For more than 25 years, A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK Guide) has been a leading tool for the project management profession and an essential reference for the library of every project manager. The fourth edition continues the tradition of excellence in project management with a standard that is easy to understand and implement. In 1983, Project Management Institute (PMI) volunteers first gathered to distill the project management body of knowledge. Today, the PMBOK Guide is recognized as the global standard for project management and is one of the best and most versatile resources available for the professional. The PMBOK Guide contains the fundamental practices that all project managers need to attain high standards for project excellence. More than 2 million copies are currently in use. In the time since the publication of the third edition, PMI has received thousands of valuable recommendations from the global project management community for improvements and clarifications that have been reviewed and, as appropriate, incorporated into the fourth edition. The fourth edition has been updated to incorporate the most current knowledge and practices in project management. It focuses on improved consistency, clarity, and readability to facilitate understanding and implementation. Data flow diagrams for each process have been enhanced to show related processes for the inputs and outputs. The processes have been refined and reconfigured. The new edition also includes an appendix that addresses key interpersonal skills that a project manager utilizes when managing a project. The PMBOK GuideFourth Edition reflects the collaboration and knowledge ofworking project managers and provides the fundamentals of project management as they apply to a wide range of projects. This internationally recognized standard gives project managers the essential tools to practice project management and deliver organizational results.