According to the PMBOKGuide, when a project is divided into phases (such as design, build, and test), the five Project Management Process Groups-Initiating, Planning, Executing, Monitoring and Controlling, and Closing-are repeated for each phase.
* Phase-Based Management: For a large or complex project, a single pass through the process groups is often insufficient. To maintain control, each phase is treated as a mini-project.
* The Cycle of Groups:
* Initiating: Occurs at the start of each phase to validate the business case and authorize the phase work.
* Planning: High-level planning is refined into detailed plans for the specific work of that phase.
* Executing: The actual work of the phase is carried out.
* Monitoring and Controlling: Progress is tracked against the phase-specific baseline.
* Closing: The phase is formally closed, and deliverables are handed off to the next phase or the customer.
* Phase Gates: The transition between these repeated cycles is often marked by a " Phase Gate " or " Kill Point, " where the project ' s performance and continued linkage to strategic objectives are reviewed before the next phase ' s Initiating process begins.
Comparison with Other Options:
* Divided among each of the phases (A): This is incorrect because you cannot have a phase that only has
" Executing " without " Planning " or " Closing. " All groups are necessary for every phase.
* Linked to specific phases (C): While process groups are active within phases, they are not merely " linked " to them; they are the functional engine that drives the completion of each phase.
* Integrated for specific phases (D): " Integration " is a knowledge area, not a method of applying process groups to phases. While integration occurs throughout, the standardized application is the repetition of the full cycle.