---
ref_id: REF-04
ref_type: Companion
ref_index: 04
shortcode: AI-Projects
name: Guide to Leading and Managing AI Projects
status: Active
version: "1.0.0"
file_path: "reference/companion-references/REF-04.md"
pmbok8_source: "PMBOK8 Guide Appendix X5 — AI · §2.1 (Governance) · §2.7 (Risk)"
last_updated: "2026-06-03"
---

# REF-04 — Guide to Leading and Managing AI Projects
**Shortcode:** AI-Projects  
**Publisher:** Project Management Institute (PMI), 2025  
**Authority:** PMBOK8 Companion — AI Project Governance and Delivery  
**Version:** 1.0.0 · **Status:** Active

## Full Bibliographic Citation
Project Management Institute. (2025). *Guide to Leading and Managing AI Projects*. Project Management Institute. Official release: https://www.pmi.org/standards/leading-and-managing-ai-projects-digital-guide

## What This Reference Adds Beyond PMBOK 8
This guide addresses the full project lifecycle specifically for AI/ML projects — from problem framing and data strategy through model governance, deployment, and ongoing monitoring. It provides PM-specific guidance on managing data science teams, handling model versioning, coordinating with MLOps pipelines, and governing AI output quality. It fills the gap between general PM standards and the practical realities of AI delivery.

## PMBOK 8 Domain and Principle Coverage

| PMBOK 8 Element | AI-Projects Contribution |
|---|---|
| Governance Performance Domain (§2.1) | AI project governance model: steering, model review boards, data ethics committees |
| Risk Performance Domain (§2.7) | AI-specific risk register categories: bias, drift, adversarial inputs, compliance exposure |
| Scope Performance Domain (§2.2) | AI scope challenges: defining done for probabilistic models, data scope |
| P3 — Embed Quality | Model evaluation metrics, test set governance, performance threshold management |
| P4 — Be an Accountable Leader | Human-in-the-loop accountability structures for automated decisions |

## PMOSkills Artifact and Skill Connections

| Item | Connection |
|---|---|
| A37 — AI, Data, and Privacy Control Record | AI-Projects provides the governance structure that A37 must document |
| A19 — Risk Management Record | AI-specific risk categories from this guide extend the standard risk register |
| SKL-08-01 — AI Use Case Assessment | Core reference for assessing AI project viability and governance fit |
| SKL-08-02 — AI Decision Support and Oversight | This guide defines the oversight model that this skill implements |

## Practitioner Usage Notes
- Use this guide as the primary reference when the project deliverable includes an AI/ML model, algorithm, or automated decision system.
- Chapter 5 (Governance and Accountability) is essential before completing A37.

---
*Authority: PMI Guide to Leading and Managing AI Projects (2025) · PMBOK8 Appendix X5*  
*Repository: https://github.com/fakhruldeen/PMOSkills*
