PMI CAPM (Certified Associate in Project Management) Examination Content OutlineProject Management Fundamentals and Core ConceptsMedium
A project manager is developing the project management plan for a new marketing campaign. This plan will serve as the primary source of information for how the project will be executed, monitored, controlled, and closed. Which of the following statements BEST describes the nature of the project management plan?
- AIt is primarily used by the project sponsor to track project progress and approve changes.
- BIt is a living document that is progressively elaborated and updated throughout the project life cycle.
- CIt is a static document created at the beginning of the project and rarely updated.
- DIt is a collection of individual project documents, such as the stakeholder register and risk register.
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: B. It is a living document that is progressively elaborated and updated throughout the project life cycle.
The Project Management Plan is a dynamic document. It undergoes progressive elaboration, meaning it is continuously refined and updated as more information becomes available and as the project progresses through its life cycle. It is not static.
Why the other options are wrong
- A. While the sponsor uses it, its primary purpose is to guide the *entire project team* and stakeholders on how the project will be managed.
- C. This describes a common misconception; the PMP is dynamic, not static.
- D. While it *integrates* subsidiary plans, it is not just a 'collection of individual project documents'; it is a comprehensive, integrated plan.
Project Management Plan Nature
The Project Management Plan is a dynamic, comprehensive document that guides project management, subject to progressive elaboration and updates throughout the project life cycle.
- Integrates all subsidiary plans.
- Developed through progressive elaboration.
- Serves as the baseline for project execution and control.
- Approved by the project sponsor and key stakeholders.
Memory trick: The PMP is a living map, not a stone tablet.