PMBOK 7th Edition Definitions
Schedule Management Plan
Component of project management plan, establishes criteria/activities for developing, monitoring, and controlling schedule
Schedule Forecasts
Estimates/predictions of conditions and events in project's future based on info/knowledge available at time of forecast
Single-Point Estimating
Estimating method that involves using data to calculate a single value that reflects best guess estimate
Strategic Plan
High-level doc that explains an org's vision and mission plus the approach to achieve it (includes goals and objectives achieved during time period in doc)
Project Brief
High-level overview of project goals, deliveries, and processes
Roadmap
High-level timeline that depicts milestones, significant events, reviews, and decision points
Project Calendar
Identifies working days and shifts available for scheduled activities
Net Promoter Score
Index that measures willingness of customers to recommend org's products or services to others
Stakeholder
Individual, group, or org that may affect, be affected, or perceive affected by a decision, activity, or outcome of project
Performance Measurement Baseline (PMB)
Integrated scope, schedule, and cost baselines used for comparison to manage, measure, and control project execution
Product Management
Integration of people, data, processes, and business systems to create, maintain, and evolve a product or service throughout its life cycle
Rolling Wave Planning
Iterative planning method where work in near term is planned in detail, work in future planned at higher level
Progressive Elaboration
Iterative process of increasing level of detail in plan as more info and accurate estimates become available
Lessons Learned
Knowledge gained during a project, showing how project events were addressed or should be in the future to improve performance; collected/recorded throughout the project
Explicit Knowledge
Knowledge that can be codified using symbols (words, numbers, pictures)
Uncertainty
Lack of understanding and awareness of issues, events, paths, or solutions
Epic
Large, related body of work intended to organize set of requirements and outcomes in a hierarchy
Value Stream Mapping
Lean enterprise method to document, analyze, and improve the flow of info or materials to produce something
Constraint
Limiting factor that affects execution of project/process
Project Management Office (PMO)
Management structure standardizing processes and facilitates sharing resources, methodologies, tools, and techniques
Stakeholder Engagement Assessment Matrix
Matrix that compares current and desired stakeholder engagement levels
Method
Means for achieving an outcome, output, result, or deliverable
Osmotic Communication
Means of receiving information without direct communication by overhearing and through nonverbal cues
Cost Performance Index (CPI)
Measure of budgeted resources' cost efficiency, ratio of earned value to actual cost
Flow
Measure of how efficiently work moves through a given process/framework
Schedule Performance Index (SPI)
Measure of schedule efficiency, ratio of earned value to planned value
Schedule Variance (SV)
Measure of schedule performance, difference between earned value and planned value
Velocity
Measure of team's productivity rate of deliverables produced, validated, and accepted within predefined interval
Earned Value (EV)
Measure of work performed in terms of budget authorized for that work
Vanity Metric
Measure that appears to show some result but does not provide useful info for making decisions
Measures of Performance
Measures that characterize physical or functional attributes regarding system operation
Iteration Review
Meeting held at end of iteration to demonstration work that was accomplished during iteration
Iteration Planning
Meeting to clarify details of backlog items, acceptance criteria, and work required to meet an upcoming iteration commitment
Bidder Conference
Meetings with prospective sellers prior to prepping a bid to clarify procurement (Also called contractor, vendor, or pre-bid conferences)
Project Management Team
Members of project team directly involved in activities
Relative Estimating
Method for creating estimates derived from comparing to a similar body of work, taking effort, complexity, and uncertainty into consideration
Variance Analysis
Method for determining cause and degree of difference between baseline and actual performance
Analogous Estimating
Method for estimating duration or cost of activity or project, using historical data from similar activity
Swarm
Method in which multiple team members collectively focus on resolving a specific problem or task
Monte Carlo SImulation
Method of identifying potential impacts of risk/uncertainty using multiple iterations of a computer model to develop a probability distribution of resulting outcomes
Stakeholder Analysis
Method of systematically gathering and analyzing quantitative and qualitative info to determine whose interests should be taken into account
Crashing
