PMBOK 6th edition groups tools and techniques as per their purpose. The group names describe the intent of what needs to be done. The tools and techniques in the group represent different methods to accomplish the intent.

Project Management Tools and Techniques Groups

PMBOK 6th edition has seven groups of 132 different project management tools. The following list enumerates the break-up of these tools based on their groups.

• 09 – Data Gathering Tools
• 27 – Data Analysis Techniques
• 15 – Data Representation Tools and Techniques
• 02 – Decision Making Techniques
• 02 – Communication Skills
• 17 – Interpersonal and Team Skills
• 60 – Ungrouped Tools and Techniques

Data Gathering Tools

Data gathering tools and techniques are used to collect data and information from variety of sources.  Following list enumerates the nine data gathering tools.

• Benchmarking
• Brainstorming
• Check sheets
• Checklists
• Focus groups
• Interviews
• Market research
• Questions and Surveys
• Statistical sampling

Data Analysis Techniques

Data analysis tools and techniques are used to organize, assesses and evaluate data and information. There are 27 data analysis tools. Following paragraph enumerates important data analysis techniques.

• Cost of Quality
• Cost-Benefit Analysis
• Decision Tree Analysis
• Earned Value Analysis
• Make-or-Buy Analysis
• Process Analysis
• Regression Analysis
• Risk Probability And Impact Assessment
• Root Cause Analysis
• SWOT Analysis
• Trend Analysis
• Variance Analysis
• What-if Scenario Analysis

Also read: Seven Basic Quality Tools PMP Exam Guide

Data Representation Tools and Techniques

Data representation tools and techniques represent the data and information in visual format. There are 15 data representation tools. The following list enumerates some of the important data representation tools.

• Affinity Diagrams
• Cause-and-Effect Diagrams
• Control charts
• Flow charts
• Histograms
• Mind Mapping
• Probability and Impact Matrix
• Scatter Diagrams
• Stakeholder Engagement Assessment Matrix
• Stakeholder mapping / representation.

Also read: Quality Control Data Representation Tools

Decision Making Techniques

Decision making techniques are used to select a course of action from different alternatives. The following are the two decision making techniques.

• Multi criteria decision analysis
• Voting

Communication Skills

Communication skills are the tools used to transfer information among different project stakeholders. The following are the two communication skills.

• Feedback
• Presentations

Interpersonal and Team Skills

Interpersonal and team skills consists of 17 different techniques used to lead project teams. The following list present some important interpersonal skills.

• Active Listening
• Conflict Management
• Cultural awareness
• Decision Making
• Emotional Intelligence
• Facilitation
• Influencing
• Leadership
• Motivation
• Negotiation
• Nominal Group Technique
• Political awareness

Ungrouped Tools and Techniques

This group consists of an exhaustive list of 60 different tools. The following list describes some of the most important project management techniques in this category.

• Critical Path Method
• Decomposition
• Knowledge Management
• Leads and Lags
• Organizational Theory
• Precedence Diagramming Method
• Resource Optimization
• Risk Categorization
• Rolling Wave Planning
• Schedule Compression
• Schedule Network Analysis
• Three Point Estimating
• To-Complete Performance Index

Conclusion

To summarize, the 132 project management tools described in PMBOK 6th edition are good practices that can be used for successful project delivery. Appendix X6 in PMBOK maps all 132 tools with their processes and corresponding knowledge area. For complete list of these techniques refer to The Project Management Body of Knowledge, 6th Edition®.