Chapter 1 Key Terms

Question 1

A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK)

Answer 1

The PMI publication that defines widely accepted project management practices. The CAPM and the PMP exam are based on this book.

Question 2

Application areas

Answer 2

areasThe areas of expertise, industry, or function where a project is centered. Examples of application areas include architecture, IT, health care, and manufacturing.

Question 3

Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM)

Answer 3

A person who has slightly less project management experience than a PMP, but who has qualified for and then passed the CAPM examination.

Question 4

Cultural and social environment

Answer 4

Defines how a project affects people and how those people may affect the project. Cultural and social environments include the economic, educational, ethical, religious, demographic, and ethnic composition of the people affected by the project.

Question 5

Deliverable

Answer 5

A product, service, or result created by a project. Projects can have multiple deliverables.

Question 6

General management skills

Answer 6

These include the application of accounting, procurement, sales and marketing, contracting, manufacturing, logistics, strategic planning, human resource management, standards and regulations, and information technology.

Question 7

International and political environment

Answer 7

The consideration of the local and international laws, languages, communication challenges, time zone differences, and other non-collocated issues that affect a project’s ability to progress.

Question 8

Interpersonal skills

Answer 8

The ability to interact, lead, motivate, and manage people.

Question 9

Iron Triangle of Project Management

Answer 9

A triangle with the characteristics of time, cost, and scope. Time, cost, and scope each constitute one side of the triangle; if any side of the Iron Triangle is not in balance with the other sides, the project will suffer. The Iron Triangle of Project Management is also known as the Triple Constraints of Project Management, as all projects are constrained by time, cost, and scope.

Question 10

Physical environment

Answer 10

The physical structure and surroundings that affect a project’s work.

Question 11

Program

Answer 11

A collection of related projects working in unison toward a common deliverable.

Question 12

Progressive elaboration

Answer 12

The process of gathering project details. This process uses deductive reasoning, logic, and a series of information-gathering techniques to identify details about a project, product, or solution.

Question 13

Project

Answer 13

A temporary endeavor to create a unique product, service, or result. The end result of a project is also called a deliverable.

Question 14

Project environment

Answer 14

The location and culture of the environment where the project work will reside. The project environment includes the social, economic, and environmental variables the project must work with or around.

Question 15

Project Management Institute (PMI)

Answer 15

An organization of project management professionals from around the world, supporting and promoting the careers, values, and concerns of project managers.

Question 16

Project management office (PMO)

Answer 16

A central office that oversees all projects within an organization or within a functional department. A PMO supports the project manager through software, training, templates, policies, communication, dispute resolution, and other services.

Question 17

Project Management Professional (PMP)

Answer 17

A person who has proven project management experience and has qualified for and then passed the PMP examination.

Question 18

Project portfolio management

Answer 18

The management and selection of projects that support an organization’s vision and mission. It is the balance of project priority, risk, reward, and return on investment. This is a senior management process.

Question 19

Subprojects

Answer 19

A smaller project managed within a larger, parent project. Subprojects are often contracted work whose deliverable allows the larger project to progress.

Question 20

Triple Constraints of Project Management

Answer 20

ManagementAlso known as the Iron Triangle. This theory posits that time, cost, and scope are three constraints that every project has.