The PMBOK Guide 8th Edition Draft

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A Look at the New Project Management Guide (PMBOK 8th Edition Draft)

Recently, the Project Management Institute released a draft version of their new guide for managing projects called the PMBOK Guide (Project Management Body of Knowledge). It’s slated for release in the last quarter of 2025 (around October), and this version will be the 8th Edition.

Over the past year, I’ve taught more than 30,000 students project management and helped them get their PMP (Project Management Professional) certification. I want to share with you how this new guide compares to the older editions, what has changed, and what my feedback is.

A Little History of the PMBOK Guide

The PMBOK Guide helps project managers learn the steps and skills needed to lead projects successfully. It has changed a lot over the years, with each new version seeing changes to reflect the changing nature of how projects are managed.

The 6th edition, which was released in 2017, is still my favorite! It gave clear steps for running a project from start to finish. The guide was divided into 49 processes that showed how to organize, plan, and control projects. It also covered things like how to use agile methods for each process, and how to manage project Quality, Procurement and Risks.

In 2021, the 7th edition was released, and it changed a lot. Instead of focusing on specific steps, it looked at how to improve the overall performance of a project. It also included tools and methods like models for leadership, organizational change and complexity, which helped project managers handle tough or ambiguous situations. This edition introduced principles like focusing on value, managing risk, and creating a strong project team. These principles were meant to guide project managers in every part of their work.

What’s New in the PMBOK 8th Edition Draft?

Now, let’s talk about the new PMBOK Guide 8th Edition. This edition is still in draft form, which means it’s open to feedback, but it’s already looking like it’s going to be very useful.

It takes out Quality as a process, and puts Procurement in the Appendix instead of the process groups. It also puts “Validating Deliverables or Scope” in the Executing group, instead of nearer to the end, before closing a project.

Other big changes in the 8th Edition’s draft so far are:

Fewer Principles

The 8th edition has reduced the number of principles from 12 to just 6. These principles focus on being a good leader, focusing on value, and making sure the project is sustainable and of good quality.

Project Foundations

The guide has brought back some important basics from the 6th edition, such as explaining what a project is, the environment in which a project happens, and what the project manager does. This helps new project managers understand the very basics before diving into the details.

Process Simplification

While the 6th edition had 49 processes, the 8th edition has shortened these into fewer, more streamlined steps. This could make the guide easier to follow, as it still includes key ideas about tailoring processes for different kinds of projects and handling the interactions between different areas of the project.

Sustainability

A new addition to the 8th edition is a focus on sustainability. This means project managers need to think about the environment and long-term impacts of their projects, something that wasn’t as emphasized in previous editions.

Artificial Intelligence (AI)

The 8th edition also talks about the role of AI in project management. AI can help project managers with planning, risk management, and decision-making, and the new guide explores how to use it in projects.

Tools and Techniques

One thing I really like is how the tools and techniques are organized in the back of the book. Instead of being scattered throughout, they are grouped together for easy reference. This makes it easier for project managers to find the information they need when they need it.

Feedback and Suggestions

I think the new PMBOK Guide 8th Edition can work, but there are still a few things I would change. For example:

Quality Management

In previous editions, quality management was a key part of the process. It was often its own section, and I think it should be kept as its own topic in the 8th edition, especially since quality teams are so important in large projects.

Agile Methods

Agile is a very popular way of managing projects now, so I think it should be included more in each of the processes. The 6th edition did a good job of including agile, and I’d like to see more of that in the 8th edition as well.

Procurement

In the 8th edition, procurement (the process of getting things for your project, like materials or services) has been moved to the back of the guide. I think it should be included in the main processes since it’s so important to project management.

Validating Deliverables

I would have the Sponsor (or accepting, paying customer) validate and accept the Deliverables before closing the project or phase, instead of having this during project Execution.

Other Recommendations

I would also recommend including the great models from the 7th Edition, such as the Complexity Models around VUCA and Cynefin and Stacey, Organizational Change models like ADKAR and PROSCI and the Bridges model, and Leadership models too.

Why This Guide Matters

No matter which edition of the PMBOK Guide you’re using, the goal is the same: to help project managers lead successful projects. I know from my own experience that learning the steps in these guides can make a huge difference. In fact, when I started using the 6th edition, my team’s project success rate went up dramatically. We went from delivering almost nothing to delivering features that saw a huge customer benefit to the company from 25% uptake to 75% uptake, because we followed the processes in the guide.

If you’re studying for the PMP exam or just learning about project management, keep going! It’s a challenging journey, but with hard work and the right resources like the PMBOK Guide, you can succeed.

I hope you found this overview helpful. Whether you’re learning about project management or already working as a project manager, remember that with the right skills and knowledge, you can lead any project to success!

Good luck, and I believe in you!

David McLachlan on LinkedIn

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