The Process domain covers how project work is planned, executed, monitored, and controlled. It maps closely to the traditional knowledge areas: scope, schedule, cost, quality, risk, and procurement. Roughly 50% of PMP exam questions fall here.
| Topic | What the exam tests |
|---|---|
| Scope management | WBS decomposition, scope creep vs. change control, validate vs. control scope |
| Schedule management | CPM, float, crashing vs. fast tracking, rolling wave planning |
| Cost management | EVM (EV, PV, AC, CPI, SPI), EAC formulas, cost baseline vs. budget |
| Quality management | Quality assurance vs. quality control, cost of quality, Pareto, control charts |
| Risk management | Risk register, risk response strategies (avoid/transfer/mitigate/accept), qualitative vs. quantitative analysis |
| Procurement management | Contract types (FFP, CPFF, T&M), make-or-buy, contract close-out |
| Change management | Integrated change control, CCB, change request process |
The exam tests which party bears cost risk under each contract type:
| Type | Who bears cost risk? | When used |
|---|---|---|
| Fixed Price (FFP) | Seller — overruns come out of the seller's margin | Well-defined scope |
| Cost Plus Fixed Fee (CPFF) | Buyer — all costs reimbursed plus a fixed fee | Scope unclear; research/development |
| Time & Materials (T&M) | Shared — rate is fixed but quantity is open | Short-duration or evolving work |
| Strategy | What it does | Exam cue |
|---|---|---|
| Avoid | Eliminate the threat by changing the plan | The risk is high-impact and avoidable |
| Transfer | Shift the financial impact to a third party (insurance, subcontractor) | The risk involves financial liability |
| Mitigate | Reduce probability or impact | You can't eliminate the risk but can reduce it |
| Accept | Do nothing — either the cost is acceptable or alternatives are worse | Low probability, low impact; or no other option |
Bank trap: a previously identified risk materializes. The wrong answer is "call a team meeting to brainstorm solutions." The right answer: refer to the risk register — the mitigation plan is already there.