BCIS Key Terms

scope

The total amount of products and services that the project is supposed to provide. (PRJ 5)

help system

the feature in project that provides access to information about the program

excel

the spreadsheet software program in microsoft office

fill handle

A tool that appears as a small square in the lower-right corner of the selected cell which, when dragged, copies the contents of the active cell to the cells to which you drag. (PRJ 86)

project standard 2010

A version of Project 2010 with fewer features than Project Professional. (PRJ 13)

project professional 2010

A version of Project 2010 with more features than Project Standard, such as the Team Planner. (PRJ 13)

timeline

A view at the top of the Gantt Chart or Network Diagram views that shows the scope of the project from the Start to Finish date; tasks can be placed on the Timeline. (PRJ 2)

split window

A view in which the screen is split into two parts (two views); the top view is often Gantt Chart view, and the bottom view is often a form view. (PRJ 39)

task form view

A view that displays detailed information about one task at a time. (PRJ 39)

team planner

A view that shows each resource in the project on a separate row. All of the tasks that the resource is assigned to are on the same row. Used for planning, only available in Project Professional 2010. Tasks that are not assigned to anyone appear at the bottom. (PRJ 13)

view

A way to display task, resource, and cost information with varying levels of detail. (PRJ 15)

zoom out

To decrease the zoom factor to see more details of the view.

copy

To duplicate selected information and place it on the Clipboard.

zoom in

To increase the zoom factor to see more details of the view

indent

To move a task to the right (a lower level in the WBS or outline) in a task sheet. (PRJ 115)

Middle tier

The middle row of the timescale that is displayed at the top of the various Gantt views, the Resource Graph view, the Task Usage view, and the Resource Usage view.

risk

The probability that a task, resource, or cost is miscalculated in a way that creates a negative impact on the project. (PRJ 9)

linking tasks

The process of creating task dependencies

project management

The process of defining, organizing, tracking, and communicating information about a project in order to meet a project goal. (PRJ 4)

title bar

The top bar of any application software running on a Windows computer. (PRJ 15)

Top Tier

The top row of the timescale that is displayed at the top of the various Gantt views, Resource Graph view, Task Usage view, and Resource Usage view. (PRJ 45)

split bar

The vertical bar that divides the table and the Gantt chart in Gantt chart view. (PRJ 3)

paste

To take a copy of the information on the Clipboard and insert it at a specified location. (PRJ 83)

indicators column

a column in a sheet view that displays icons to indicate information about a taske

legend

a section of a printout that provides information about bars or symbols used on the printout

entry table

a spreadsheet-like display of the project information, organized in rows and columns

gantt chart view

a view of a project that provides a graphical visualization of the project by displaying each task as a horizontal bar

form view

a view that displays detailed information about one task or resource at a time

Chart or Graphic View

a view, such as gantt chart view, that displays task info as bars

estimated duration

an approximation of the time that it takes to complete a task; it appears with a question mark (?) after the durationq

resource

People, equipment, and facilities that need to be assigned to a task in order for the task to be completed. (PRJ 8)

delay

The amount of time between the scheduled start for a task and the time when work actually begins on the task. (PRJ 102)

exit

to quit a program

elapsed time

Clock time (rather than working time). (PRJ 87)

Smart Tag

A button that appears when you delete a task or resource, change resource assignments, or change Start or Finish dates, work, units, or durations and that displays options to help you complete the action. (PRJ 81)

Microsoft Project Server

A Microsoft Project 2010 companion product that enables collaborative planning and status reporting among workgroup members, project managers, and other stakeholders by allowing them to exchange and work with project information on a Web site.

summary task bar

A bar representing a summary task in the Gantt chart. (PRJ 99)

viewbar

A bar that contains several buttons that enable switching between project views. (PRJ 15)

Project summary task bar

A bar that summarizes the timeline of your project in the Gantt chart. (PRJ 99)

standard calendar

A calendar used to schedule tasks within the project that specifies Monday through Friday as working days with eight hours of work completed each day and Saturday and Sunday as nonworking days. (PRJ 60)

relationship diagram

A chart that focuses on only one task, showing both the predecessor and successor for that task. (PRJ 37)

task information dialog box

A comprehensive collection of all the data stored for a single task. (PRJ 29)

scope creep

A condition that occurs when projects grow and change in unanticipated ways that increase costs, extend deadlines, or otherwise negatively affect the project goal. (PRJ 8)

finish-to-start

A dependency type that specifies that one task must finish before a second task can start. (PRJ 99)

finish-to-finsih

A dependency type that specifies that one task must finish before the second task can finish. (PRJ 100)

start-to-finish

A dependency type that specifies that the first task must start before the second task can finish. (PRJ 100)

start-to-start

A dependency type that specifies that the first task must start before the second task can start. (PRJ 99)

table

A format applied to a sheet to display different fields. (PRJ 32)

team

A group organized to work together. (PRJ 13)

summary task

A grouping of tasks that logically belong together. Summary tasks are listed in bold text in the Task Entry table. Each display a Collapse/Expand button to its left so that showing or hiding the task can easily be done within that phase. Also called phase. (PRJ 98)

timescale

A measurement of time in bar format with one, two, or three tiers at the top of the various Gantt views, the Resource Graph view, the Task Usage view, and the Resource Usage view, where the lengths of each bar show the units of time (minutes, hours, days, weeks, thirds of months, months, quarters, half years, or years) in relationship to one another. (PRJ 3)

bottom-up method

A method of planning a project by listing all of the individual tasks and then collecting them into logical phases. (PRJ 115)

