VIEWPOINTS

PMBOK version 4-changes needed…!

By Kumar Sarma

Dubai, UAE

During my coaching/training sessions with varied audience, it always crosses my mind that the PMBOK can be simplified/expanded and rewritten in many places. In this article I am taking up the first few pages of the PMBOK and explaining my corresponding viewpoint.

Some Sections taken from the PMBOK and my corresponding viewpoint..

1) In section 1.2 the definition of project is that - “it is a temporary endeavor to create a unique product, service or result“. Further quoting ‘temporary does not generally apply to product, service or result created by the project. Temporary has been defined in PMBOK as something which has got a definite beginning & definite end.

My viewpoint - we need to understand that everything in this world is temporary. Just because the product, service or result needs to last for longer time does not change it’s definition to anything other than ‘temporary’. The products, services or results continue to be temporary only that it has an extended duration.

2) In section 1.2, “every project creates a unique product, service or result and the repetition does not change the fundamental uniqueness of project work”. An example has been taken about a construction of building with different design, location, contractors etc.

My viewpoint - we need to keep in mind that every moment of time is unique and anything that is built on top of time will be temporary & unique, so mostly everything a living person does in his life is a project because it would satisfy the terms temporary & unique and uses the PDCA(pan-do-check-act) cycle or it’s variants like PDSA(pan–do–study-act),PDRA(plan-do-reflect-act),PDMA(plan-do-meditate-act) etc.

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About the Author Kumar Sarma Author Kumar Sarma is certified in PMP,CCNA,CCNP*,CISSP and Six sigma green belt and ITILV3 trained. He is a freelance trainer, coach, author & consultant associated with one of the Global R.E.P (Zabeel institute of management & technology-www.zabeelinstitute.ae) based out of Dubai. He has delivered close to 1500+ hours of training in various areas mentioned below. His search for excellence includes the areas of project/Engineering management, Information security, leadership, risk management, quality mgmt, six sigma, health & safety Mgmt, various networking technologies and learning various foreign languages. Prior to that he was associated with companies like HCL technologies (Cisco division), EMC data storage Ltd and Netscout/Network General for close to 10 years. He holds bachelors degree (Govt Engg College, Thrissur) and Masters degrees in Chemical Engineering(Anna Univ, Chennai). His motto in life is to help organizations and people in realizing their “dreams”! He can be reached at kumarsarma@yahoo.com and also has his profile in ‘linkedin’.