What does a project management plan define?

A project management plan is a comprehensive document that serves as a roadmap for how a project will be executed, monitored, and controlled. This plan encompasses various aspects of project management, including scope, schedule, costs, quality, resources, communications, risks, and procurement.

The essence of the project management plan is to provide a clear and detailed strategy on how project objectives will be achieved while ensuring that all aspects of the project are sufficiently addressed. It outlines the processes and methodologies that the project team will use to manage the project effectively throughout its lifecycle. By defining how the project will be executed, monitored, and controlled, the project management plan ensures that the team is aligned on goals and methodologies, which facilitates tracking and adaptation as necessary.

The other options, while important aspects of project management, do not encapsulate the full scope and purpose of the project management plan. For example, while strategies for team development and guidelines for stakeholder engagement are essential components, they are just facets of the broader project management plan. Similarly, the criteria for project closure are part of the processes involved but do not represent the entirety of what the project management plan defines.