If you’ve ever thought:
“Every time I understand PMBOK, they release a new one…”
…you are not alone.
PMI has moved from PMBOK 6 → 7 → 8, and each one feels like a different personality:PMBOK 6: “Here are all the processes. Memorise me.”
- PMBOK 7: “Chill. Think about value and principles.”
- PMBOK 8: “Okay, okay… let’s mix mindset and practical steps.”
Let’s break them down in a way your brain (and future PMP self) will actually remember.
Quick refresher: What is PMBOK again?
PMBOK = A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge.
It’s a standard and reference guide published by PMI that:
- Describes good practices in project management
- Gives common language, concepts, and structures
- Helps you run projects more consistently and professionally
You don’t sit for the PMBOK exam – you use PMBOK to guide how you work (and to help you prep for things like PMP).
Meet the three editions in one glance
Here’s the “elevator pitch” version:
PMBOK 6 (2017) – Process-heavy
- 5 Process Groups, 10 Knowledge Areas, 49 processes
- Very structured, very “do step A → then step B”.
PMBOK 7 (2021) – Principle- and value-based
- Introduced a system for value delivery, 12 principles, and 8 performance domains
- Less about “exact processes”, more about “how to think”.
PMBOK 8 (2025) – Hybrid / blended
- Built on 7, but adds back clearer process guidance
- Uses 6 core principles, 7 performance domains, plus reintroduced Process Groups as “Focus Areas” and about 40 processes
- Adds modern topics like AI, PMOs, procurement, hybrid ways of working
So… it’s not random. PMBOK has been slowly moving from:
“Follow these 49 processes” → “Deliver value” → “Do both: think smart and have structure.”
PMBOK 6th Edition – The Process Playbook
Old-school, but super structured. If you like neat boxes and matrices, this was your best friend.
PMBOK 6 is built around:
- 5 Process Groups
- Initiating
- Planning
- Executing
- Monitoring & Controlling
- Closing
- 10 Knowledge Areas
(Scope, Schedule, Cost, Quality, Resource, Communication, Risk, Procurement, Stakeholder, Integration) - 49 processes arranged in a big matrix of
Process Group × Knowledge Area
Every process has:
- Inputs
- Tools & Techniques
- Outputs (the famous ITTOs)
- Super clear “how-to” structure
- Great for predictive/waterfall projects
- Very handy if you’re building PM templates, checklists, or governance
- Many people felt it was too heavy to memorise (hello 49 processes)
- Didn’t always match agile / hybrid reality
- Could feel like “project management = paperwork”
PMBOK 7th Edition – The Mindset Shift
“Stop obsessing over checklists. Focus on value.”
- Principles like:
- Stewardship
- Stakeholders
- Value
- Tailoring
- Complexity
- Risk, etc.
- Performance domains like:
- Stakeholders
- Team
- Development approach & life cycle
- Planning
- Project work
- Delivery
- Performance
- Uncertainty
- Much more flexible
- Works well for agile and hybrid projects
- Emphasises outcomes and value, not just outputs
A lot of people asked:
“But where are my processes? How do I actually do things?”
- Trainers had to juggle:
- PMBOK 7 (principles & domains)
- Plus separate Process Groups Practice Guide for processes
So PMBOK 7 was very modern… but left some people missing the practical scaffolding of PMBOK 6.
PMBOK 8th Edition – The Blended Modern Guide
“Let’s combine the brain of 7 with the spine of 6.”
PMI listened to a lot of feedback and data for PMBOK 8. It’s described as the most data-driven, community-informed update ever, built from tens of thousands of practitioner data points.
According to PMI and early analysis:
- 6 core principles (simplified from PMBOK 7’s 12)
- 7 performance domains (refined from 7’s 8 domains)
- 5 Process Groups reintroduced as “Focus Areas”
- Initiating
- Planning
- Executing
- Monitoring & Controlling
- Closing
- Around 40 processes, integrated into the domains (vs 49 in PMBOK 6)
PMBOK 8 tries to connect three layers:
Why – principles
What – performance domains
How/When – process groups & processesSo, if PMBOK 6 was “how”, and PMBOK 7 was “why”, PMBOK 8 is the bridge between them.
Side-by-side comparison in simple terms
Let’s do a quick, human-friendly comparison.
Core focus
- PMBOK 6
“Follow these 49 processes across 5 groups and 10 knowledge areas.” - PMBOK 7
“Follow these 12 principles and 8 domains to deliver value.” - PMBOK 8
“Use 6 principles, 7 domains, and process guidance to connect value and execution.”
Structure & feel
- PMBOK 6 = Textbook
- Big tables, matrices, ITTOs
- Great for exam drills and checklists
- PMBOK 7 = Manifesto
- More conceptual, narrative
- Talks about how to think like a modern PM
- PMBOK 8 = Playbook
- Keeps the principles & domains
- Adds practical process guidance, focus areas, examples and modern topics
Best for what kind of work?
- PMBOK 6:
- Predictive projects
- Heavily regulated environments
- Teams who want clear, defined steps
- PMBOK 7:
- Agile / hybrid environments
- Change-heavy, complex work
- Leaders who care more about outcomes than documentation
- PMBOK 8:
- Organisations mixing predictive, agile, and hybrid
- Teams that want both clarity AND flexibility
- Anyone trying to modernise PM practices using AI, PMOs, and value-driven thinking
So… which PMBOK should you care about?
Real talk:
- You don’t have to “pick a side” like PMBOK 6 vs 7 vs 8 is some Marvel crossover.
- They’re more like versions of the same brain, evolving over time.
If you’re working in real projects
- Use PMBOK 8 as your main reference going forward (once your org has access)
- Borrow detailed processes from PMBOK 6 or the Process Groups practice guide if you still need that depth
- Use PMBOK 7’s principles to keep your mindset focused on value and outcomes
If you’re studying for PMP
- Always, always follow the Exam Content Outline (ECO) That’s what the exam is based on, not “one PMBOK book only.”
- Use PMBOK 7 and 8 to understand:
- Principles
- Performance domains
- Value delivery & modern topics
- Use process-based content (from 6 + 8 + practice guides) to get comfortable with:
- Planning
- Risk
- Scope, schedule, cost
- Governance, PMOs, etc.
Final thought: PMBOK is evolving the same way projects are
PMBOK 6, 7, and 8 aren’t enemies. They’re like three chapters in how project management has grown:
- From “manage tasks and documents”
- To “deliver value in complex environments”
- To “blend mindset, structure, and modern tools like AI.”
If you treat PMBOK not as something to memorise, but as a toolbox you pick from, you’ll get the best of all three editions – and stay ready for whatever PMI cooks up next.
Which PMBOK Edition (6, 7, or 8) best describes how your projects run today? Connect with us for a free consultation from our experts to guide you through the changes!
