---
reference_type: Principle
reference_id: P8-01
name: Adopt a Holistic View
version: "1.0.0"
status: Active
edition: PMBOK8
pmbok8_source: "PMBOK8 Standard §3.3 — Adopt a Holistic View"
authority: PMI-derived
file_path: "reference/principles/pmbok8/P8-01-holistic-view.md"
last_updated: "2026-06-07"
---

# P8-01 — Adopt a Holistic View
**Type:** Principle  
**Edition:** PMBOK 8th Edition (2025)  
**PMBOK 8 Source:** PMBOK8 Standard §3.3 — Adopt a Holistic View  
**Version:** 1.0.0  

## Definition
The **Adopt a Holistic View** principle involves understanding and managing projects by considering all components and their interdependencies as part of a larger system (Standard §3.3). This aligns with systems thinking, viewing the project as a unified, dynamic entity within a broader organizational and environmental context rather than as isolated parts or static snapshots.

## Key Characteristics
- **Systems Thinking:** Emphasizes understanding the interconnectedness of elements within a project and its environment (§3.3).
- **Complexity Management:** Helps grasp the overall situation and connections, aiding in identifying the root causes of challenges and solving them efficiently (§3.3).
- **Strategic Alignment:** Aligns project decisions and outputs with organizational strategy and goals to ensure they contribute to sustainable outcomes (§3.3.1).
- **Proactive Risk Management:** Anticipates cascading effects of risks across all domains to strengthen resilience and minimize disruptions (§3.3.1).
- **Inclusive Engagement:** Integrates diverse stakeholder perspectives to ensure collaborative and sustainable solutions (§3.3.1).

## Relationship to Other Principles
| Principle | Relationship |
|---|---|
| P8-02 — Focus on Value | A holistic view ensures that all project activities remain aligned with the project's ultimate value proposition (§3.3). |
| P8-03 — Embed Quality | Quality prevention must be embedded holistically across all processes, not just checked at delivery gates (§3.3). |
| P8-05 — Integrate Sustainability | Holistic thinking ensures environmental, social, and economic costs and benefits are fully integrated and quantified (§3.3.1). |
| P8-06 — Build an Empowered Culture | Team members with a holistic understanding of objectives collaborate more effectively and self-organize (§3.3.3). |

## Artifact Connections
| Artifact | Connection |
|---|---|
| A05 — Context Register | Captures internal and external environmental factors, ensuring a holistic understanding of project constraints and opportunities. |
| A06 — Tailoring Decision Record | Documents the systemic tailoring of processes based on size, complexity, and development approach. |
| A14 — Integrated Project Management Plan | Integrates all sub-plans and baselines into a single, cohesive operating system for the project. |

## Skill Connections
| Skill ID | Skill Name | Connection |
|---|---|---|
| SKL-03-01 | Define Project Scope and Boundaries | Integrates diverse requirements and stakeholder expectations into a unified project boundary. |
| SKL-05-01 | Monitor and Control Project Work | Evaluates progress holistically across domains rather than tracking isolated status metrics. |

## Questions to Ask in Practice
1. How does this decision or change impact other performance domains (e.g., schedule, finance, risk)?
2. Are we addressing the root causes of our challenges, or are we merely treating superficial symptoms?
3. How does this project align with and support the organization's broader strategic goals?
4. Have we factored in the long-term lifecycle impacts of our deliverables, including maintenance and eventual decommissioning?

*Authority: PMBOK8 Standard §3.3 — Adopt a Holistic View · Source type: PMI-derived*
*Repository: https://github.com/fakhruldeen/PMOSkills*
