Glossary Flashcards
Glossary terms used
Acceptance Criteria
A set of conditions that is required to be met before deliverables are accepted.
Accuracy
Within the
quality management system, accuracy is an assessment of correctness.
Activity List
A documented tabulation of schedule activities that shows the activity description, activity identifier, and a sufficiently detailed scope of work description so project team members understand what work is to be performed.
Actual Cost (AC)
The realized cost incurred for the work performed on an activity during a specific time period.
Adaptive Approach
A development approach in which the requirements are subject to a high level of uncertainty and volatility and are likely to change throughout the project.
Affinity Diagram
A diagram that shows large numbers of ideas classified into groups for review and analysis.
Affinity Grouping
The process of classifying items into similar categories or collections on the basis of their likeness.
Agile
A term used to describe a mindset of values and principles as set forth in the Agile Manifest.
Alternatives Analysis
A method used to evaluate identified options in order to select the options or approaches to use to perform the work of the project.
Ambiguity
A state of being unclear, having difficulty in identifying the cause of events, or having multiple options from which to choose.
Analogous Estimating
A method for estimating the duration or cost of an activity or a project using historical data from a similar activity or project.
Artifact
A template, document, output, or project deliverable.
Assumption
A factor in the planning process that is considered to be true, real, or certain, without proof or demonstration.
Assumption and Constraint Analysis
An assessment that ensures assumptions and constraints are integrated into the project plans and documents, and that there is consistency among them.
Assumption Log
A project document used to record all assumptions and constraints throughout the project.
Authority
The right to apply project resources, expend funds, make decisions, or give approvals.
Backlog
An ordered list of work to be done.
Backlog Refinement
Progressive elaboration of the content in the backlog and (re)prioritization of it to identify the work that can be accomplished in an upcoming iteration.
Baseline
The approved version of a work project, used as a basis for comparison to actual results.
Basis of Estimates
Supporting documentation outlining the details used in establishing project estimates such as assumptions, constraints, level of detail, ranges, and confidence levels.
Benchmarking
The comparison of actual or planned products, processes, and practices to those of comparable organizations to identify best practices, generate ideas for improvement, and provide a basis for measuring performance.
Benefits Management Plan
The documented explanation defining the processes for creating, maximizing and sustaining the benefits provided by a project or program.
Bid Documents
All documents used to solicit information, quotations, or proposals from prospective sellers.
Bidder Conference
The meetings wit prospective sellers prior to the preparation of a bid or proposal to ensure all prospective vendors have a clear and common understanding of the procurement. AKA Contractor Conference, Vendor Conference, or Pre-bid Conference.
Blocker
AKA Impediment. An obstacle that prevents the team from achieving its objectives.
Budget
The approved estimate for the project or any work breakdown structure (WBS) component or any schedule activity.
Budget at Completion (BAC)
The sum of ALL budgets established for the work to be performed.
Burn Chart
A graphical representation of the work REMAINING in a timebox or the work completed toward the release of a product or project deliverable.
Business Case
A value proposition for a proposed project that may include financial and nonfinancial benefits.
Business Model Canvas
A one-page, visual summary that describes the value proposition, infrastructure, customers, and finances. These are often used in Lean Startup situations.
Business Value
The NET quantifiable benefit derived from a business endeavor that may be tangible, intangible, or both.
Cadence
A rhythm of activities conducted throughout the project.
Cause-and-Effect Diagram
A visual representation that helps trace an undesirable effect back to its root cause.
Change
A modification to any formally controlled deliverable, project management plan component, or project document.
Change Control
A process whereby modifications to documents, deliverables, or baselines associated with the project are identified, documented, approved, or rejected.
Change Control Board (CCB)
A formally chartered group responsible for reviewing, evaluating, approving, delaying or rejecting changes to the project, and for recording and communicating such decisions.
Change Control Plan
A component of the project management plan that establishes the change control board, documents the extent of its authority, and describes how the change control system will be implemented.
Change Control System
A set of procedures that describes how modifications to the project deliverables and documentation are managed and controlled.
Change Log
A comprehensive list of changes submitted during the project and their current status.
