Standard
A formally recognized document, accepted by an authority, by established practice, or by broad agreement, that serves as the accepted model or benchmark.
Key Points
- Defines accepted criteria, formats, and methods to be followed.
- Usually issued or endorsed by a recognized authority, industry body, or consensus group.
- Used as a benchmark to compare performance and deliverables.
- Promotes consistency, quality, and interoperability across projects.
Example
A company mandates ISO 9001 as the quality management standard. The project team designs quality plans, checklists, and audits to align with ISO 9001 requirements and measures results against that benchmark.
PMP Example Question
Your PMO requires all projects to structure their WBS according to the PMI Practice Standard for Work Breakdown Structures. What type of document is this requirement referencing?
- Standard
- Procedure
- Guideline
- Policy
Correct Answer: A — Standard
Explanation: A standard is a recognized, authoritative model or benchmark that projects are expected to follow.
