Phase 5 - Project evaluation
Manuela Morales Restrepo Group 102437383_21
Course director:
Roberto Carlos Hernández Olmos
Research Seminar
Specialization in Project Management
School ofAdministrative,Accounting, Economics and Business Sciences - ECACEN
National Open and Distance University
2025
PMBOK principles and domains: a reflection on its current relevance
Author: Manuela Morales Restrepo.
Date: May 16, 2025.
The PMBOK Guide (Project Management Body of Knowledge) is the Guide to the Fundamentals of Project Management, which socializes standards, regulations, terminology and recommended practices for project management, its author is the Project Management Institute, has a flexible and adaptive approach responding to the dynamics of modern times; Thus, in this article special emphasis is placed on the principles that guide the behavior of those involved in the development of a project, and on the performance domains that correspond to interrelated activities essential to obtain the expected results of the project.
Among the important contributions of the PMBOK are its 12 principles that guide the behavior of the people involved in the projects, which will be mentioned below. First, there is the management principle, which consists of being a diligent, respectful and careful manager. The activities must be assumed with responsibility, complying with internal and external guidelines, committing to environmental, economic and social impacts.
Secondly, there is the team principle, which seeks to create a collaborative team environment, in which there is clarity about the roles and responsibilities of the members, free exchange of information according to the particular skills of each member. Third, there is the stakeholder principle, which consists of engaging effectively with stakeholders, doing so proactively to contribute to the success of the project. Fourth, there is the principle that corresponds to focus on value, this can be subjective, it is the importance or usefulness of something. The alignment of the project with the stated objectives, the benefits and the
expected value must be adjusted. Fifth, there is systems thinking that seeks to recognize, evaluate and respond to the interactions of the system, to all the circumstances in and around the project that may affect it. Sixth is the leadership principle, which seeks to demonstrate leadership behaviors that promote the success of the project, focusing the team on the objectives set, generating consensus on the best alternative to advance the project, with active listening, empathy, empowerment of the team and delegation of responsibility being essential.
Seventh is the principle of adaptation, the purpose of which is to adapt based on the context of the project, which can lead to positive results such as greater innovation, productivity, lessons learned, among others. Eighth is to incorporate quality in the processes and deliverables that meet the project objectives and are in line with the needs of stakeholders. Ninth is the principle that seeks to navigate the complexity that may arise during any stage of the project, being introduced by an event that affects value, scope, communication, stakeholders, risk and technological innovation.
Tenth is the risk principle that seeks to optimize risk responses by continuously assessing risk exposure to maximize positive impacts and minimize negative ones. Eleventh is the principle that seeks to embrace adaptability and resilience so that the project team can accommodate change, recover from adverse situations and move forward in project execution; and finally there is the principle of change that is concerned with enabling change to achieve the intended future state. Change can be brought about by internal or external influences, so there must be preparation for the adoption and maintenance of behaviors necessary to move from the current state to a desired future.
The PMBOK guide also addresses the project performance domains, which correspond to a set of interrelated activities that are indispensable to obtain the expected results of the project. The first performance domain consists of working together with stakeholders with the purpose of fostering positive relationships and satisfaction; the second domain is called team which corresponds to the activities and roles of the people responsible for the project deliverables. The third domain is about the development approach and life cycle in which activities and roles related to the development approach, cadence and phases of the project life cycle are addressed. The fourth domain corresponds to planning which addresses activities and functions related to the organization, initial, ongoing and evolving coordination essential for the delivery of deliverables and results.
Next, the fifth domain called project work addresses functions related to establishing project processes, managing resources, fostering learning environments and communicating appropriately with stakeholders. The sixth domain corresponds to activities related to scope and quality delivery, where stakeholders are satisfied with project deliverables. The seventh domain is about measurement that addresses functions related to assessing project performance and taking appropriate actions to maintain acceptable performance, making informed and timely decisions; finally, the uncertainty domain that addresses activities related to risk and response to uncertainty, the ability to anticipate threats and opportunities, making use of opportunities for the improvement of project performance and results.
Now, regarding my research project on the “Analysis of the role of civil society and governmental entities in the implementation of the public policy of animal protection in Valle del Cauca” and according to the above mentioned, it is pertinent to highlight that
creating a collaborative team environment is essential for the identification of particular skills that will allow a distribution of responsibilities accordingly and thus achieve the necessary information for the execution of the research project. Focusing on the value of the results of the deliverables and of the research itself will allow us to expand the information on the level of importance of civil society, animal organizations, rescuers and caregivers in the implementation of the public policy for animal protection, in order to raise awareness among people that will lead to the strengthening of this public policy within the territory. Likewise, leadership is always necessary to promote the success of the project, since its orientation focuses the team on the objectives set and thus work together to obtain results according to plan. Finally, quality must always be incorporated in the processes and deliverables, which will account for the exhaustive research work and fulfillment of the objectives.
Regarding the domains, and closely related to the above, the team performance domain is indispensable to develop the functions that will allow the production of the research project deliverable; planning is relevant to advance in an organized, coordinated and deliberate manner, evaluating the capabilities of the group members to obtain positive results; the delivery of the scope as planned in the schedule and satisfied stakeholders with the final deliverable of the research project in favor of animal welfare and in proposing strategies and recommendations to improve the collaboration between animal welfare organizations, civil society and public authorities in the implementation of the public policy for animal protection in Valle del Cauca.
In conclusion, the PMBOK is a tool that compiles the processes and terminology that are indispensable for project management, providing support in project management
through a reference framework that allows managing projects, is flexible and adapts to different contexts and methodologies.
Bibliographic reference
Proiect Management Institute (2021). The standard for project management and Guide to the fundamentals of project management (PMBOK Guide). Seventh edition.