Key-note address to
A Conference under the Northern Lights
by R. Max Wideman, President of the Project Management Institute, in Reykjavik, Iceland, August 31st, 1987

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Body of Knowledge Structure

But I have digressed. Let me return to the Body of Knowledge. As a result of a recently completed PMI project, which involved over 80 volunteer members across North America over a two year period, we believe that within project management there is a logical five step hierarchy or breakdown of the knowledge which reads from top to bottom as follows:

Function; Process; Activities; Tasks; Tools and Techniques.

At the first level, we have identified eight major project management functions, plus an overview or framework to tie it all together. These nine areas of concentration or learning, consist of the four now traditional core subjects of Scope, Quality, Time and Cost Management, plus the supporting areas of Risk, Human Resources, Contract-Procurement, Communications and Project Management Framework. In my view, if you are not paying attention to all of these, then you are not getting the best out of your project!

For each of these nine areas, we have developed a breakdown structure as I mentioned earlier, which identifies their content. This then will form the new basis for our professionalism programs of Certification, Education and Accreditation.

How Large is Our Market?  How Large is Our Market?

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