In Project Cost Management based on the PMBOK Guide, which of the following lists correctly identifies the main project management processes that belong to the Project Cost Management knowledge area?

Introduction / Context:
Project Cost Management is the knowledge area that deals with planning, estimating, budgeting, financing, funding, and controlling project costs so that the project can be completed within the approved budget. In earlier editions of the PMBOK Guide, this area is often described in terms of four processes. For exam preparation it is important to recognise which processes belong to cost management and to distinguish them from time, scope, quality, and integration processes.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The knowledge area is Project Cost Management.
• The question asks for the main processes within this knowledge area in a traditional PMBOK view.
• Classic cost management processes include resource planning, cost estimating, cost budgeting, and cost control.
• Other knowledge areas have their own distinct process lists.
• The correct option should contain only cost related processes without mixing in schedule or scope processes.

Concept / Approach:
In older PMBOK structures, Project Cost Management includes the following processes: resource planning determining what resources and what quantities are needed for each activity, cost estimating estimating the costs of those resources, cost budgeting aggregating estimates to establish a cost baseline, and cost control monitoring and controlling cost performance. While newer editions may adjust names or groupings, this classic set remains common in exam style questions, especially when questions refer directly to resource planning as part of cost management.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall the purpose of Project Cost Management: planning and controlling the budget. Step 2: Identify resource planning as the process of identifying which resources and how many of each are needed for project work, often feeding into cost estimates. Step 3: Remember cost estimating as the process of approximating the cost of resources needed to complete project activities. Step 4: Recognise cost budgeting as aggregating individual activity or work package estimates to establish an authorised cost baseline. Step 5: Note cost control as the monitoring and controlling process that tracks cost performance, manages changes, and ensures that cost overruns are addressed.

Verification / Alternative check:
By reviewing PMBOK style summaries for the cost management chapter in older editions, you will find these four processes presented together. In contrast, Project Time Management lists activity definition and schedule development, Project Scope Management covers scope planning and control scope, and Project Quality Management includes quality planning and quality control. This confirms that option A is the correct grouping for Project Cost Management in this context.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Option B lists time management processes, primarily concerned with schedule activities and schedule control. Option C groups scope related processes. Option D contains quality management processes. Option E describes integration processes, which deal with chartering, planning, directing, and closing the project rather than controlling costs.

Common Pitfalls:
A frequent mistake is to treat resource planning as a purely time management or human resource process, overlooking its role in cost management in some PMBOK editions. Another pitfall is to confuse cost budgeting with cost control; budgeting establishes the cost baseline, while control manages performance against that baseline. For the exam, clearly associate resource planning, cost estimating, cost budgeting, and cost control with Project Cost Management when using the classic process grouping.

Final Answer:
The correct list of Project Cost Management processes in this context is resource planning, cost estimating, cost budgeting, and cost control.