Cross Cutting Knowledge and Skills List

• Oral and written communication


• PMI’s Code of Ethics & Professional Conduct


• Presentation tools


• Prioritization/time management


• Problem-solving tools & techniques


• Project management software


• Relationship management


• Stakeholder impact analysis


• Targeting communications to intended audiences


• Team motivation methods

Cross-Cutting knowledge and Skills: Need for These Skills

Each item described on the Cross-Cutting Knowledge and Skills list can be its own study and discipline. Many of these skills, techniques, and methods are use in normal day-to-day business activities. Most are not exclusive to management. PMI Registered Education Providers providing PMP PDU training will include these concepts.

However, understanding the spectrum of knowledge and skills it takes to be a successful project manager helps to define the complex role of a project manager. A manager has to possess many of these skills due to the political and human nature of managing projects in an organization.

Cross-Cutting knowledge and Skills: Interpersonal Skills

Management in its essence deals in managing the human resources of a project. Without proper motivation and leadership, a project may suffer delays and setbacks. That is why many of the skills listed on the Cross-Cutting Knowledge and Skills list deal with the ability to interact with people.

The following are skills from the list that relate to dealing with and managing people:

• Active listening


• Conflict resolution


• Cultural sensitivity and diversity


• Leadership tools and techniques


• Negotiating


• Relationship management


• Team motivation methods

A project manager lacking interpersonal skills may find it difficult to organize and lead a project. That is why seeking additional training in these areas is essential for the project manager.

Cross-Cutting knowledge and Skills: Analytical Skills

Management presents many complex situations. The project manager must possess analytical skills that enable them to study performance reports, assess risk and manage the interest of all primary stakeholders. PMI Registered Education Providers providing PMP PDU training will include examples of these. On the Cross-Cutting Knowledge and Skills list, there are several areas that deal in analysis-both numeric and political.

The following are areas from the list that relate to analytical skills:

• Data gathering techniques


• Decision making techniques


• Information management tools, techniques, and methods


• Prioritization/time management


• Problem solving tools and techniques


• Project management software


• Stakeholder analysis

Cross-Cutting knowledge and Skills: Analytical Skills

Management presents both explicit and implicit data. The obvious data analysis work like cost and time performance metrics are skills the project manager must have in order to gauge the project performance. The implicit data like stakeholder interests and political issues are areas that, if not analyzed and managed correctly, could affect the project performance negatively.

Cross Cutting Knowledge and Skills List