Method to shorten schedule duration for the least cost by adding resources
Development Approach
Method used to create and evolve the product/result during the project life cycle, (such as predictive, iterative, incremental, agile, or hybrid method)
Probabilistic Estimating
Method used to develop a range of estimates and associated probabilities within that range
Critical Path Method (CPM)
Method used to estimate minimum project duration and amount of schedule flexibility on logical paths within schedule model
Reserve Analysis
Method used to evaluate amount of risk on the project and amount of schedule and budget reserve to determine if remaining reserve is sufficient
Alternative Analysis
Method used to evaluate and select options or approaches to perform project work
Schedule Compression
Method used to shorten schedule duration without reducing project scope
Data Gathering and Analysis Methods
Methods used to collect, assess, and evaluate data and information to gain a deeper understanding of a situation
Prioritization Schema
Methods used to prioritize portfolio, program, or project components (+ risks, requirements, features, or other product info)
Knowledge
Mixture of experience, values and beliefs, context, intuition, and insight people use to make sense of new experiences and information
Change
Modification to any formally controlled deliverable, plan component, or document
Contract
Mutually binding agreement that obligates seller to provide specified product and buyer to pay for it
Business Value
Net quantifiable benefit from a biz endeavor (tangible, intangible, or both)
Throughput
Number of items passing through a process
Effort
Number of labor units required to complete activity or WBS component (often expressed in hours, days, or weeks)
Impediment
Obstacle preventing team from achieving objectives (aka blocker)
Lean Startup Canvas
One-page template designed to communicate a business plan with key stakeholders in an efficient and effective manner
Business Model Canvas
One-page, visual summary describing value proposition, infrastructure, customers, and finances (often used in Lean Startup situations)
Backlog
Ordered list of work to be done
Planning Process Group
Processes required to establish scope, refine objectives, and define course of action required to attain objectives
Monitoring and Controlling Process Group
Processes required to track, review, and regulate progress/performance of project, identify areas where change is needed and initiating them
Digital Product
Product or service that is delivered, used, and stored in an electronic format
Backlog Refinement
Progressive elaboration of backlog content and (re)prioritization to
Value Delivery Office (VDO)
Project delivery support structure that focuses on coaching teams, building agile skills/capabilities, and mentoring sponsors to be more effective
Stakeholder Register
Project doc that includes info about stakeholders, assessments, and classifications
Risk Report
Project doc that summarizes info on individual project risks and overall project risk level
Issue Log
Project doc where issues info is recorded and monitored
Quality Report
Project document that includes quality management issues, recommendations for corrections/improvements, and summary of findings
Change Control System
Set of procedures describing how modifications to deliverables and documentation will be managed/controlled
Feature
Set of related requirements/functionalities that provide value to an organization
Release Plan
Sets expectations for dates, features, and/or outcomes expected
Sprint
Short time interval within a project where a usable increment of the product is created (aka iteration)
Timebox
Short, fixed period of time for work to be completed
Milestone
Significant point or event in a project
Project Team
Set of individuals performing project work to achieve objectives
Scope Management Plan
Component of project management plan, describes how scope will be defined, developed, monitored, controlled, and validated
Daily Standup
Brief, daily collaborative meeting where team reviews progress from previous day, declares intentions for current day, and highlights encountered or anticipated obstacles
Resource Management Plan
Component of project management plan that describes how resources are acquired, allocated, monitored, and controlled
Release
1+ components on 1+ products, intended to be put into production at the same time
Definition of Done (DoD)
A checklist of all the criteria required to be met so that a deliverable can be considered ready for customer use
Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ)
A contract that provides an indefinite quantity of goods/services, with stated upper and lower limit within a fixed time period
Responsibility
A delegated assignment where the assigned incurs the duty to perform the requirements
Decision Tree Analysis
A diagramming/calculation technique for evaluating the implications of a chain of multiple options in the presence of uncertainty
Project Management Process Group
