HKSM

An item, from inside or outside the project, that a process must have before it can start or continue; it is often produced as the output of a prior process.

Key Points

• Inputs are prerequisites that enable a process to begin or advance.
• They can be documents, deliverables, data, approvals, baselines, constraints, EEFs, OPAs, or contracts.
• Inputs may originate internally within the project or externally from stakeholders, vendors, or the organization.
• Outputs from earlier processes frequently serve as inputs to later processes, linking process flow across the project.

Example

Before the Develop Project Management Plan process can proceed, the project charter is an input. Similarly, in Validate Scope, requirements documentation and verified deliverables are inputs used to confirm acceptance.

PMP Example Question

Which option best describes an input to a project management process?

1. A tool used to analyze project data, such as a Pareto chart
2. A required document, deliverable, or data element that the process needs to execute, possibly produced by a prior process
3. The final product accepted by the customer
4. A set of activities performed to deliver work

Correct Answer: B - A required item the process needs

Explanation: An input is something a process must have to proceed, and it often comes from the output of an earlier process.