ProjectConnections.com Fun and Games
PM Sudoku Puzzles
INTRODUCTION: Project Management Sudoku Puzzles
The Puzzles start on the following page
What This Is
Sudoku-style logic puzzles using the Project Management Institute's nine project management knowledge
areas. Just a little diversion for any idle time you might have, like your lunch hour. (You do take lunch,
right?) Puzzles are offered in three different difficulty levels, so you can pick the one most appropriate for
your mood.
Why It’s Useful
Because project management can be a stressful profession, and sometimes you just have to take a
break. Or three.
How to Use It
Despite all the numbers floating in the grids you see everyone muttering over, Sudoku is a logic puzzle,
not a math puzzle. The versions we offer here make use of the nine knowledge areas featured in the
Project Management Institute's manual, A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge.*
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Integration Management: Proper coordination of all project elements
Scope Management: Identifying, planning, and completing all the required project work (and only
the required work)
Time Management: Successfully completing the project in a timely manner
Cost Management: Successfully completing the project within approved budget constraints
Quality Management: Meeting the needs and requirements the project was created to address
Human Resource Management: Efficient use of the project team
Communications Management: Timely, efficient, and appropriate communication supporting
the project
Risk Management: Identifying, analyzing, and responding appropriately to project risks
Procurement Management: Successful acquisition of good and services from outside
organizations
The rules of Suduko are simple: each of the 9 digits—or, in this case, knowledge areas—can appear only
once per row, once per column, and once per nine-square region. Using deduction and strategic guesses,
arrange the 9 knowledge areas to complete the puzzle grid. For more on Sudoku strategies, you may
want to seek out the collective wisdom of Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sudoku.
Note: ProjectConnections will not be held responsible for any unintended consequences of Sudoku
addiction. Please proceed with caution and appropriate safety measures.
*For more about these knowledge areas and the PMBOK® Guide, visit the Project Management Institute website:
http://www.pmi.org. "PMBOK" is a registered trademark of the Project Management Institute, Inc. in the United States
and other nations.
Permission for ProjectConnections members to use and distribute for personal use.
Please retain ProjectConnections attribution.
Page 1
ProjectConnections.com Fun and Games
PM Sudoku Puzzles
Project Management Sudoku Puzzle #1
Level: Easy
Directions: Fill in the 9x9 grid so that each of the project management knowledge areas appears once
(and only once) per column, row, and region. For more on how to complete Sudoku puzzles, see
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sudoku.
PM Knowledge Areas: Integration, Scope, Time, Cost, Quality, HR, Risk, Communications, Procurement.
Int.
Scope
Time
Cost
Qual.
Scope
HR
Qual.
HR
Cost
Comm.
Scope
Scope
Risk
Time
Time
Cost
Qual.
HR
Comm.
Proc.
Scope
Int.
Risk
Cost
Solution for this puzzle is on page 5.
Permission for ProjectConnections members to use and distribute for personal use.
Please retain ProjectConnections attribution.
Page 2
ProjectConnections.com Fun and Games
PM Sudoku Puzzles
Project Management Sudoku Puzzle #2
Level: Medium
Directions: Fill in the 9x9 grid so that each of the project management knowledge areas appears once
(and only once) per column, row, and region. For more on how to complete Sudoku puzzles, see
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sudoku.
PM Knowledge Areas: Integration, Scope, Time, Cost, Quality, HR, Risk, Communications, Procurement.
Proc.
Risk
Risk
HR
Qual.
Proc.
Cost
HR
Risk
Comm.
Cost
Time
Comm.
Comm.
Proc.
HR
Time
Qual.
Proc.
Scope
Qual.
Scope
Time
Int.
Time
HR
Solution for this puzzle is on Page 6.
Permission for ProjectConnections members to use and distribute for personal use.
Please retain ProjectConnections attribution.