A logical grouping of project management inputs, tools and techniques, and outputs. The Project Management Process Groups include initiating processes, planning processes, executing processes, monitoring and controlling processes, and closing processes. Project Management Process Groups are not project phases
Decomposition
A method used for dividing/subdividing the project scope/deliverables into smaller, more manageable parts
Lessons Learned Register
A project doc used to record knowledge gained during a project to improve performance for the team/org
Plan
A proposed means of accomplishing something
Tailoring
Deliberate adaption of approach, governance, and processes most suitable for the work and environment at hand
Emotional Intelligency
Ability to identify, assess, and manage the personal emotions of oneself and others + collective emotions of groups of people
Rework
Action taken to bring defective or nonconforming component into compliance with requirements/specifications
Waste
Activities that consume resources/time without adding value
Incremental Approach
Adaptive development approach where deliverable is produced successfully, adding functionality until deliverable is considered complete
Communications Management Plan
Component of project management plan that describes how/when/by whom a project will be administered
Product Breakdown Structure
Hierarchical structure reflecting product's components and deliverables
Steering Committee
Advisory body of senior stakeholders providing direction and support to project team, can make decisions outside team's authority
Risk Exposure
Aggregate measure of the potential impact of all risks at any given point in time on a project
Fixed Price Contract
Agreement that sets fee that will be paid for a defined scope of work regardless of cost or effort to deliver it
Cost of Quality (COQ)
All costs incurred over the life of the product by investing in preventing nonconformance, appraising to conformance requirements, and failure to meet those requirements
Cost Variance (CV)
Amount of budget deficit or surplus at a given point in time; difference between earned value and actual cost
Management Reserve
Amount of project budget or schedule held outside of performance measurement baseline for control purposes that is reserved for unforeseen work, within the project scope
Lead
Amount of time where a successor activity can be advanced with respect to predecessor activity
Lag
Amount of time where a successor activity will be delayed with respect to predecessor activity
Sensitivity Analysis
Analysis method to determine which individual project risks (or other sources of uncertainty) have the most potential impact on outcomes - by correlating variations in outcomes with elements of quantitative risk analysis model
Earned Value Analysis (EVA)
Analysis method using set of measures associated with scope, schedule, and cost to determine cost and schedule performance
SWOT Analysis
Analysis of strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats to a project, org, or option
Simulation
Analytical method that models combined effect of uncertainties to evaluate potential impact on objectives
Root Cause Analysis
Analytical method used to determine basic underlying reason that causes variance, defect, or risk
Trend Analysis
Analytical method using mathematical models to forecast future outcomes based on historical results
Regression Analysis
Analytical method where input variables are examined against corresponding output results to develop a mathematical or statistical relationship
Deliverable
Any unique and verifiable product/result/capability to perform a service that is required to complete a process/phase/project
Program Management
Application of knowledge, skills, and principles to a program to achieve objectives and benefits not available by managing components individually
Project Management
Application of knowledge, skills, tools, and techniques to project activities to meet requirements
Budget
Approved estimate for project or any WBS/activity
Schedule Baseline
Approved version of schedule model, can be changed only using formal change control procedures, used as basis for comparing to actual results
Scope baseline
Approved version of scope statement, only changed using formal change control procedures, used as basis for comparison to actual results
Cost Baseline
Approved version of time-phased budget, excluding management reserves, comparison to actual results, can only be changed through formal change control procedures
Baseline
Approved version of work product, used as basis for comparing to actual results
Use Case
Artifact for describing and exploring how a user interacts with a system to achieve a desired goal/result
Product
Artifact that is produced, is quantifiable and can be end item or component of it
Visual Data and Information
Artifacts that organize and present data and information in a visual format (charts, graphs, matrices, and diagrams)
Assumption and Constraint Analysis
