The “Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK® Guide)” is a recognized standard for the project management profession. A standard is a formal document that describes established norms, methods, processes, and practices. Similar to other professions such as law, medicine, and accounting, the knowledge contained in this standard evolved from the recognized good practices of project management practitioners who contributed to its development.

The first two chapters of the PMBOK® Guide introduce key concepts in the project management field. Chapter 3 serves as the standard for project management, summarizing the processes, inputs, and outputs considered good practices on most projects most of the time. Chapters 4 through 12 provide a detailed guide to the project management body of knowledge, expanding on the standard by describing the inputs, outputs, tools, and techniques used in managing projects.

The PMBOK® Guide offers guidelines for managing individual projects, defines project management and related concepts, and outlines the project management life cycle and its related processes