Customer Reviews

A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(7)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

PMBOK Version 4 was initially released in December 2008. An updated version was released in May 2009.
It is important to ensure that consumers are aware if they are purchasing the most recent version of a book especially when it is a professional standard.

It is recommended that the most recent version of PMPOK Version 4 be purchased.
The identifier is 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 and is located at the bottom of the Publisher's information page (2nd page of the text)

The PMBOK, is a very useful book to pass the certification exams of PMI.

However, this book of 350+ pages is very badly structured, and just provides lists of processes, tools and activities that a project manager should apply. There is no clear or in-depth explanation given for any reason why one tool is better than another, or when a certain method is appropriate of not.

In conclusion you could buy the book if you are studying for an exam, but the PMI should take it's function as a knowledge center more seriously and take the scope of this "Body of Knowledge" beyond the joke that it currently is.

I purchased this book 2 days ago via amazon.ca and received it in the mail today. Worried that I was sent the outdated 4th edition, I tried following other commenters' suggestions and looked for the given number sequence on the publisher's page. Unfortunately, the numbers weren't there in my book.

Luckily, I found another way to identify whether or not someone has the updated 4th edition. Google 'pmbok guide 4th edition errata sheet' and look for the link to the PMI website. After checking 3 indicators on the sheet, I established that my book was indeed the updated 4th edition.

So, thank you, Amazon! I'm a happy customer!

The good thing about this version of PMBOK is that has a process focus, on all its graphs and chapters.
itprovides the BIG PICTURE

Is there a way I can know if this is of the latest version (with 1098765432 code) or not?
Thanks.

The CD cannot be "installed" on your computer so you have to drag the disk with you. When you start the CD, the CD lags along and you get an Abobe type screen, but not very user freindly. Navigating to a previous page requires you to either go back to the table of contents, the index, or remember the page number each time. It is, however, still lighter than carrying the book around everywhere.

the item was really cheaper than the one at my local bookshop. Shipping was really fast. Cover was as described: soft cover.

It is what it is, a guide to the project management body of knowledge as defined by the Project Management Institute (PMI). The book is in fact knowledge filled and provides more of a framework than a methodology. This is a must read for anyone considering pursuing any of the PMI designations/credentials or just a career in project management, definitely in North America and slightly less so internationally, as it arguably provides the basis for further reading in the subject matter and what PMI defines as "generally acceptable". The book itself is not one of the easier books to read but you'll find yourself getting used to the style, if you can even call it that, the more pages you get through; this is one reason the book didn't get the full 5 stars. The other is that, even though corrections in the form of errata have been available since March 2009 I still managed to get a copy of the first printing in September. This isn't the worst thing in the world but certainly an annoyance when purchasing a brand new copy of a book. So if you manage to receive the first printing or are unsure of what you've received look here, [...] .

The book is hard to read, yet, given the dry subject of project management, it's a little bit better than previous versions. Considering how many people have received credit for reviewing the content in the book, it's mind blowing that there are still so many grammer and layout mistakes.
Since the PMI exam is based on this book, I guess it's a neccessary evil to read.

I found this book not detailed on the project management topics. This is good to get a general idea of what project management is. I found that I learned more practical skills from the project management class I took at school. This book seems only useful to learn the common vocabulaity and practices for project managment for the variety of industries where project management is useful. This book seems good enough for the CAPM exam, but for the PMP, practice in the real world is needed.