Rosana Inacio – PM Insights

For years, the PMBOK Guide described 49 processes. The 7th edition dropped them. The 8th edition, published in November 2025, brought them back as 40, and calls them non-prescriptive: a menu, not a checklist.

So which ones do you actually need? Follow the animation. You will see where the 40 sit, which 11 I would never skip, and how they pass work to each other.

Add the others when the project asks

Think of the other 29 as tools in the box. Buying from vendors? Add Plan Sourcing Strategy. High-risk work? Add Perform Risk Analysis. Quality is critical? Add Manage Quality Assurance. Big team? Add Plan Communications Management and Lead the Team.

Skipping by habit is risky. Choosing on purpose is tailoring. Write down what you chose and why. One short note is enough.

Question of the Week

If you could keep only five of these 11 processes, which five would you keep?

— Rosana Inacio | PM Insight

Process names and counts follow the PMBOK® Guide, Eighth Edition (PMI, 2025). The list of 11 is my own recommendation, not PMI’s.