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PMBOK 7 Review

Jessica Hatchett, MBA, CAPM, CSM

Since 1996, the PMBOK has provided aspiring project managers with a guide to project management and how to prepare for the PMP certification exam. PMBOK 7 is the latest edition launched on August 1, 2021. There is a significant shift from processes to performance in PMBOK 7. Performance domains are now concentrated on comprehensive outcomes rather than the methods and techniques used within a project's execution. Project quality is of utmost importance in PMBOK 7.

PMBOK 7

In PMBOK 7, tailoring is a new framework. This framework is based on the concept that a single approach may not allow project managers to meet the required project deliverables, organizational demands, or project needs. Once a project manager has chosen an initial development approach, project tailoring enables the project manager to adjust project specifications to meet all project requirements.

In PMBOK 7, new models, methods, and artifacts provide project managers with valuable resources such as articles, videos, and templates.  


Previous versions of the PMBOK focused on knowledge areas; PMBOK 7 has replaced traditional knowledge areas with performance domains. The eight performance domains outline the related elements that are crucial to a project's success:

  • Team

  • Stakeholders

  • Life Cycle

  • Planning

  • Uncertainty and ambiguity

  • Delivery

  • Performance

  • Project Work


These performance domains help deliver value to the organization and its stakeholders through project delivery.

In PMBOK 7, project management standards change from project management processes to project delivery principles.

The new Value Delivery System found in PMBOK 7 blends projects and operations to deliver the best possible value for the business.

The 12 new project management standards in PMBOK 7 are:

  • Stewardship

  • Team

  • Stakeholders

  • Value

  • Holistic Thinking

  • Leadership

  • Tailoring

  • Quality

  • Complexity

  • Opportunities and Threats

  • Adaptability and Resilience

  • Change Management

To see all changes reflected in PMBOK 7, grab a copy and read it. This version of the PMBOK is substantially shorter than PMBOK 6 and appears to be very user-friendly.