Page 3
ProjectConnections.com Fun and Games
PM Sudoku Puzzles
Project Management Sudoku Puzzle #3
Level: Hard
Directions: Fill in the 9x9 grid so that each of the project management knowledge areas appears once
(and only once) per column, row, and region. For more on how to complete Sudoku puzzles, see
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sudoku.
PM Knowledge Areas: Integration, Scope, Time, Cost, Quality, HR, Risk, Communications, Procurement.
Int.
Scope
Time
HR
Cost
Qual.
Comm.
Qual.
Risk
Time
Scope
Risk
Comm.
Qual.
Proc.
Scope
Time
Risk
Int.
Comm.
Int.
Qual.
Int.
Cost
Cost
Solution for this puzzle is on Page 7.
Permission for ProjectConnections members to use and distribute for personal use.
Please retain ProjectConnections attribution.
Page 4
ProjectConnections.com Fun and Games
PM Sudoku Puzzles
Solution: Puzzle #1
Proc.
Int.
Scope
Qual
Time
Cost
Risk
HR
Comm
Time
Risk
Cost
Comm
HR
Int.
Qual
Scope
Proc.
HR
Comm
Qual
Scope
Risk
Proc.
Time
Int.
Cost
Qual
Proc.
Comm
HR
Scope
Time
Cost
Risk
Int.
Risk
HR
Time
Int.
Cost
Comm
Proc.
Qual
Scope
Scope
Cost
Int.
Risk
Proc.
Qual
Comm
Time
HR
Int.
Time
HR
Cost
Comm
Risk
Scope
Proc.
Qual
Cost
Scope
Proc.
Time
Qual
HR
Int.
Comm
Risk
Comm
Qual
Risk
Proc.
Int.
Scope
HR
Cost
Time
Permission for ProjectConnections members to use and distribute for personal use.
Please retain ProjectConnections attribution.
Page 5
ProjectConnections.com Fun and Games
PM Sudoku Puzzles
Solution: Puzzle #2
Cost
Proc.
Scope
HR
Int.
Comm.
Risk
Time
Qual.
Qual.
Time
Int.
Cost
Risk
Proc.
HR
Comm.
Scope
Risk
Comm.
HR
Qual.
Scope
Time
Int.
Cost
Proc.
Proc.
Int.
Qual.
Risk
HR
Cost
Time
Scope
Comm.
Scope
Risk
Time
Comm.
Qual.
Int.
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Proc.
HR
Comm.
HR
Cost
Proc.
Time
Scope
Qual.
Risk
Int.
Time
Qual.
Comm.
Int.
Proc.
Risk
Scope
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Cost
HR
Cost
Risk
Scope
Comm.
Qual.
Proc.
Int.
Time
Int.
Scope
Proc.
Time
Cost
HR
Comm.
Qual.
Risk
Permission for ProjectConnections members to use and distribute for personal use.
Please retain ProjectConnections attribution.
Page 6
ProjectConnections.com Fun and Games
PM Sudoku Puzzles
Solution: Puzzle #3
Int.
Risk
Proc.
Comm.
Scope
Time
Cost
HR
Qual.
Qual.
HR
Time
Int.
Cost
Proc.
Comm.
Risk
Scope
Comm.
Cost
Scope
Qual.
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Risk
Proc.
Time
Int.
Scope
Proc.
Int.
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Time
HR
Qual.
Comm.
Risk
HR
Time
Comm.
Risk
Int.
Qual.
Scope
Cost
Proc.
Cost
Qual.
Risk
Proc.
Comm.
Scope
HR
Int.
Time
Proc.
Scope
Cost
Time
Risk
Comm.
Int.
Qual.
HR
Risk
Comm.
HR
Scope
Qual.
Int.
Time
Proc.
Cost
Time
Int.
Qual.
HR
Proc.
Cost
Risk
Scope
Comm.
Permission for ProjectConnections members to use and distribute for personal use.
Please retain ProjectConnections attribution.
Page 7