Project Integration Management is the specific Knowledge Area responsible for identifying, defining, combining, unifying, and coordinating the various processes and activities within the Project Management Process Groups. The process groups (e.g., Planning, Executing, Monitoring & Controlling) are not discrete, one-time phases; they overlap and are repeated. This iterative and interactive nature necessitates a central coordinating function to manage interdependencies, resolve issues, and ensure all parts of the project work together cohesively toward the project objectives. This unification is the core purpose of Project Integration Management.

1. Project Management Institute. (2017). A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK® Guide) (6th ed.). Section 4: Project Integration Management

Introduction

p. 70. The text states

"Project Integration Management... is the specific responsibility of the project manager... The need for integration is also created by the iterative nature of project management."

2. Schwalbe

K. (2015). Information Technology Project Management (8th ed.). Cengage Learning. Chapter 4

"Project Integration Management

" discusses how this knowledge area coordinates all other knowledge areas throughout the project life cycle

emphasizing its importance in managing the complex interactions between processes. (This textbook is widely used in university project management courses).

3. MIT OpenCourseWare. (2012). 16.852J / ESD.352J Project Management

Fall 2012. Lecture 2: The Project Management Framework. The lecture notes describe Project Integration Management as the overarching function that ties together the other nine knowledge areas across the five process groups

essential for managing the project as a whole.