Definitions "R"

Question 1

RACI Chart

Answer 1

A chart that uses the legend of Responsible, Accountable, Consult, and Inform (RACI). This is a type of responsibility assignment matrix (RAM)

Question 2

Real-time, multi-authoring editing software

Answer 2

A software solution that allows multiple people to edit and view the project work in real-time. The software provides for live collaboration by multiple people as the solution is being created.

Question 3

Receiver

Answer 3

As part of the communications model, the receiver is the recipient of the message.

Question 4

Referent Power

Answer 4

Power that is present when the project team is attracted to, or wants to work with, the project manager. Referent power also exists when the project manager references another, more powerful person, such as the CEO.

Question 5

Regression Planning

Answer 5

When a change is approved for the project there may also be a regression, aka rollback or fallback, plan to define how to undo the change if the change creates risks or issues within the project.

Question 6

Regression Testing

Answer 6

After completing a change to software, a regression test confirms the added change didn’t break the existing code in the solution.

Question 7

Request for Bid (RFB)

Answer 7

Like an invitation for bid, this is a document sent from the buyer to the seller with specific requirements on the product or service to be purchased. The buyer only wants a price for the product or services the vendor is selling.

Question 8

Request for Information (RFI)

Answer 8

A formal request from the buyer to the seller for additional information about the goods and services the seller may provide. Its not an official sign of business to come but is often a starting point of research to start the procurement processes.

Question 9

Request for Proposal (RFP)

Answer 9

A formal request from an organization to a prospective vendor or vendors to create a proposal for the work to be completed and provide a cost estimate. An RFP does not guarantee anyone the job; it simply formalizes the proceedings of the selection process.

Question 10

Request for Quote (RFQ)

Answer 10

A document from the buyer to the seller asking the seller to provide a price for the procured product or service.

Question 11

Requirements Traceability Matrix (RTM)

Answer 11

A table that tracks each requirement through each phase of the projects stages to completion and implementation.

Question 12

Residual Risks

Answer 12

Risks that are left over after mitigation, transference, and avoidance. These generally are accepted risks. Management may elect to add contingency costs and time to account for the residual risks within the project.

Question 13

Resource Calendar

Answer 13

Shows when resources, such as project team members, consultants, and subject matter experts, are available to work on the project. The resource calendar takes into account vacation’s, other commitments within the organization, restrictions on contracted work, overtime issues, and son on.

Question 14

Resource Constraint

Answer 14

Describes a situation where a project may need additional resources but doesn’t have access to the resources.

Question 15

Resource Histogram

Answer 15

A bar char reflecting when individual employees, groups, or communities are involved in a project. It is often used by management to see when employees are most or least active in a project.

Question 16

Resource Leveling Heuristics

Answer 16

A method to flatten the schedule when resources are over allocated or allocated unevenly. Resource leveling can be applied in different methods to accomplish different goals. One of the most common methods is to ensure that workers are not overextended on activities.

Question 17

Resource Pool

Answer 17

An organizations potential team members that can join a project based on their skillsets, availability, and experience.

Question 18

Resources

Answer 18

Resources can be both workers and physical objects such as bandwidth, faster computers, or leased equipment.

Question 19

Retrospective

Answer 19

The final meeting or ceremony in a scrum iteration that allows the product owner, scrum master, and development team to discuss the success and failures of the last iteration and how the team can work more effectively and efficiently in the next iteration of the project.

Question 20

Return on Investment (ROI)

Answer 20

The attitude that IT projects are not an expense but an investment that will allow an organization to become more profitable.

Question 21

Reward Power

Answer 21

The project managers authority to reward the project team.

Question 22

Risk

Answer 22

An unplanned event that can have a positive or negative influence on the projects success.

Question 23

Risk Database

Answer 23

A database of recognized risks. The planned response and the outcome of the risk should be documented and recorded in an organization-wide risk database. The risk database can serve other project managers as historical information. Over time, the risk database can become a risk lessons learned program.

Question 24

Risk Management Plan

Answer 24

A subsidiary project plan for determining how risks will be identified, how quantitative and qualitative analyses will be completed, how risk response planning will happen, how risks will be monitored, and how ongoing risk management activities will occur throughout the project life cycle.

Question 25

Risk Register

Answer 25

A document that defines each risk event, its characteristics, signs that risk may be occurring, any responses for the risk event, and the risks eventual outcome in the project.

Question 26

Risk Report

Answer 26

A report that communicates pending risks, risks that have occurred, risk responses, and the effectiveness of the risk response.

Question 27

Roles and Responsibilities Matrix

Answer 27

A method to identify all of the roles within a project and the associated responsibilities to the project work. This matrix is an excellent way to identify the needed roles of the project participants, identify what actions they’ll need to be able to perform in the project, and ultimately determine if the project has all of the roles to complete the identified responsibilites.

Question 28

Root Cause Analysis

Answer 28

A study of the effect that’s being experienced with a determination of the casual factors of the effect. This is one of the purest forms of analysis, and the results are often graphed in a cause and effect diagram. The project manager will also use this approach in quality control.

Question 29

Rough Order of Magnitude

Answer 29

This estimate is “rough” and is used during the initiating processes and in top-down estimates. The range of variance for the estimate can be -25% to +75%.

Question 30

Run Chart

Answer 30

A line chart of data plotted over time. Run charts can be used to show funds spent, tasks completed, quality control inspection scores, or performance on other key performance indicators such as time or costs.

Question 31

Runaway Project

Answer 31

A project that starts out well and then gains speed, momentum and scope, causing budget overages and increased man-hours, and possibly hurting the project managers reputation or career. The biggest element of a runaway project is the budget.