Work Management Body of Knowledge (WMBOK™)
A Modern Guide to the Discipline of Work Management
What is the WMBOK?
The Work Management Body of Knowledge (WMBOK™) is an emerging reference guide that defines the core concepts, frameworks, terminology, and best practices within the discipline of Work Management.
Just as project management has the PMBOK, Work Management needs a structured, accessible, modern standard.
The WMBOK aims to provide:
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Clear definitions of key Work Management concepts
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Standard frameworks for clarity, coordination, and completion
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Principles that guide modern team operations
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Models for workflows, systems, and cross-functional work
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Best practices for AI-enabled work environments
The WMBOK is being developed by the Work Management Institute (WMI).
Why a Work Management BoK Matters
Work is becoming more complex, interconnected, and dynamic.
Teams now rely on:
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multiple tools
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cross-functional workstreams
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asynchronous coordination
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AI-enabled workflows
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continuous delivery
Yet there is no unified reference for how modern work should be designed and executed.
The WMBOK provides:
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shared language
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shared standards
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shared practices
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shared expectations
…across teams, industries, and tools.
What Will Be Included
The first release of the WMBOK is expected to include:
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The 7 Principles of Work Management
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Foundational Frameworks
Such as:
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C4 Flywheel™
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Coordination Stack™
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Work Value Pyramid™
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Work Management Maturity Index™
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WMI Handoff Checklist™
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Official Work Management Definition
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Core Practices
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Workflow mapping
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Workstream design
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Task orchestration
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Coordination models
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Visibility practices
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Operational cadences
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AI-assisted work
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Glossary & Definitions
A common language for a rapidly growing discipline.
Timeline
Estimated Publication: 2026
Initial content will release as articles, whitepapers, and online resources before the full WMBOK is published.
