1.1. Develop a common vision

Developing a common vision means helping the project team and key stakeholders understand why the project exists, what outcome it should create, and how success should be understood. A shared vision gives people a common direction before detailed planning and execution begin.

This task is especially important when stakeholders have different priorities, unclear expectations, or different interpretations of the project’s purpose. The project manager helps clarify the vision, communicate it, keep it current, and address misunderstandings when people are no longer aligned.

Why This Task Matters for PMP® Preparation

For the PMP® exam, this task often appears in scenarios where the project lacks direction, stakeholders disagree about the expected outcome, or the team is working without a shared understanding of success.

You should be ready to recognize when the best action is not to start detailed planning immediately, but to clarify the vision with key stakeholders, promote alignment, and identify the root cause of misunderstanding. This task supports initiating, stakeholder engagement, governance, and later planning decisions.

Enablers of This Task

• Help ensure a shared vision with key stakeholders.
• Promote the shared vision.
• Keep the vision current.
• Break down situations to identify the root cause of a misunderstanding of the vision.

To learn the Develop a Common Vision task, you need:

1. In the PMBOK Guide 8^th Edition, read chapters 2.1.6, 2.3.2.2, 2.5.2.6, 2.6.2.4 (part ‘PMBOK’), Section 5 (Agile release planning, Leadership, Establishing and maintaining vision).
2. Read chapter 5.1 in the Agile Practice Guide.
3. Watch the videos:

 

Task Summary

Check Your Knowledge

Take the micro-exam for this task.