Direct and Manage Project Work
Direct and Manage Project Work is the process of leading and performing the work defined in the project management plan and implementing approved changes to achieve the project objectives.
Explanation
This process is where the majority of project resources and budget are expended. It takes place during the Executing process group and involves carrying out the activities defined in the project management plan to produce the project deliverables. The project manager coordinates all execution activities, manages technical and organizational interfaces, and ensures the team follows the plan.
Key inputs include the project management plan, project documents (such as the change log, lessons learned register, and risk register), approved change requests, enterprise environmental factors, and organizational process assets. Tools and techniques include expert judgment, the project management information system (PMIS), and meetings.
Important outputs of this process include deliverables, work performance data, issue log updates, change requests, and updates to the project management plan and project documents. Work performance data is raw, unanalyzed data collected during execution — such as percentage of work completed, start and finish dates, and number of defects — which later feeds into monitoring and controlling processes for analysis.
Key Points
- •Core executing process where deliverables are produced and most budget is spent
- •Implements approved change requests alongside planned project work
- •Produces work performance data — the raw observations and measurements from execution
- •Change requests can emerge from this process when issues or improvements are identified
Exam Tip
Know the difference between work performance data (raw, from Executing), work performance information (analyzed, from Monitoring & Controlling), and work performance reports (formatted, for communication).
Frequently Asked Questions
Related Topics
Project Management Plan
The project management plan is the document that describes how the project will be executed, monitored and controlled, and closed.
Perform Integrated Change Control
Perform Integrated Change Control is the process of reviewing all change requests, approving or rejecting changes, managing changes to deliverables, project documents, and the project management plan, and communicating the decisions.
Change Requests
A change request is a formal proposal to modify any document, deliverable, or baseline on a project. Change requests include corrective actions, preventive actions, defect repairs, and updates.
Project Management Information System (PMIS)
A Project Management Information System (PMIS) is an information system consisting of tools and techniques used to gather, integrate, and disseminate the outputs of project management processes.
Most-studied PMP concepts
High-yield topics our learners drill most before exam day.
Change Control Board (CCB)
A Change Control Board (CCB) is a formally chartered group responsible for reviewing, evaluating, approving, deferring, or rejecting changes to the project, and for recording and communicating those decisions.
Burndown Chart
A Burndown Chart is a graphical representation of work remaining versus time in a Sprint or release, showing whether the team is on track to complete the planned work.
Resource Leveling
Resource leveling is a resource optimization technique in which adjustments are made to the project schedule to keep resource usage at or below a defined limit, often resulting in a longer project duration.
Risk Register
The risk register is a project document that records the details of individual project risks, including their identification, analysis results, response plans, and current status.
Stakeholder Mapping
Stakeholder mapping is the visual representation of stakeholder relationships, influence, interest, or other attributes using grids, matrices, or diagrams to support analysis and engagement planning.
Relative Estimation
Relative Estimation is an agile technique where work items are sized in comparison to each other rather than in absolute units like hours or days, providing faster and more accurate estimates.
Cost Performance Index (CPI)
Cost Performance Index (CPI) is an EVM efficiency metric that measures cost performance as the ratio of earned value to actual cost: CPI = EV / AC.
Schedule Performance Index (SPI)
Schedule Performance Index (SPI) is an EVM efficiency metric that measures schedule performance as the ratio of earned value to planned value: SPI = EV / PV.
Earned Value Management (EVM)
Earned Value Management (EVM) is a methodology that integrates scope, schedule, and cost data to assess project performance and progress objectively.
Part of
Integration Management
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