Which function is NOT part of the project management process?

In project management, the primary functions typically encompass initiation, planning, execution, monitoring and controlling, and closure. The focus on execution, control, and closure as part of this process is essential.

Execution involves the actual carrying out of the project plan, ensuring that project activities are completed as planned. Monitoring and controlling provide mechanisms to track progress and performance, allowing for adjustments that keep the project aligned with its objectives. Closure is the final phase, where all project activities are completed, deliverables are handed over, and lessons learned are documented.

Negotiation, while an important skill in various business contexts — including procurement, conflict resolution, and stakeholder engagement — does not represent a core function of the project management process itself. Instead, it is more of an interpersonal skill that may be utilized within the various phases of project management but does not constitute a standalone function within the formal project management framework. Thus, it is correct to identify negotiation as the function that is not part of the project management process.