I would say the Scope Management Plan (SMP) is probably the most important knowledge area. The SMP defines the project boundaries, i.e. what is included and what is excluded. It identifies what the project is supposed to deliver, the work that will be done to deliver the project (work break down structure), acceptance criteria for the deliverables (conditions or capabilities that must be met), project assumptions etc.
Projects with unclear scope statements never seem to end, hence the main purpose of Project Management which is to deliver a project on time, within budget and scope cannot be fulfilled if scope planning is not done properly up front.
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I would have to say Integration Management because it is the one knowledge area that ties(glue) all other knowledge areas together and is the alpha and the omega and is a part of the project all the way up to signoff.
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RISK Management is most important, ofcourse INTEGRATION management is the one which links all the knowledge areas.
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gokul
Answered On : Aug 18th, 2011
communication
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Sandip
Answered On : Sep 29th, 2011
In my view it is Integration Management. Besides, Cost, Time, Scope and Risk Management are equally important areas.
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Anupam Sharma
Answered On : Nov 22nd, 2011
Risk Management
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Out of 9 knowledge areas, The most important area is COMMUNICATION. You may ask Why is it so? Giving up a situation where SCOPE is defined clearly, Requirements were freeze with customer and no changes thereafter, COST and TIME is given as you estimated. And there is lot of chance the project will not meet the time plan and cost if Communication is not properly with in the project.
In Another situation, where Scope and requirement is not clear at the start of the project, Only through effective and efficient Communication only you will be able to escalate the issue and get it resolved.
Communication is the Lifeblood in the project, If the team members and stake holder were not in line with the requirement of the project then the whole project will fail, this only can be avoided through good communication with in the project team.
Hence Communication is the very important knowledge area in PMBOK.
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