Assessment ensuring assumptions and constraints are consistently integrated into project plans and docs
Accuracy
Assessment of correctness (within quality management system)
Validation
Assurance that a product/service meets the needs of the customer and stakeholders
Planned Value (PV)
Authorized budget assigned to scheduled work
Risk-Adjusted Backlog
Backlog that includes product work and actions to address threats and opportunities
Gantt Chart
Bar chart of schedule information where activities are listed on the vertical axis, dates are shown on horizontal axis, and activity durations are shown as horizontal bars placed according to start/end dates
Histogram
Bar chart that shows graphical representation of numerical data
Quality Policy
Basic principles that should govern the org's actions as it implements systems for quality management
User Story
Brief description of an outcome for a user, a promise for a conversation to clarify details
Requirements Management Plan
Component of project management plan, describes how requirements will be analyzed, documented, and managed
Cost Plus Award Fee Contract (CPAF)
Category of contract that involves payments to the seller for all legit actual costs incurred for completing work + award fee representing seller profit
Grade
Category/Rank to distinguish items that have same use but do not share the same requirements for quality
Portfolio Management
Centralized management of 1+ portfolios to achieve objectives
Complexity
Characteristic of project or environment that is difficult to manage due to human/system behavior or ambiguity
Cumulative Flow Diagram (CFD)
Chart indicating features completed over time, features in other states of development and those in the backlog
Hierarchy Chart
Chart that begins with high-level info and progressively decomposed into lower levels of detail
Velocity Chart
Chart that tracks the rate at which deliverables are produced, validated, and accepted within a predefined interval
Monitor
Collect project performance data, produce performance measures, and report/disseminate performance info
Project Phase
Collection of logically related project activities culminating in the completion of 1+ deliverables
DevOps
Collection of practices for creating a smooth flow of deliveries by improving collaboration (between development and operations staff)
Value Delivery System
Collection of strategy business activities aimed at building, sustaining, and/or advancing org
Hybrid Approach
Combo of 2+ agile and nonagile elements, having a nonagile end result
Benchmarking
Comparing actual or planned products/processes to comparable orgs to identify best practices, improve, and measure performance
Change Control Plan
Component of PM plan that establishes change control board, documents authority, and describes how system will be implemented
Risk Management Plan
Component of management plan that describes how risk management activities will be structured and performed
Cost Management Plan
Component of project management plan describing how costs will be planned, structured, and controlled
Procurement Management Plan
Component of project management plan that describes how a project team will acquire goods from outside of org
Stakeholder Engagement Plan
Component of project management plan, identifies strategies/actions required to promote productive involvement of stakeholders in decision making/execution
Quality Management Plan
Component of the project management plan that describes how applicable policies, procedures, and guidelines will be implemented to achieve quality objectives
Change Log
Comprehensive list of changes submitted during project and current status
Change Management
Comprehensive, cyclic, structured approach for transitioning individuals and orgs from current state to future state with intended biz benefits
Last Responsible Moment
Concept of deferring a decision to allow team to consider multiple options, up until the cost of further delay would exceed the benefit
Minimum Viable Product (MVP)
Concept to define scope of first release, identifies fewest number of features/requirements that would deliver value
Project Vision Statement
Concise, high-level description stating the purpose and inspires the team to contribute to the project
Requirement
Condition or capability that is necessary to be present in a product, service, or result to satisfy a business need
Enterprise Environmental Factors (EEF)
Conditions (not under immediate control of the team) that influence, constrain, or direct the project
Modeling
Creating simplified representations of systems, solutions, or deliverables (prototypes, diagrams, or storyboards)
Self-Organizing Team
Cross-functional team where people assume leadership as needed to achieve objectives
Issue
Current condition/situation that may have impact on project objectives
Role
Defined function to be performed by a project team member (such as testing, filing, inspecting, or coding)
Risk Appetite
Degree of uncertainty an org or individual is willing to accept in anticipation of a reward
