What does the PMBOK® Guide 8th Edition say about Artificial Intelligence?
In this episode, Ricardo wraps up the discussion on the PMBOK Guide 8th Edition by highlighting the role of artificial intelligence in project management. PMI included AI in Appendix X3, presenting three adoption strategies: automation (making tasks faster), assistance (AI as a partner helping with scheduling and resources), and augmentation (expanding managers’ capabilities and decision-making). The appendix provides practical use cases for governance, risks, resources, scheduling, and other areas. Ricardo emphasizes that AI evolves rapidly, so some examples may soon become outdated, but project managers must understand and leverage AI to remain competitive. Recent research indicates that organizations are already saving significant money by utilizing AI. He encourages readers to study the appendix carefully and stay adaptable.
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7:44
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7:44
Don’t Memorize the PMBOK® Guide 8th Edition - Understand It
In this episode, Ricardo explains that in the PMBOK® 8th Edition, you do not need to memorize all 40 processes. Many of them are very similar, especially in the planning phase, which alone contains 19 processes. He shows that processes like Plan Scope Management, Plan Schedule Management, Plan Financial Management, and Plan Risk Management follow the same logic: they define the “rules of the game” for each performance domain. If you understand one, you know the others. Ricardo advises candidates for CAPM or PMP to focus on understanding the logic and flow of the processes rather than memorizing them, which is less effective for real-world project management.
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2:53
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2:53
What Happened with the Communication Domain in the PMBOK® Guide 8th Edition?
In this episode, Ricardo discusses a key change in the PMBOK® Guide 8th edition: the relationship between stakeholders and communication. In previous editions, communication was a separate knowledge area, but now it is considered part of stakeholder management. This shift is significant because communication only exists when there are stakeholders with different needs. If a project had no stakeholders besides yourself, communication would be unnecessary. Therefore, communication is a tool to support stakeholder engagement. In the new PMBOK® structure, stakeholders remain a performance domain that includes planning, execution, and control activities. Ricardo encourages PMI members to download the PMBOK® Guide PDF and explore these updates to improve project value and delivery.
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3:05
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3:05
My First Impressions about the PMBOK® Guide 8th Edition
In this episode, Ricardo discusses the new edition of PMBOK 8, which brings important changes more aligned with the real work of project managers. Based on nearly 48,000 data points and two rounds of global feedback, it has become more practical, clear, and value-oriented. The old 12 principles have been condensed into six more focused ones, while maintaining good project practices. The traditional five process groups return and now apply to predictive, agile, and hybrid projects. The old knowledge areas have evolved into seven performance domains: governance, scope, schedule, finance, stakeholders, resources, and risks. This edition also features 40 updated processes with integrated ITTOs and reinforces tailoring with practical examples, making the guide more applicable and balanced.
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5:43
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5:43
Luck, Probability, and Risk: What Is Really Under Your Control in Projects
In this episode, Ricardo discusses the role of luck and probability in project management. He explains that while luck can influence outcomes, it favors those who are prepared. Probability, he says, is not a prediction but a decision-making tool that helps manage uncertainty. Effective project managers turn randomness into results through preparation: identifying risks, creating contingency plans, defining triggers, and building buffers. Ricardo also warns against hindsight bias, which makes us underestimate luck after success. He recommends modeling uncertainty with scenarios, using simulations for high-risk decisions, protecting the critical path with buffers, and designing flexibility into projects. True management, he concludes, is not about eliminating luck but shaping how it affects outcomes—turning uncertainty into smarter choices and opportunities.
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Since 2007, Ricardo Vargas publishes the 5 Minutes Podcast where he addresses in a quick and practical way the main topics on project, portfolio and risk management.