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| A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge, Third Edition (PMBOK Guides) | 
 enlarge | Author: Project Management Institute
Publisher: Project Management Institute
Category: Book
List Price: $49.95
Buy New: $27.49
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Avg. Customer Rating:  133 reviews
Sales Rank: 555
Media: Paperback
Edition: 3
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 380
Shipping Weight (lbs): 2
Dimensions (in): 11 x 8.3 x 0.9
ISBN: 193069945X
Dewey Decimal Number: 658.404
EAN: 9781930699458
ASIN: 193069945X
Publication Date: November 2004
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| Customer Reviews:
 No longer a guide January 20, 2006
26 out of 27 found this review helpful
The first PMBOK was issued free and purported to be a taxonomy of project management methods and processes. In this regard it was pretty good. However, this latest version of the PMBOK(R) has moved from being a guide covering a wide variety of practices (reflecting the wide variety of projects and management processes) to a narrow one which is apparently required only to pass the PMI's PMP exam. In that regard it is essential as the exam is based on the book.
It is not essential and is hardly a "bible" for any purpose other than passing the exam and with an absence of footnotes or bibliography it makes a poor guide to the real world of project management. I'm disappointed in the way a useful resource has been converted into something more appropriate for a cult or multi-level marketing association.
PMI, bring back a bibliography, bring back alternative points of view, show some evidence about the efficacy of the procedures you have published. It won't hurt, I promise.
Disappointing December 24, 2005
19 out of 20 found this review helpful
The 3rd Edition of the PMBOK Guide offers no substantial improvement over its predecessors. While the inaugural 1996 Edition and the follow-on 2000 Edition remain fundamentally aligned in framework and terminology, the latest edition of PMI's standard serves up a revisionist version without offering any supporting evidence for some very dubious changes.
Those of you who are familiar with the earlier editions of the PMBOK Guide may find it interesting that in just four short years some of the knowledge and practice that was generally accepted as "being applicable to most projects most of the time", and for which there was "widespread consensus about their value and usefulness" has changed or disappeared along with the definitions of certain fundamental terms and concepts used in project management.
To make matters worse, the 3rd Edition has almost doubled in size (390 vs. 216 pages), but has added a net of only 5 additional processes. The loquacious nature of the text diminishes clarity and in several instances creates confusion. Top it off with inconsistent and contradictory use of terminology and this "standard" represents a step backwards.
Of course, for those of you seeking the PMP credential, this "new" edition is the foundational reference document for the certification examination....Good Luck.
 Pages Filled November 23, 2005
16 out of 18 found this review helpful
The authors have just filled pages with information being repeated over and over again.
Also there are sentences that have grammatical errors. They have complicated a simple process. PMI didn't do a good job managing the project of writing and editing this book.
Helps to get certified.
Watered Down October 13, 2005
15 out of 18 found this review helpful
Since the 1996 revision of the PMBOK Guide, this book has gone down hill. Language has changed that didn't need changing, processes have been added that don't make a lot of sense (i.e. 11.1 Risk Management Planning added in the 2000 edition). The IT influence on the book clearly shows through in the 3rd edition - For example see the how the definition of "project management" has changed. It used to be, "Application of knowledge, skills, tools, and techniques in order to meet or exceed stakeholder expectations." (1996), "or exceed" was struck for 2000 edition. The 2003 edition (3rd) says: "The application of knowledge, skills, tools, and techniques to project activites to meet the project requirements." What happened to the stakeholders? Ignore them at your own peril.
None-the-less, it is still the standard and if you are studying for the PMP you'll need to understand what's in the book.
As I always say, it's a good book, not a good read (not a John Grisham novel by any stretch :-) www.oakinc.com
The PMBOK is famous but not useful March 9, 2006
15 out of 21 found this review helpful
The PMI PMBOC is not a `be-all' for all organizations. For example, it is so far away from being useful in the construction industry as to be completely irrelevant. In other disciplines, the truths espoused are so general and self-obvious as to be uninformative to even the most casual observer.
What the PMBOC does is to set a definitive (although low) bar that allows nearly anyone to memorize it in order to earn a PMP certification. This provides a lot of money for the organization for very little output. No wonder that literally hundreds of companies advertise that if you take their PMP prep course, that they will guarantee that you will pass your exam. This guarantee is not based upon the learner's experience or prior training. Need I say more?
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