Agile
Describes mindset of values and principles from Agile Manifesto
Metric
Description of a project or product attribute and how to measure it
Statement of Work (SOW)
Description of products, services, or results to be delivered
Quality Metrics
Description of project attribute and how to measure it
Project Scope Statement
Description of project scope, major deliverables, and exclusions
Iterative Approach
Development approach that focuses on initial, simplified implementation then progressively elaborates adding to the feature set until the final deliverable is complete
Predictive Approach
Development approach where scope, time, and cost are determined in early phases of life cycle
Adaptive Approach
Development approach with high level of uncertainty and requirements likely to change throughout project
Flowchart
Diagram depiction of inputs, process actions, and outputs of 1+ processes within a system
Cycle Time Chart
Diagram showing average cycle time of work items completed over time
Lead Time Chart
Diagram showing trend over time of average lead time of items completed in work
Affinity Diagram
Diagram shows large number of ideas classified into groups to review and analyze
Throughput Chart
Diagram that shows the accepted deliverables over time
Value Stream Map
Display of critical process steps and time taken to identify waste
Test Plan
Doc describing deliverables that will be tested, tests to be conducted, and testing processes
Team Charter
Doc that records team values, agreements, and operating guidelines, establishes expectations and acceptable behaviors
Strategy Artifacts
Docs created prior to or at start of project that address strategic, business, or high-level info about project
Bid Documents
Docs used to solicit info, quotes, or proposals from prospective sellers
Standard
Document established by an authority, custom, or general consent as an example
Project Charter
Document issued by the project initiator or sponsor to formally authorize the project and provides PM with authority to administer resources
Project Management Plan
Document that describes how the project will be executed, monitored and controlled, and closed
WBS Dictionary
Document that provides detailed deliverable, activity, and scheduling information about each component in the WBS
Log
Document used to record/describe items identified during execution of a process/activity (usually used with a modifier - issue, change, or assumption)
Benefits Management Plan
Documented explanation to define how to create, maximize, and sustain benefits provided by project/program.
Activity List
Documented schedule activities, activity description, activity identify, and detailed scope so team members understand work to be performed
Outcome
End result or consequence of process or project
Funciton Point
Estimate on amount of business functionality in an information system, used to calculate functional size measurement of a software ssytem
Forecast
Estimate/prediction of conditions/events in the project's future based on info/knowledge available at time of forecast
Expected Monetary Value (EMV)
Estimated value of an outcome expressed in monetary terms
Multipoint Estimating
Estimating method to determine cost or duration by applying average or weighted average of optimistic, pessimistic, and most likely estimates when there is uncertainty
Parametric Estimating
Estimating method where algorithm is used to calculate cost or duration based on historical data and project parameters
Wideband Delphi
Estimating method where subject matter experts go through multiple rounds of individual estimates, discussing with team after each round, until consensus is achieved
Verification
Evaluation of whether or not a product/service complies with regulation, requirement, specification, or an imposed condition (aka validation)
Project Review
Event at end of a phase or project to assess status, evaluate value delivered, and determine if ready to move into next phase or transition to operations
Contingency
Event that could affect execution, may be accounted for with a reserve
Estimate to Complete (ETC)
Expected cost to finish all remaining project work (not including what has already been spent/allocated)
Estimate at Completion (EAC)
Expected total cost of completing all work expressed as the sum of actual costs to date and estimate to complete
Assumption
Factor in planning process considered true, real, or certain without proof or demonstration
Product Scope
Features and functions of a product, service, or result
Cost-Benefit Analysis
Financial analysis method used to determine benefits provided by project against costs
Firm Fixed Price Contract (FFP)
Fixed-price contract where the buyer pays the seller a set amount (defined by contract) regardless of seller's costs
Fixed Price with Economic Price Adjustment Contract (FPEPA)
Fixed-price contract, but with special provision allowing for predefined final adjustments to contract price due to changed conditions (inflation changes, cost increases or decreases, etc.)
