🎯 PMP Project Management Roadmap

From Idea to Successful Delivery - A Comprehensive Guide

🎼 Think Like a Conductor

Project management is like conducting an orchestra. You don't play every instrument, but you coordinate all the sections to create a harmonious performance. Each knowledge area is like a different section of the orchestra, and the process groups are the movements of your symphony.

🚀 1. INITIATING
Setting the Foundation - "The Project Birth Certificate"
🔗 Integration Management
Develop Project Charter
• Business case & high-level requirements
• Stakeholder identification
• PM assignment & authority
PMBoK 6th Ed. p.75
👥 Stakeholder Management
Identify Stakeholders
• Map all project stakeholders
• Assess influence & interest
• Document stakeholder register
PMBoK 6th Ed. p.507
📋 2. PLANNING
Building the Blueprint - "The Architectural Phase"

🏗️ Building a House Analogy

Planning is like creating detailed architectural plans before building a house. You need blueprints (scope), a budget (cost), a construction timeline (schedule), quality standards, and coordination with all trades (resources & communications).

🔗 Integration Management
Develop Project Management Plan
• Integrate all subsidiary plans
• Define life cycle approach
• Establish baselines
PMBoK 6th Ed. p.82
📐 Scope Management
Plan Scope Management
• Scope management plan
• Requirements management plan
• Scope definition approach
PMBoK 6th Ed. p.131
Collect Requirements
• Requirements documentation
• Requirements traceability matrix
• Requirements management plan updates
PMBoK 6th Ed. p.138
Define Scope
• Project scope statement
• Scope baseline
• Project deliverables
PMBoK 6th Ed. p.151
Create WBS
• Work Breakdown Structure
• WBS dictionary
• Scope baseline updates
PMBoK 6th Ed. p.157
⏰ Schedule Management
Plan Schedule Management
• Schedule management plan
• Scheduling methodology
• Schedule control procedures
PMBoK 6th Ed. p.179
Define Activities
• Activity list
• Activity attributes
• Milestone list
PMBoK 6th Ed. p.185
Sequence Activities
• Project schedule network diagrams
• Activity dependencies
• Lead and lag relationships
PMBoK 6th Ed. p.192
Estimate Activity Durations
• Activity duration estimates
• Estimation basis
• Duration estimate updates
📊 PERT Formula
tE = (tO + 4tM + tP) / 6
PMBoK 6th Ed. p.204
Develop Schedule
• Project schedule
• Schedule baseline
• Schedule data
PMBoK 6th Ed. p.210
💰 Cost Management
Plan Cost Management
• Cost management plan
• Cost estimation approach
• Budget control procedures
PMBoK 6th Ed. p.235
Estimate Costs
• Activity cost estimates
• Cost estimation basis
• Cost estimate updates
📊 Three-Point Estimating
cE = (cO + 4cM + cP) / 6
PMBoK 6th Ed. p.241
Determine Budget
• Cost baseline
• Project funding requirements
• Cost contingency reserves
PMBoK 6th Ed. p.254
⭐ Quality Management
Plan Quality Management
• Define quality standards
• Quality assurance approach
• Quality control methods
PMBoK 6th Ed. p.277
👤 Resource Management
Plan Resource Management
• Resource management plan
• Team charter
• Resource breakdown structure
PMBoK 6th Ed. p.307
Estimate Activity Resources
• Resource requirements
• Resource breakdown structure
• Resource calendar updates
PMBoK 6th Ed. p.320
📢 Communications Management
Plan Communications Management
• Stakeholder communication needs
• Communication methods & frequency
• Escalation procedures
📊 Communication Channels
n(n-1)/2 where n = # of people
PMBoK 6th Ed. p.366
⚠️ Risk Management
Plan Risk Management
• Risk management plan
• Risk categories
• Risk assessment approach
PMBoK 6th Ed. p.401
Identify Risks
• Risk register
• Risk report
• Risk categories updates
PMBoK 6th Ed. p.409
Perform Qualitative Risk Analysis
• Risk register updates
• Risk probability/impact matrix
• Risk categorization
PMBoK 6th Ed. p.419
Perform Quantitative Risk Analysis
• Risk register updates
• Risk report updates
• Probabilistic analysis results
PMBoK 6th Ed. p.428
Plan Risk Responses
• Risk register updates
• Risk response strategies
• Contingency plans
PMBoK 6th Ed. p.437
🤝 Procurement Management
Plan Procurement Management
• Make-or-buy decisions
• Contract types & terms
• Vendor selection criteria
PMBoK 6th Ed. p.459
👥 Stakeholder Management
Plan Stakeholder Engagement
• Engagement strategies
• Communication preferences
• Influence/interest matrix
PMBoK 6th Ed. p.512
⚡ 3. EXECUTING
Making It Happen - "The Performance Phase"

🎭 Theater Performance Analogy

Executing is like the actual theater performance. All the rehearsals (planning) are done, now the actors (team) deliver their performance while you (PM) coordinate behind the scenes, managing resources, quality, and keeping everyone in sync.

