For those of you taking the PMP exam for the first time after March 26, 2018, the 6 th edition is all you know! But for those that received a PMP long ago, PMI has updated the PMBOK® Guide and you can use the summary below to understand the major changes from the 5th to
the 6th edition.
New Chapter
A new chapter (no. 3) on the role of the project manager has been added to include the expanding and changing roles of project managers. The 6 th edition ties the project manager role to the PMI Talent Triangle – technical skills, leadership skills, and strategic skills.
New Names
Two Knowledge Areas have been re-named to more accurately represent what they mean.
| Old Knowledge Area Name | New Knowledge Area Name |
| Time Management | Schedule Management |
| Human Resource Management | Resource Management |
In addition, nine processes were renamed:
| Old Process Name | New Process Name |
| Control Communication | Monitor Communication |
| Control Risk | Monitor Risk |
| Control Stakeholder Engagement | Monitor Stakeholder Engagement |
| Perform Quality Assurance | Manage Quality |
| Plan Human Resources Management | Plan Resource Management |
| Plan Stakeholder Management | Plan Stakeholder Engagement |
| Acquire Project Team | Acquire Resources |
| Develop Project Team | Develop Team |
| Manage Project Team | Manage Team |
New Processes
There were previously 47 processes in the 5th edition, and there are now 49 processes. Three new processes were added, and one was removed. The Executing Process Group has two of the three additions: Manage Project Knowledge which falls in the Project Integration Management Knowledge Area, and Implement Risk Response which falls in the Project Risk Management Knowledge Area. Control Resources has also been added in the Monitoring and Controlling Process Group within the Project Resource Management Knowledge Area. Close Procurement was removed from the 6th edition. Typically, the project manager plays a limited role in this area. The procurement manager and/or legal in many companies often close procurements, not the project manager.
New Concept
One of the largest changes is the inclusion of Agile concepts in all ten knowledge areas of the PMBOK® Guide. Although Agile, a (mostly) software and technical management philosophy, was included in the 5th edition, the 6th edition will feature Agile and Adaptive environment considerations in each area, Agile Inputs/Tools and Techniques/Outputs, and a separate appendix on Agile and Adaptive Environments. The 6th edition also includes an Agile Practice Guide. Smaller concept changes include adding Earned Schedule (ES) into Earned Value Management of Project Cost Management. The Earned Schedule is the duration from the beginning of the project to the date which Planned Value should have been equal to Earned Value. There is also a new risk response strategy – Escalate. If the project manager identifies risk beyond her scope, she should escalate it to the relevant person.
New Sections
Every knowledge area has four new sections: key concepts, trends and emerging practice, tailoring considerations, and considerations for agile/adaptive environments. These sections will aid the project manager with many nuances and variations in the project manager’s role in today’s changing project landscape. Other changes were made as well, but the above were the most significant changes from the 5th to 6th edition.