Tailoring Considerations for Each Performance Domain

PMBOK v8 Definition

Tailoring consideration examples for each project management performance domain are specifically covered in Section 2 on performance domains. The work associated with each performance domain can be tailored based on the uniqueness of the project, and the principles for project management provide guidance for the behavior of project practitioners as they tailor the performance domains to meet the unique needs of the project context and environment. Since all projects are executed in a unique environment, project management activities should be adjusted to fit the characteristics and environment of a given project.

Why It Matters for the Exam

The PMI exam frequently tests tailoring because it reflects the practical reality that no two projects are identical. Questions appear in situational scenarios where you must select the correct approach to adapt standard processes to a specific project context, environment, or constraint. Expect 2-4 questions on tailoring across the exam, often embedded within performance domain questions.

Key Points to Remember (for the exam)

• Primary Reference Location: Tailoring consideration examples for each performance domain are found in Section 2 (Performance Domains), not in a single dedicated tailoring section alone
• Initial Tailoring Decision: The project's initial planning should establish the overall tailoring considerations and determine the development approach and project life cycle—this forms part of the project management plan
• Input to All Domains: The tailoring decisions made during planning serve as an input to all performance domains, guiding their planning efforts
• Periodic Review Required: Diagnostics (periodic reviews such as retrospectives or lessons learned) help assess the effectiveness of current approaches and identify areas for improvement through tailoring
• Integration Requirement: All management plans and baselines from the performance domains must be integrated into the project management plan, and their alignments verified after tailoring
• Policy vs. Tailoring: Tailoring considerations should be applied even if activities are defined per policies, practices, or procedures—policies do not eliminate the need for tailoring
• Governance Interaction: The Governance performance domain ensures alignment of scope, schedule, and financial resources to maximize value delivery while balancing trade-offs—tailoring must respect these governance constraints

Typical PMI Exam Example

A project manager is initiating a software development project in a highly regulated industry. The organization has standard project management policies. What should the project manager do first regarding tailoring?

Correct answer: Establish the overall tailoring considerations and determine the development approach and project life cycle during initial planning, documenting this in the project management plan as an input to all performance domains.

PMI Exam Traps

• Trap: Thinking tailoring is only done once at project initiation

• Reality: Tailoring is ongoing; diagnostics (retrospectives, lessons learned) identify areas for improvement through tailoring throughout the project

• Trap: Believing organizational policies eliminate the need for tailoring

• Reality: Tailoring considerations should be applied to corresponding activities even if those activities are defined per policies, practices, or procedures

• Trap: Confusing the tailoring section (Section 3.5) as the only source for performance domain tailoring examples

• Reality: Tailoring consideration examples for each performance domain are specifically covered in Section 2 on performance domains

• Trap: Assuming tailoring is separate from the project management plan

• Reality: Tailoring decisions form part of the project management plan and serve as inputs to all performance domains

Important PMI Connections

Quick Review Questions

1. Where in the PMBOK Guide are tailoring consideration examples for each performance domain specifically covered?

2. During which project management process should the overall tailoring considerations and development approach be established?

3. What mechanism helps assess whether current tailoring approaches are effective and identifies areas for improvement?

4. True or False: If an organization has standard project management policies, tailoring is not required for individual projects.

5. How does the Governance performance domain interact with tailoring decisions across other domains?

PMBOK v8 Reference

Section 3.5 - Tailoring the Performance Domains Section 2 (all subsections) - Performance Domains (tailoring consideration examples)