Project management is the application of:

• knowledge,
• skills,
• tools, and
• techniques

to project activities to meet project requirements.

Project management is accomplished through:

• processes,
• using project management knowledge,
• skills,
• tools, and
• techniques that receive inputs and generate outputs.

An overview of the PM Processes is as follows:

In order for a project to be successful, the project team must:

• Select appropriate processes within the Project Management Process Groups (also known as Process Groups) that are required to meet the project objectives
• Use a defined approach to adapt the product specifications and plans to meet project and product requirements
• Comply with requirements to meet stakeholder needs, wants and expectations
• Balance the competing demands of
  • scope,
  • time,
  • cost,
  • quality,
  • resources, and
  • risk

to produce a quality product.

The PMI BOK (i.e PMBOK) provides the information needed to  identifies those project management processes that have been recognized as good practice on most projects most of the time during the various project phases of:

• initiation,
• planning,
• execution,
• monitoring and control, and
• closing.

These processes apply globally and across industry groups. Good practice means there is general agreement that the application of those project management processes has been shown to enhance the chances of success over a wide range of projects.

This does not mean that the knowledge, skills and processes described should always be applied uniformly on all projects. The project manager, in collaboration with the project team, is always responsible for determining what processes are appropriate, and the appropriate degree of rigor for each process, for any given project.