Change Control Board (CCB)
Formal group responsible for reviewing, evaluating, approving, delaying, or rejecting changes to the project and communicating those decisions
Change Request
Formal proposal to modify a document, deliverable, or baseline
Report
Formal record or summary of information
Triple Bottom Line
Framework for considering full cost of doing business by evaluating company's bottom line from the perspective of profit, people, and the planet
Governance
Framework for directing and enabling an organization through its established policies, practices, and other relevant documentation
Project Governance
Framework, functions, and processes that guide PM activities to create product to meet goals
Kickoff Meeting
Gathering of team members and key stakeholders at the outset of a project to formally set expectations, gain common understanding, and commence work
Burn Chart
Graph of work remaining or completed within timebox
S-Curve
Graph that displays cumulative costs over a specified period of time
Scatter Diagram
Graph that shows the relationship between two variables
Control Chart
Graphic display of process data over time and against established control limits (centerlines detects trend of plotted values toward control limit(s))
Influence Diagram
Graphic representation of situations showing causal influences, time ordering, and other relationships among variables and outcomes
Project Schedule Network Diagram
Graphical representation of the logical relationships between project schedule activities
Probability and Impact Matrix
Grid for mapping risk occurrence probability and impact if risk occurs
Requirements Traceability Matrix
Grid that links product requirements from their origin to deliverables that satisfy them
Responsibility Assignment Matrix
Grid that shows project resources assigned to each work package
Virtual Team
Group of people with a shared goal who work in different locations, engaging primarily through electronic communications
Work Breakdown Structure (WBS)
Hierarchical decomposition of total scope of work to be carried out by team to reach objectives/deliverables
Risk Breakdown Structure (RBS)
Hierarchical representation of potential risk sources
Organizational Breakdown Structure (OBS)
Hierarchical representation of project org, illustrates relationship between project activities and org units performing those activities
Resource Breakdown Structure
Hierarchical representation of resources by category and type
Result
Output from performing processes and activities (aka deliverable)
Project Schedule
Output of schedule model that presents linked activities with planned dates, durations, milestones, and resources
Template
Partially complete document in a predefined format that provides a defined structure for collecting, organizing, and presenting info/data
Delivery Performance Domain
Performance domain that addresses activities and functions associated with delivering the scope and quality that the project was undertaken/asked to achieve
Measurement Performance Domain
Performance domain that addresses activities and functions associated with assessing performance and actions to maintain it
Project Work Performance Domain
Performance domain that addresses activities and functions associated with establishing processes, managing resources, and fostering a learning environment
Uncertainty Domain
Performance domain that addresses activities and functions associated with risk and uncertainty
Stakeholder Performance Domain
Performance domain that addresses activities and functions associated with stakeholders
Planning Performance Domain
Performance domain that addresses activities and functions associated with the initial, ongoing, and evolving org and coordination necessary to deliver project results
Development Approach and Life Cycle Performance Domain
Performance domain that addresses activities/functions associated with the development approach, cadence, and life cycle phases of the project
Executing Process Group
Performed to complete work defined in project management plan to satisfy project requirements
Project Manager
Person assigned by performing organization to lead the team responsible for achieving objectives
Sponsor
Person or group who provides resources and support for the project and is accountable for enabling success
Product Owner
Person responsible for maximizing value of product and accountable for end product
Project Lead
Person who helps project team achieve objectives, typically by orchestrating work (also PM)
Tacit Knowledge
Personal knowledge that can be difficult to articulate/share (beliefs, experiences, insights)
Voice of the Customer
Planning method to provide products that truly reflect customer requirements by translating them into technical requirements
Organizational Process Assets (OPA)
Plans, processes, policies, procedures, and knowledge bases specific to and used by performing organization
Volatility
Possibility for rapid and unpredictable change
Continuous Delivery
Practice of delivering feature increments immediately, often through small batches of work and automation tech
Servant Leadership
Practice of leading team by focusing on understanding and addressing needs/development of team members to enable highest possible team performance
Specification
Precise statement of needs to be satisfied and required characteristics
Threshold
Predetermined value of measurable variable that represents a limit requiring action if it is reached
Risk Review
Process of analyzing the status of existing risks and identifying new ones
Affinity Groupoing
Process of classifying items into similar categories or collections based on their likeness
Control
Process of comparing actual performance with planned performance, analyzing variance, assessing trends, evaluating alternatives, and recommending corrective action, if needed