Change Management
A comprehensive, cyclic, and structured approach for transitioning individuals, groups, and organizations from a current state to a future state with intended business benefits.
Change Request
A formal proposal to modify a document, deliverable, or baseline.
Charter
AKA Project Charter. A document issued by the project initiator or sponsor that formally authorizes the existence of a project and provides the project manager with the authority to apply organizational resources to project activities.
Check Sheet
A tally sheet that can be used as a checklist when gathering data.
Closing Process Group
The process(es) performed to formally complete or close a project, phase, or contract.
Communications Management Plan
A component of the project, program, portfolio management plan that describes how, when, and by whom information about the project will be administered and disseminated.
Complexity
A characteristic of a program or project or its environment that is difficult to manage due to human behavior, system behavior, and ambiguity.
Confirmation Bias
A type of cognitive bias that confirms preexisting beliefs or hypotheses.
Conformance
The degree to which the results meet the set quality requirements.
Constraint
A limiting factor that affects the execution of a project, program, portfolio, or process.
Contingency
An event or occurrence that could affect the execution of the project, which may be accounted for with a reserve.
Contingency Reserve
Time or money allocated in the schedule or cost baseline for known risks with active response strategies.
Continuous Delivery
The practice of delivering feature increments immediately to customers, often through the use of small batches of work and automation technology.
Contract
A mutually binding agreement that obligates the seller to provide the specified product, service, or result and obligates the buyer to pay for it.
Control
The process of comparing actual performance with planned performance, analyzing variances, assessing trends to effect process improvements, evaluating possible alternatives, and recommending appropriate corrective action as needed.
Control Chart
A graphic display of process data over time and against established control limits, which has a centerline that assists in detecting a trend of plotted values toward either control limit.
Cost Baseline
The approved version of the time-phased project budget, EXCLUDING any management reserves, which can be changed only through formal change control procedures and is used as a basis for comparison to actual results.
Cost-Benefit Analysis
A financial analysis method used to determine the benefits provided by a project against its costs.
Cost Management Plan
A component of a project or program management plan that describes how costs will be planned, structured, and controlled.
Cost of Quality (COQ)
ALL costs incurred over the LIFE of the project by investment in preventing nonconformance to requirements, appraisal of the product or service for conformance to requirements, and failure to meet requirements.
Cost Performance Index (CPI)
= EV/AC - A measure of the cost efficiency of budgeted resources expressed as the ratio of earned value to actual cost; an earned value management measure that indicates how efficiently the work is being performed with regard to the budgeted cost of the work.
Cost Plus Award Fee Contract (CPAF)
A category of contract that involves payments to the seller for all legitimate actual costs incurred for completed work, plus an award fee representing seller profit.
Cost Plus Fixed Fee (CPFF)
A type of cost-reimbursable contract where the buyer reimburses the seller for he seller’s allowable costs (allowable costs are defined by the contract) plus a fixed amount of profit (fee).
Cost Plus Incentive Fee (CPIF)
A type of cost-reimbursable contract where the buyer reimburses the seller for the seller’s allowable costs and the seller earns its profit if it meets defined performance criteria.
Cost-Reimbursable Contract
A type of contract involving payment to the seller for the seller’s actual costs, plus a fee typically representing the seller’s profit.
Cost Variance (CV)
= EV - AC –> The amount of budget deficit or surplus at a given point in time, expressed as the difference between the earned value and the actual cost.
Crashing
A method used to shorten the schedule duration for the least incremental cost by adding resources.
Criteria
Standards, rules, or tests on which a judgement or decision can be based or by which a product, service, result, or process can be evaluated.
Critical Path
The sequence of activities that represents the LONGEST PATH through a project, which determines the SHORTEST POSSIBLE DURATION.
Critical Path Method (CPM)
A method used to estimate the minimum project duration and determine the amount of schedule flexibility on the logical network paths within the schedule model.
Cumulative Flow Diagram (CFD)
A chart indicating features completed over time, features in other states of development, and those in the backlog.
Cycle Time
The TOTAL ELAPSED TIME time from the start of a particular activity or work item to its completion.
Cycle Time Chart
A diagram that shows the average cycle time of the work items completed over time.