🔗 Integration Management
Direct & Manage Project Work
• Deliverables
• Work performance data
• Change requests
PMBoK 6th Ed. p.90
Manage Project Knowledge
• Lessons learned register
• Knowledge repository updates
• OPA updates
PMBoK 6th Ed. p.98
⭐ Quality Management
Manage Quality
• Quality assurance activities
• Process improvements
• Quality audits
PMBoK 6th Ed. p.288
👤 Resource Management
Acquire Resources
• Physical resource assignments
• Project team assignments
• Resource calendars
PMBoK 6th Ed. p.330
Develop Team
• Team performance assessments
• Team charter updates
• Team building activities
PMBoK 6th Ed. p.336
Manage Team
• Team performance assessments
• Change requests
• Team management updates
PMBoK 6th Ed. p.345
📢 Communications Management
Manage Communications
• Status reporting
• Information distribution
• Performance reporting
PMBoK 6th Ed. p.377
⚠️ Risk Management
Implement Risk Responses
• Execute planned risk responses
• Track identified risks
• Monitor for new risks
PMBoK 6th Ed. p.449
🤝 Procurement Management
Conduct Procurements
• Vendor selection
• Contract negotiation
• Contract award
PMBoK 6th Ed. p.473
👥 Stakeholder Management
Manage Stakeholder Engagement
• Address stakeholder concerns
• Manage expectations
• Facilitate collaboration
PMBoK 6th Ed. p.523
📊 4. MONITORING & CONTROLLING
Keeping on Track - "The Navigation Phase"

🧭 Ship Navigation Analogy

Monitoring & Controlling is like navigating a ship. You constantly check your position against the planned route (baselines), monitor weather conditions (risks), adjust course when needed (change control), and ensure you reach your destination on time and within budget.

🔗 Integration Management
Monitor & Control Project Work
• Work performance reports
• Change requests
• Project document updates
PMBoK 6th Ed. p.105
Perform Integrated Change Control
• Approved change requests
• Change log updates
• Project document updates
PMBoK 6th Ed. p.113
📐 Scope Management
Validate Scope
• Accepted deliverables
• Change requests
• Work performance information
PMBoK 6th Ed. p.163
Control Scope
• Work performance information
• Change requests
• Scope baseline updates
PMBoK 6th Ed. p.168
⏰ Schedule Management
Control Schedule
• Schedule performance analysis
• Schedule compression
• Schedule updates
PMBoK 6th Ed. p.222
💰 Cost Management
Control Costs
• Earned Value Management
• Budget performance
• Cost forecasting
📊 EVM Formulas
CPI = EV/AC | SPI = EV/PV
CV = EV-AC | SV = EV-PV
EAC = BAC/CPI | TCPI = (BAC-EV)/(BAC-AC)
PMBoK 6th Ed. p.267
⭐ Quality Management
Control Quality
• Quality inspections
• Defect tracking
• Quality metrics
📊 7 Basic Quality Tools
Fishbone, Flowcharts, Checksheets
Pareto, Histograms, Control Charts, Scatter
PMBoK 6th Ed. p.298
👤 Resource Management
Control Resources
• Resource performance
• Resource optimization
• Team performance
PMBoK 6th Ed. p.355
📢 Communications Management
Monitor Communications
• Communication effectiveness
• Information quality
• Stakeholder feedback
PMBoK 6th Ed. p.388
⚠️ Risk Management
Monitor Risks
• Risk reassessment
• Risk response effectiveness
• New risk identification
PMBoK 6th Ed. p.453
🤝 Procurement Management
Control Procurements
• Contract performance
• Vendor management
• Contract changes
PMBoK 6th Ed. p.486
👥 Stakeholder Management
Monitor Stakeholder Engagement
• Engagement effectiveness
• Relationship quality
• Satisfaction levels
PMBoK 6th Ed. p.530
🎁 5. CLOSING
Wrapping Up - "The Celebration & Learning Phase"

🎓 Graduation Ceremony Analogy

Closing is like a graduation ceremony. You celebrate the completion (deliverable acceptance), reflect on the journey (lessons learned), thank everyone who helped (stakeholder communication), and prepare for the next chapter (knowledge transfer).

🔗 Integration Management
Close Project or Phase
• Final deliverable acceptance
• Lessons learned documentation
• Project archives
• Resource release
PMBoK 6th Ed. p.121
🤝 Procurement Management
Close Procurements
• Contract closure
• Final payments
• Performance evaluation
• Vendor feedback
PMBoK 6th Ed. p.495

🎯 Knowledge Area Color Guide

Integration - Coordinating all aspects
Scope - What work is included
Schedule - When work happens
Cost - Budget and financial control
Quality - Meeting standards
Resources - People and materials
Communications - Information flow
Risk - Uncertainty management
Procurement - External suppliers
Stakeholders - People involvement

🔍 Your Problem-Solving Approach

Step 1 - Define the Source: Use the Initiating processes to identify the root problem or opportunity that the project addresses.

Step 2 - Work Backwards: Start with your desired end state (project objectives) and work backwards through the process groups to build your solution path.

✅ Project Phase Checklist

🚀 Before Starting

  • Project Charter approved?
  • Stakeholders identified?
  • PM authority established?

📋 Before Executing

  • Project plan complete?
  • WBS finalized?
  • Baselines established?
  • Team assigned?

⚡ During Execution

  • Regular status updates?
  • Quality standards met?
  • Risks monitored?
  • Changes controlled?

🎁 Before Closing

  • Deliverables accepted?
  • Contracts closed?
  • Lessons captured?
  • Resources released?

🔗 Critical Integration Points

Triple Constraint Balance

Scope ↔️ Schedule ↔️ Cost
Changes to one affect the others

Stakeholder Alignment

Continuous engagement across all process groups

Change Control

Integrated change control affects all knowledge areas

Risk Management

Continuous monitoring influences all other processes

🔄 Agile & Hybrid Considerations

Modern projects often blend traditional and agile approaches:

Iterative Planning

Progressive elaboration with regular replanning cycles

Continuous Improvement

Retrospectives and lessons learned throughout

Adaptive Leadership

Servant leadership and facilitating team decisions

💡 You're the Project Integrator

As the Project Manager, you're not expected to be an expert in every knowledge area, but you must coordinate them all effectively.