What-if-Scenario Analysis
Process of evaluating scenarios in order to predict their effect on project objectives
Make-or-Buy Analysis
Process of gathering and organizing data about product requirements and analyzing them against available alternatives
Release Planning
Process of identifying a high-level plan for releasing or transitioning a product, deliverable, or increment of value
Change Control
Process of identifying, documenting, approving, or rejecting docs, deliverables, or project baselines
Closing Process Group
Process(es) performed to formally close a project, phase, or contract
Initiating Process Group
Processes performed to define a new project or phase by obtaining authorization to start
Variance at Completion (VAC)
Projected amount of budget deficit/surplus, difference between budget at completion and estimate at completion
Portfolio
Projects, programs, subsidiary portfolios, and operations managed as a group to achieve strategic objectives
Reserve
Provision in the project manage plan to mitigate cost and/or schedule risk, often used with a modifier (management reserve or contingency reserve)
Variance
Quantifiable deviation, departure, or divergence away from known baseline or expected value
Technical Performance Measures
Quantifiable measures of technical performance used to ensure components meet technical requirements
Tolerance
Quantified description of acceptable variation for quality requirement
Estimate
Quantitative (#'s) assessment of likely amount/outcome of a variable (such as project costs, resources, effort, or duration)
Actual Cost (AC)
Realized cost incurred for the work performed on an activity (during a specific time period)
Requirements Documentation
Record of product requirements and info + how to manage it
Retrospective
Regularly occurring workshop where participants explore work and results to improve both process and product
Status Meeting
Regularly scheduled meeting to exchange and analyze info about progress and performance
Program
Related projects, subsidiary programs, and activities that are coordinated to obtain benefits not possible from managing individually
Discretionary Dependency
Relationship based on best practices or project preferences
Internal Dependency
Relationship between 2+ project activities
External Dependency
Relationship between project and non-project activities
Mandatory Dependency
Relationship that is contractually required or inherent in the nature of work
Status Report
Report on current status of project
Regulations
Requirements imposed by a governmental body; can establish characteristics and compliance standards
Phase Gate
Review at the end of a phase where a decision is made to continue to next phase, continue with modification, or end the project
Cadence
Rhythm of activities conducted throughout project
Authority
Right to apply project resources, expend funds, make decisions, or give approvals
Risk Mitigation
Risk response strategy where project team acts to decrease probability of occurrence or impact of threat
Risk Exploiting
Risk response strategy where project team acts to ensure an opportunity occurs
Risk Sharing
Risk response strategy where project team allocates ownership of an opportunity to a third party who is best able to capture the benefit of that opportunity
Risk Escalation
Risk response strategy where team acknowledges that a risk is outside sphere of influence and shifts ownership to higher up in org where it is more effectively managed
Risk Avoidance
Risk response strategy where team acts to eliminate the threat or protect project from impact
Risk Enhancement
Risk response strategy where team acts to increase probability of occurrence/impact of an opportunity (positive risk)
Risk Acceptance
Risk response strategy where team decides to acknowledge risk and not take action unless the risk occurs
Opportunity
Risk that would have a positive effect on 1+ project objectives
Threat
Risk with a negative effect on 1+ project objectives
Prioritization Matrix
Scatter diagram that plots effort against value to classify items by priority
Fast Tracking
Schedule compression method where activities or phases usually completed in sequence are performed in parallel (for at least a portion) of their duration
Network Path
Sequence of activities connected by logical relationships in a project schedule network diagram
Critical Path
Sequence of activities showing longest path through a project, determines shortest possible duration
Project Life Cycle
Series of phases a project passes through from start to completion
Product Life Cycle
Series of phases representing evolution of product, from concept through delivery, growth, maturity, to retirement
Dashboard
Set of charts and graphs showing progress or performance against important measures/baselines
Acceptance Criteria
Set of conditions required to be met before deliverables are accepted
Interpersonal Skills
Skills to establish and maintain relationships with other people
Criteria
Standards, rules or tests that a judgement/decision can be based on/evaluated
Ambiguity
State of being unclear, difficulty identifying cause of events, or multiple options to choose from
Impact Mapping
Strategic planning method that serves as a visual roadmap for the org during product development
Scope
Sum of products, services, and results to be provided as a project
Vision Statement
Summarized, high-level description about the expectations for a product (target market, users, major benefits, and what differentiates it from others in the market)
Basis of Estimates
Supporting documentation that outlines details establishing project estimates (such as assumptions, constraints, level of detail, ranges, confidence levels, etc.)