Daily Standup
A brief, daily collaboration meeting in which the team reviews progress from the previous day, declares intentions for the current day, and highlights any obstacles encountered or anticipated.
Dashboard
A set of charts and graphs showing progress or performance against important measures of the project.
Data Gathering and Analysis Methods
Methods used to collect, assess, ad evaluate data and information to gain a deeper understanding of a situation.
Decision Tree Analysis
A diagramming and calculation method for evaluating the implications of a chain of multiple options in the presence of uncertainty.
Decomposition
A method used for dividing and subdividing the project scope and project deliverables into smaller, more manageable parts.
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.
Deliverable
Any unique and verifiable product, result, or capability to perform a service that is required to be produced to complete a process, phase, or project.
Delivery Performance Domain
The performance domain that addresses activities and functions associated with delivering the scope and quality that the project was undertaken to achieve.
Development Approach
A method used to create and evolve the product, service, or result during the project life cycle, such as a predictive, adaptive, or hybrid method.
Development Approach and Life Cycle Performance Domain
The performance domain that addresses activities and functions associated with the development approach, cadence, and life cycle phases of the project.
DevOps
A collection of practices for creating a smooth flow of deliveries by improving collaboration between development and operations staff.
Digital Product
A product or service that is delivered, used, and stored in an electronic format.
Discretionary Dependency
A relationship that is based on best practices or project preferences.
Duration
The total number of WORK UNITS required to complete an activity or work breakdown structure component, expressed in hours, days, or weeks. CONTRAST WITH EFFORT.
Earned Value (EV)
The measure of work performed expressed in terms of the budget authorized for that work.
Earned Value Analysis (EVA)
The analysis method that uses a set of measures associated with scope, schedule, and cost to determine the cost and schedule performance of a project.
Effort
The number of LABOR UNITS required to complete a schedule activity or work breakdown structure component, often expressed in hours, days, or weeks. CONTRAST WITH EFFORT.
Emotional Itelligence
The ability to identify, assess, and manage the personal emotions of oneself and other people, as well as the collective emotions of groups of people.
Enterprise Environmental Factors (EEF)
Conditions, not under the immediate control of the team, that influence, constrain, or direct the project, program, or portfolio.
Epic
A large, related body of work intended to hierarchically organize a set of requirements and deliver specific business outcomes.
Estimate
A quantitative assessment of the likely amount or outcome of a variable, such as project costs, resources, effort, or durations.
Estimate at Completion (EAC)
The expected total cost of completing all work expressed as the sum of the actual cost to date and the estimate to complete.
Estimate to Complete (ETC)
The expected cost to finish all the REMAINING project work.
Estimating Methods
Methods used to develop an approximation of work, time, or cost on a project.
Executing Process Group
Those PROCESSES PERFORMED to complete the work defined in the project management plan to satisfy the project requirements.
Expected Monetary Value (EMV)
The estimated value of an outcome expressed in monetary terms.
Explicit Knowlege
Knowledge that can be codified using symbols such as words, numbers, and pictures.
External Dependency
A relationship between project activities and non-project activities.
Fast Tracking
A schedule compression method in which activities or phases normally done in sequence are performed in parallel for at least a portion of their duration.
Feature
A set of related requirements or functionalities that provides value to an organization.
Firm Fixed Priced Contract (FFP)
A type of fixed price contract where the buyer pays the seller a set amount (as defined by the contract) regardless of the seller’s costs.
Fixed Duration
A type of activity where the length of time required to complete an activity remains constant regardless of the number of people or resources assigned to the activity.
Fixed-Price Contract
An agreement that sets the fee that will be paid for a defined scope of work regardless of the cost or effort to deliver it.
Fixed Price Incentive Fee Contract (FPIF)
A type of contract where the buyer pays the seller a set amount and the seller can earn an additional amount if the seller meets defined performance criteria.
Fixed Price with Economic Price Adjustment Contract (FPEPA)
A fixed-price contact but with a special provision allowing for predefined final adjustments to the contract price due to changed conditions, such as inflation changes, or cost increases (or decreases) for specific commodities.
Flow
The measure of how efficiently work moves through a given process or framework.
Flowchart
The depiction in a diagram format of the inputs, process actions, and outputs of one or more processes within a system.
