Project configuration by means of network theory

In this paper, we propose a novel approach to determine an appropriate sequence to develop the components of a project management plan. Some newcomers to project management become overwhelmed due to the complex relations within these components. Network theory is a widely used tool in fields with complex relations within entities, but it has not yet been applied to configure a project management plan. Although our approach is compatible with any project management standard, the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK) is an excellent example to illustrate how to apply this methodology due to the complex interdependence among its processes. •We propose a method to configure the project management plan based on network theory.•We propose a sequence to elaborate the documents defined in the PMBOK 5th edition.•We find the most critical documents in a project management plan.