What Are Enterprise Environmental Factors (EEFs)?
Enterprise Environmental Factors (EEFs) are conditions not under the control of the project team that influence, constrain, or direct the project. According to Rita Mulcahy's PMP® Exam Prep (11th Edition), these factors can originate from either inside or outside the organization and must be accounted for in project planning and execution.
Categories of EEFs
Internal EEFs
Internal factors include organizational culture, structure, governance, geographic distribution of facilities, resource availability, and IT software. These shape how a project is initiated and carried out.
External EEFs
These include market conditions, legal and regulatory environments, industry standards, political climate, and economic conditions. Project managers must be aware of these to adapt their strategies and risk management plans.
Why EEFs Matter in PMP
EEFs significantly affect the way a project is planned and executed. Rita Mulcahy points out that ignoring these factors can result in flawed assumptions and project failure. Understanding and adapting to these factors is key to project success.
Example from PMP Practice
Suppose a multinational company begins a project rollout in multiple countries. Local labor laws (an external EEF) and internal language support systems (an internal EEF) must be incorporated into the project plan to ensure compliance and communication effectiveness.
Frequently Used Methods and Tools in Project Management
Use the right method for the right purpose under the right conditions. You don’t have to master all, but you must understand their purpose.
📊 Data Gathering
- Benchmarking
- Brainstorming
- Prompt lists
- Checklists
- Check sheet
- Cost of quality
- Interviews
- Market research
- Questionnaires and surveys
📈 Data Analysis
- Alternative analysis
- Assumptions and constraints
- Business justification analysis
- Cost-benefit analysis
- Decision tree analysis
- Earned value analysis
- Expected monetary value
- Forecasting
- Performance reviews
- Reserve analysis
- Root cause analysis
- Simulation
- SWOT
- Trend analysis
- Value stream mapping
- Variance analysis
- What-if analysis
- Internal rate of return
- Return on investment
- Document analysis
📉 Data Representation
- Affinity diagrams
- Cause-and-effect diagrams
- Control charts
- Flowcharts
- Hierarchical charts
- Histograms
- Logical data models
- Mind mapping
- Probability and impact matrices
- Release maps
- Scatter diagrams
- Stakeholder assessment matrices
- Stakeholder mapping
- Matrix diagrams/charts
- Text-oriented formats
🧠 Decision-Making
- Fist of five
- Multicriteria decision analysis
- Voting
💬 Communication
- Active listening
- Appreciative inquiry
- Daily standup
- Feedback
- Presentations
- Meeting management
- Communication methods
- Communications technology
🤝 Interpersonal & Team Skills
- Conflict management
- Cultural awareness
- Decision-making
- Emotional intelligence
- Facilitation
- Influencing
- Leadership
- Meeting management
- Motivation
- Negotiation
- Networking
- Observation/conversation
- Political awareness
- Team building
🧮 Estimating
- Analogous
- Top-down
- Bottom-up
- Expert judgment
- Parametric
- Planning poker
🖥 Project Management Information System (PMIS)
The PMIS is part of an organization’s EEFs. It includes scheduling tools, file repositories, change management systems, and collaboration tools for executing and controlling projects.
👨🏫 Expert Judgment & Meetings
Expert input is used frequently in planning. Meetings are used for collecting input and alignment—but should be used wisely to avoid wasting time.
📃 Work Performance Data, Information & Reports
Work performance data is collected during execution. It's analyzed into information, which is compiled into reports used to monitor, control, and inform stakeholders.