Network diagram view

A of a project that graphically highlights the interdependencies and sequencing of tasks. (PRJ 33)

lag time

A period of time (either positive or negative) imposed on a relationship between tasks. (PRJ 109)

constraint

A restriction on a task, which can be a flexible or inflexible deadline. (PRJ 62)

process group

A set of processes, or series of steps, that need to be completed in order to move on to the next phase of the project. (PRJ 5)

ScreenTip

A small box that appears with the name of the item you are pointing to; the item can be a button, indicator, or bar and helps determine the item name or function. (PRJ 15)

Microsoft Office Project 2010

A software program, part of the Microsoft Office 2010 suite, used to manage projects by controlling your project work, schedule, and finances, and effectively reporting the status and results.

resource calendar

A special calendar created for each resource used when the resource does not follow the working and nonworking times specified by the project calendar. (PRJ 73)

task

A specific action that needs to be completed within the project. (PRJ 7)

sheet view

A spreadsheet-like representation of data in which each task is displayed as a row and each piece of information (field) about the task is represented by a column. (PRJ 32)

milestone

A symbolic task that has zero duration and is used to communicate progress or the end of a significant phase of the project. (PRJ 94)

critical task

A task on the critical path that must be completed as scheduled in order for the project to finish as of the Finish date. (PRJ 102)

successor task

A task that cannot be completed until after a given task has completed; the second task described in a dependency. (PRJ 7)

noncritical task

A task that doesn't necessarily have to start on its currently scheduled Start date in order for the overall project to be completed on time.

predecessor task

A task that must be started or completed before another task can begin; the first task described in a dependency. (PRJ 7)

recurring task

A task that repeats at a regular interval. (PRJ 92)

project team

A team is comprised of workgroups, workgroup members, and workgroup manager(s). (PRJ 13)

lead time

An amount of time that the second task in a relationship is moved backward in time so that the two tasks overlap. Also called negative lag time. (PRJ 109)

positive lag time

An amount of time that the second task in a relationship is moved forward in time. The traditional definition of lag time in general project management discussions. (PRJ 110)

in-cell editing

Editing made directly in a cell of a sheet view, rather than via the Entry bar. (PRJ 80)

project goal

The goal achieved when a series of tasks are completed that produce a desired outcome.

node

In the Network Diagram view, the box that represents each task. (PRJ 12

negative lag time

Moves the second task backward in time so that the tasks overlap; called lead time in general project management discussions. (PRJ 109)

Minor scale

The lower row in the timescale on the Gantt chart. By default, the minor scale is measured in days and displays the first letter of the day of the week. (PRJ 3

network diagram

Project view that displays a graphic visualization of a project; each task is represented as a box, information about each task is visible in each box, and link lines illustrate the interdependencies of tasks. (PRJ 12)

gantt chart

Project view that provides a graphical visualization of a project, with each task shown as a horizontal bar. The length of each bar in the Gantt chart corresponds to the duration of the task. Link lines connect each bar to show relationships between tasks.

project server 2010

Software that is used in an enterprise environment bringing together powerful business collaboration platform services with structured execution capabilities to provide flexible work management solutions. (PRJ 13)

timephased

Task, resource, or assignment cost that is distributed over time. (PRJ 44)

free slack

The amount of time that a task can slip before it affects or delays any successor tasks. (PRJ 102)

slack

The amount of time that a task may be delayed from its scheduled start date without delaying the entire project. (PRJ 38)

project calendar

The base calendar used by Project 2010 to schedule new tasks within the project. (PRJ 60)

row selector

The box containing the row number in a sheet. Click to select the entire row in a table or sheet view. (PRJ 60)

active cell

The cell that you are editing in a sheet view; it is surrounded by a dark border

project manager

The central person who gathers project data and communicates progress. (PRJ 5)

project

The defined sequence of steps that achieve an identified goal.

quality

The degree to which a projector task meets an objective standard. (PRJ 8)

Tracking table

When applied to the Task Sheet provides all of the actual fields (actual date, actual duration, actual work, and actual cost) in one sheet view. (PRJ 33)

variance table

When applied to the Task Sheet, after setting a baseline and updating progress, provides the fields (Start, Finish, Baseline Start, Baseline Finish, Start Var. and Finish Var) necessary to view the differences in one sheet view. (PRJ 33)

effective

refers to completing tasks while producing a desired result meeting the actual goals of the project

efficient

refers to doing tasks faster, with fewer resources, or with lower costs while producing a desired result meeting the actual goals of the project

Start date

the day on which the project will start.

finish date

the day that all tasks in the project will finish

nonworking time

the hours of a 24-hour day that are not specified as working time

Bottom Tier

the lowest row of the timescale that is displayed at the top of the various Gantt views, resource graph view, task usage view, and resource usage view

Critical Path

the series of tasks (or even a single task) that dictates the calculated finish date of the project

duration

the time it takes to complete a task

major scale

the upper row in the timescale on a gantt chart. by default, the major scale is measured in weeks and displays the date for the sunday of that week

outdent

to move a task to the left (a higher level in the WBS or outline)

current date

today's date as determined by your computer or network time server