Forecast
An estimate or prediction of conditions and events in the project’s future based on information and knowledge available at the time of the forecast.
Function Point
An estimate of the amount of business functionality in an information system, used to calculate the functional size measurement of a software system.
Gantt Chart
A bar chart of schedule information where activities are listed on the vertical axis, dates are shown on the horizontal axis, and activity durations are shown as horizontal bars placed according to start and finish dates.
Governance
The FRAMWORK for directing and enabling an organization through its established policies, practices, and other relevant documentation.
Grade
A category or rank used to distinguish items that have the same functional use but do not share the same requirements for quality.
Hierarchy Chart
A chart that begins with high-level information that is progressively decomposed into lower levels of detail.
Histogram
A bar chart that shows the graphical representation of numerical data.
Hybrid Approach
A combination of two or more agile and nonagile elements, having a nonagile end result.
Impact Mapping
A strategic planning method that serves as a visual roadmap for the organization during product development. It is used to establish and visualize the relationship between a specific business goal and the means for achieving it. This includes identifying the actors (aka, key stakeholders) involved, the unique role each actor plays (and the impact they make), and what deliverables they use to drive that impact.
Impediment
An obstacle that prevents the team from achieving its objectives. AKA a blocker.
Incremental Approach
An adaptive development approach in which the deliverable is produced successively, adding functionality until the deliverable contains the necessary and sufficient capability to be considered complete.
Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ)
A contract that provide for an indefinite quantity of goods or services, with a stated lower and upper limit, within a fixed time period.
Influence Diagram
A graphical representation of situations showing causal influences, time ordering of events, and other relationships among variable sand outcomes. (flowchart)
Information Radiator
A visible, physical display that provides information to the rest of the organization, enabling timely knowledge sharing.
Initiating Process Group
Those processes performed to define a new project or a new phase of an existing project by obtaining authorization to start the project or phase.
Internal Dependency
A relationship between two or more project activities.
Interpersonal Skills
Skills used to establish and maintain relationships with other people.
Issue
A current condition or situation that may have an impact on the project objectives.
Issue Log
A project document where information about issues is recorded and monitored.
Iteration
A timeboxed cycle of development on a product or deliverable in which all of the work that is needed to deliver value is performed.
Iteration Plan
A detailed plan for the current iteration.
Iteration Planning
A meeting to clarify the details of the backlog items, acceptance criteria, and work effort required to meet an upcoming iteration commitment.
Iteration Review
A meeting held at the end of an iteration to demonstrate the work that was accomplished during the iteration.
Iterative Approach
A development approach that focuses on an initial, simplified implementation then progressively elaborates adding to the feature set until the final deliverable is complete.
Kanban Board
A visualization tool that shows work in progress to help identify bottlenecks and over commitments, thereby allowing the team to optimize the workflow.
Kickoff Meeting
A gathering of team members and other key stakeholders at the outset of a project to formally set expectations, gain a common understanding, and commence work.
Knowledge
A mixture of experience, values and beliefs, contextual information, intuition, and insight that people use to make sense of new experiences and information.
Lag
The amount of time whereby a successor activity will be delayed with respect to a predecessor activity.
Last Responsible Moment
The concept of deferring a decision to allow the team to consider multiple options until the cost of further delay would exceed the benefit.
Lead
The amount of time whereby a successor activity can be advanced with respect to a predecessor activity.
Lead Time
The time between a customer request and the actual delivery.
Lead Time Chart
A diagram showing the trend over time of the average lead time of the items completed in work.
Lean Startup Canvas
A one-page template designed to communicate a business plan with key stakeholders in an efficient and effective manner.
Lessons Learned
The knowledge gained during a project, which shows how project events were addressed or should be addressed in the future, for the purpose of improving future performance.
Lessons Learned Register
A project document used to record knowledge gained during a project, phase, or iteration so that it can be used to improve future performance for the team and the organization.
Life Cycle
AKA Project Life Cycle. A series of phases that represent the evolution of a product, from concept through delivery, growth, maturity, and to retirement.
Life Cycle Assessment (LCA)
A tool used to evaluate the total environmental impact of a product, process, or system.
