The project management term that is referred to as a project management process refers specifically to a process that is utilized frequently by the project management team when analyzing and assessing the particular fields of educational end experienced based knowledge that may come into play or be significant to know when beginning, continuing, or concluding an activity of activities within a project. Specifically, and to clarify, the term knowledge area process refers to the specific processes that may be utilized and may take place within any particular knowledge area. For example, if it determined that one particular knowledge area, say the understanding of the inner workings of a particular mechanism within a project, is going to be needed and measurable when progressing a project and or specific activities, then the specific processes that will be utilized by those who are working on that knowledge area in particular would be referred to as the knowledge area process.
This term is defined in the 3rd edition of the PMBOK but not in the 4th.