Chapter 2: Key Project Management Terms

Question 1

A temporary endeavor to create a unique product, service or result

Answer 1

Project

Question 2

Deals with the day-to-day work of a business. Has no start or end date.

Answer 2

Operations

Question 3

Involves discovering greater levels of detail as the project moves towards completion.

Answer 3

Progressive Elaboration

Question 4

The application of knowledge, skills, tools and techniques to meet project requirements; it’s about managing people to accomplish the scope of the project in the given constraints of time and cost.

Answer 4

Project Management

Question 5

A project where much of the planning is done upfront at the beginning of the project, and then the rest of the project would be to execute the plan to complete the actual work.

Answer 5

Predictive

(Also traditional, waterfall or plan-driven)

Question 6

What is the main difference between projects and operations?

Answer 6

Projects are temporary and unique, operations have no start/end date and are not unique

Question 7

A type of project where the product is built in increments vs. all at once as in a traditional project.

Answer 7

Agile

(Also adaptive or change driven)

Question 8

A project managed using both predictive and agile methods.

Answer 8

Hybrid

Question 9

What is the main reason an organization does a project?

Answer 9

To derive value from the output of that project.

Question 10

What is the primary function of a project manager?

Answer 10

To ensure that the project and its completed deliverables are always adding value to a business.

Question 11

Inputs, tools and techniques that are combined to execute a specific activity on a project and create a specific outcome.

Answer 11

Processes

Question 12

Things that are needed to start the process.

Answer 12

Inputs

Question 13

Things that help you execute a process.

Answer 13

Tools & Techniques

Question 14

What you get out of a process.

Answer 14

Output

Question 15

What does ITTO stand for?

Answer 15

Input, Tools & Techniques, Output

Question 16

A division within the project where extra control is needed to effectively manage the completion of one or more deliverables.

Answer 16

Phase

Question 17

What are the five process groups?

Answer 17

Initiating, Planning, Executing, Monitoring & Controlling and Closing

Question 18

Held at the end of each phase of a project to determine if the project is meeting it’s goals and should continue.

Answer 18

Phase Gates

(Also phase reviews, stage gates, kill points)

Question 19

A part of the product that is presented to the customer or stakeholders for acceptance.

Answer 19

Deliverable

Question 20

________ from one phase will become _______ for another phase.

Answer 20

Outputs, Inputs

Question 21

Used in project management to group a set of processes the project manager may be doing at a certain time.

Answer 21

Process Group

Question 22

A certain set of processes that are usually defined by the knowledge needed to manage that area.

Answer 22

Knowledge Area

Question 23

The series of phases a project will go through from start to finish.

Answer 23

Project Life Cycle

Question 24

A ______ life cycle is where the scope, time and cost are known early in the project.

Answer 24

Predictive

Question 25

A ______ life cycle is when the scope is known early, but the time and cost will be refined as the project is progressing.

Answer 25

Iterative, adaptive or incremental

Question 26

A collection of projects containing a common goal.

Answer 26

Program

Question 27

A collection of projects and programs that are implemented to achieve a strategic business goal.

Answer 27

Portfolio

Question 28

A three to five year goal that a business wants to accomplish.

Answer 28

Strategic business goal

Question 29

What are the three baselines on all projects?

Answer 29

Scope, Time and Cost

Question 30

Records, templates and lessons learned from previous projects.

Answer 30

Historical Information (Also Organizational Process Assets)

Question 31

We examine _______ to ensure that the next time we do something we do it better.

Answer 31

Lessons Learned

Question 32

Official documents that provide guidelines that must be followed.

Answer 32

Regulations

Question 33

A generally encouraged, but not mandatory guideline approved by a recognized governing body.

Answer 33

Standard

Question 34

All formal procedures and tools put in place to manage something.

Answer 34

System

Question 35

The framework, functions and processes that a company will follow in order to complete a project.

Answer 35

Project Governance

Question 36

Provides guidance and support for all project managers in a company.

Answer 36

Project Management Office (PMO)

Question 37

A PMO that is there to support the project manager with templates and training, this type of PMO has low authority over the project.

Answer 37

Supportive PMO

Question 38

A PMO that will support the project manager by giving them a specific framework they need to follow and templates they have to use, this type of PMO has moderate authority over the project.

Answer 38

Controlling PMO

Question 39

A PMO that will direct the project manager on what they should be doing and is generally in control of the project, this type of PMO is usually in high authority.

Answer 39

Directive PMO

Question 40

Any individual or business that may be positively or negatively affected by the project.

Answer 40

Stakeholder

Question 41

Provides resources and support to the project to ensure it's success, may be internal or external.

Answer 41

Sponsor

Question 42

Which stakeholders are deliverables usually accepted by?

Answer 42

Sponsors and/or Customers

Question 43

Internal entities that are affected by project activities.

Answer 43

Organizational Groups

Question 44

Individuals who are heads of different organizational functions.

Answer 44

Functional Managers

Question 45

Helps to determine the power and authority level of the project.

Answer 45

Organizational Structure

Question 46

This type of organizational structure tends to involve small businesses where the role of the PM doesn't really exist. The owner or operator generally controls the budget.

Answer 46

Organic or Simple

Question 47

An organizational structure where project management is done virtually using different types of computer technology.

Answer 47

Virtual

Question 48

An organization where resources are managed by the functional manager and the PM has very little control over them.

Answer 48

Functional Organization

Question 49

A business where the PM controls 100% of the resources.

Answer 49

Project Oriented

Question 50

An organizational structure that represents a middle ground between functional and project oriented.

Answer 50

Matrix

Question 51

In this type of matrix the PM has relatively low authority and is managed by the functional managers

Answer 51

Weak Matrix

Question 52

In this type of matrix the PM's power is almost equal to that of functional managers for control of resources.

Answer 52

Balanced Matrix

Question 53

In this type of Matrix the PM has most of the power over resources.

Answer 53

Strong Matrix

Question 54

In this organization structure a company uses more than one of the different types of structure.

Answer 54

Hybrid

Question 55

What are the six project constraints?

Answer 55

Time, Scope, Cost, Risk, Resources and Quality

Question 56

All of the stages or phases a project or product goes through from beginning to the end.

Answer 56

Life Cycle

Question 57

Project success is measured by?

Answer 57

Finishing the project within the given limitations of scope, cost, time, quality, resources and risk.

Question 58

An end result or consequence of a process or project. Can include outputs and artifacts, but have a broader intent by focusing on the benefits and value that the project was undertaken to deliver.

Answer 58

Outcome

Question 59

An artifact that is produced, is quantifiable and can be either an end item in itself or a component item.

Answer 59

Product

Question 60

A collection of strategic business activities aimed at building, sustaining, and/or advancing an organization.

Answer 60

System for Value Delivery