

In the previous PMBOKs, the guide was in the form of knowledge areas. These areas included various processes, tools, inputs, outputs, and techniques. Whereas, in the PMBOK 7th Edition, these processes will not be there anymore. PMBOK focused on the deliverables for evolving the project dynamics in the current and previous years. Whereas, the new Edition of PMBOK will focus on the results.

However, the traditional methodology of project management, i.e., Process-based management, will still be in action. The value for the conventional method is still the same, and many organizations are using it for successful project completion. But, the new principle-based approach will give more results by adding value to the organization and the stakeholders.

This table will just highlight briefly the points of differences in PMBOK 6 and PMBOK 7.

Key Changes Introduced In PMBOK 7

There are some new terminologies added to the PMP 7th edition which will help the project managers deliver cost-effective and timely delivery. They are as follows:

Tailoring

The PMBOK 7 beliefs that project management is not based on a single approach. Project managers can follow different methodologies to get desired outputs in projects. A project manager will tailor the approach according to the needs of the project, deliverables, and organizational demands.

Models, Methods and Artifacts:

The aspiring project managers can now seek guidance from the videos, articles, and templates that can enhance their productivity and knowledge in a defined domain.

Aspects influencing the Changes In PMBOK7

To get a change in the existing things, one needs to have significant points that support the demand for the alterations. The last change in PMBOK was done in 2017, and since then, the format has not changed much. However, with the launch of PMBOK7, some new yet drastic changes will be seen.

Let’s glance at the fundamental points that have influenced this change.

1. Value Delivery System

PMBOK 7th Edition will be an approach that will act upon the value delivery system. It will systematically define the strategies, objectives, and missions decided by a company. The projects will be conducted based on these further investments. To make sure that the purpose of the portfolios, the project delivery must reach its pre-set targets.

2. Project Delivery Principles

The ‘what’ and ‘why’ aspects of project delivery will be mentioned on the PMBOK 7th edition principles. The fundamental principles included in the project delivery describe the norms and fundamental truths and are not prescriptive.

Principles Of Project Delivery:

• Team: Building a good work culture of respect and accountability
• Stewardship: Being responsible for duties
• Value: Focusing on core values
• Stakeholders: Engaging potential clients by understanding their needs and interest.
• Leadership: Motivate, teach, learn and grow
• Holistic Thinking: Recognize and respond to systems interactions
• Value: IT will focus on the values
• Tailoring: It will make the approach based on the context of requirements
• Quality: Build quality through process and results
• Opportunities and Threats: It will help in addressing the opportunities and threats involved.
• Complexity: Addressing the complexities with the help of learning and experience.
• Adaptability & Resilience: Being adaptable and resilient
• Change Management: Incorporate changes to get better results.

When Is PMBOK 7th Edition Releasing?

The official page of PMI has announced PMP 7th Edition release date as 1st August 2021. However, the exam syllabus will not change immediately. The implementation of these changes will be from January 2022. Simultaneously, this will give the time needed to the training institutes to update their syllabus and prepare the study material accordingly. To find out more, you can visit the official page of PMI where you can get a PMP 7th edition PDF to check the latest updates added in the PMBOK.

Should You Wait For PMP 7th Edition?

Are you in a dilemma with whether you should wait for the new edition to give the exams or continue with the old method? The answer depends upon your preparation. We expect to succeed in every exam that we give. So, once you are fully prepared and well versed with all the mock tests you can attempt the examination. But it is not easy to prepare for such a competitive exam on your own and pass the exam on the first attempt. You can rely on a good PMP training institute like Zoc Learnings. The real-time learning, assistance guidance, and mentorship of the experts will help you excel in the new version of PMP certification.

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