Methodology
System of practices, techniques, procedures, and rules used by those who work in a discipline
Check Sheet
Tally sheet used as checklist when gathering data
Artifact
Template, document, output, or project deliverable
Project
Temporary endeavor undertaken to create a unique product, service, or result
Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK)
Term describing knowledge within project management profession
Quality
The degree to which a set of inherent characteristics fulfills requirements
Risk Threshold
The measure of acceptable variation regarding org risk appetite
Lead Time
Time between customer request and actual delivery
Contingency Reserve
Time or money allocated in the schedule or cost baseline for known risks with active response strategies
Iteration
Timeboxed cycle of developments on product/deliverable where all needed work to deliver value is performed
Life Cycle Assessment (LCA)
Tool used to evaluate total environmental impact of a product, process, or system
Cycle Time
Total elapses time from start of activity or item to its completion
Duration
Total number of work periods required to complete an activity or work breakdown structure component (expressed in hours, days, or weeks)
Fixed Duration
Type of activity where length of time required to complete remains constant, no matter number of people or resources assigned
Confirmation Bias
Type of cognitive bias that confirms preexisting beliefs/hypotheses
Cost Reimbursable Contract
Type of contract involving payment to seller for seller's actual costs + fee (typically) representing seller's profit
Time and Materials Contract (T&M)
Type of contract that is a hybrid agreement containing both cost-reimbursable and fixed-price contracts
Fixed Price Incentive Fee Contract (FPIF)
Type of contract where buyer pays seller set amount (defined by contract) + seller can earn additional if they meet defined performance criteria
Cost Plus Fixed Fee Contract (CPFF)
Type of cost-reimbursable contract where buyer reimburses seller for allowable costs (defined in contract), and seller earns profits if meets defined performance criteria
Milestone Schedule
Type of schedule that presents milestones with planned dates
Risk
Uncertain event or condition, that if it occurs, has a positive or negative effect on 1+ project objectives
Scope Creep
Uncontrolled expansion to product or scope without adjustments to time, cost, and resources
Story Point
Unit used to estimate relative level of effort needed to implement a user story
Estimating Methods
Used to develop approximation of work, time, or cost
Schedule Model
Used to produce project schedule and scheduling artifacts, including durations, dependencies and other planning info
Value Proposition
Value of a product or service that an organization communicates to its customers
Business Case
Value proposition for a proposed project - may include financial/nonfinancial benefits
Information Radiator
Visible, physical display that provides info to the rest of org, enabling timely knowledge sharing
Story Map
Visual model of all features and functionality desired for a given product, gives team holistic view of what they are building and why
Task Board
Visual representation of progress of planned work, allows everyone to see status
Cause-and-Effect Diagram
Visual representation that helps trace an undesirable effect back to its root cause
Mood Chart
Visualization chart for tracking moods or reactions to identify areas for improvement
Kanban Board
Visualization tool that shows work in progress to help identify bottlenecks and over-commitments, allowing the team to optimize workflow
Risk Register
Where outputs of risk management processes are recorded
Objective
Where work is being directed, strategic position or result to be attained, product, result or service to be delivered
Precision
Within quality management system, assessment of exactness
Work Package
Work defined at the lowest level of the WBS for which cost and duration are estimated and managed
Project Scope
Work performed to deliver a product/service/result with specified features and functions
Prototype
Working model used to obtain early feedback on the expected product before actually building it
Value
Worth, importance, or usefulness of something
Register
Written record of regular entries for evolving aspects of a project (such as risks)