Log
A document used to record and describe or denote selected items identified during execution of a process or activity. Usually used with a modifier, such as issue, change, or assumption.
Make-or-Buy Analysis
The process of gathering and organizing data about product requirements and analyzing them against available alternatives including the purchase or internal manufacturing of the product.
Management Reserve
An amount of the project budget or project schedule held outside of the performance measurement baseline for management control purposes that is reserved for unforeseen work that is within the project scope.
Mandatory Dependency
A relationship that is contractually required or inherent in the nature of the work.
Measurement Performance Domain
The performance domain that addresses activities and functions associated with assessing project performance and taking appropriate actions to maintain acceptable performance.
Measures of Peformance
Measures that characterize physical or functional attributes relating to system operation.
Method
A means for achieving an outcome, output, result, or project deliverable.
Methodology
A system of practices, techniques, procedures, and rules used by those who work in a discipline.
Metric
A description of a project or product attribute and how to measure it.
Milestone
A significant point or event in a project, program, or portfolio.
Milestone Schedule
A type of schedule that presents milestones with planned dates.
Minimum Viable Product (MVP)
A concept used to define the scope of the first release of a solution to customers by identifying the fewest number of features or requirements that would deliver value.
Modeling
Creating simplified representations of systems, solutions, or deliverables such as prototypes, diagrams, or storyboards.
Monitor
Collect project performance data, produce performance measures, and report and disseminate performance information.
Monitoring and Controlling Process Group
Those processes required to track, review, and regulate the progress and performance of the project; identify any areas in which changes to the plan are required; and initiate corresponding changes.
Monte Carlo Simulation
A method of identifying the potential impacts of risk and uncertainty using multiple iterations of a computer model to develop a probability distribution of a range of outcomes that could result from a decision or course of action.
Mood Chart
A visualization chart for tracking mood or reactions to identify areas for improvement.
Multipoint Estimating
A method used to estimate cost or duration by applying an average or weighted average of optimistic, pessimistic, and most likely estimates when there is uncertainty with the individual activity estimates.
Net Promoter Score
An index that measures the willingness of customers to recommend an organization’s products or services to others.
Network Path
A sequence of activities connected by logical relationships in a project schedule network diagram.
Objective
Something toward which work is to be directed; a strategic position to be attained, a purpose to be achieved, a result to be obtained, a product to be produced, or a service to be performed.
Opportunity
A risk that would have a positive effect on one or more project objectives.
Organizational Process Assets (OPA)
Plans, processes, policies, procedures, and knowledge bases that are specific to and used by the performing organization.
Organizational Breakdown Structure (OBS)
A hierarchical representation of the project organization, which illustrates the relationship between project activities and the organizational units that will perform those activities. (org chart)
Osmatic Communication
Means of receiving information without direct communication by overhearing and through nonverbal cues.
Outcome
An end result or consequence of a process or peoject.
Parametric Estimating
An estimating method in which an algorithm is used to calculate cost or duration based on historical data and project parameters.
Performance Measurement Baseline (PMB)
Integrated scope, schedule, and cost baselines used for comparison to manage, measure, and control project execution.
Phase Gate
A review at the end of a phase in which a decision is made to continue to the next phase, to continue with modification, or to end a project or program.
Plan
A proposed means of accomplishing something.
Planned Value (PV)
The authorized budget assigned to scheduled work.
Planning Performance Domain
The performance domain that addresses activities and functions associated with the initial, ongoing, and evolving organization and coordination necessary for delivering project deliverables and results.
Planning Process Group
Those processes required to establish the scope of the project, refine the objectives, and define the course of action required to attain the objectives that the project was undertaken to achieve.
Portfolio
Projects, programs, subsidiary portfolios, and operations managed as a group to achieve strategic objectives.
Portfolio Management
The centralized management of one or more portfolios to achieve strategic objectives.
Precision
Within the quality management system, precision is an assessment of exactness.
Predictive Approach
A development approach in which the project scope, time, and cost are determined in the early phases of the life cycle.
Prioritization Matrix
A scatter diagram that plots effort against value so as to classify items by priority.
Prioritization Schema
Methods used to prioritize portfolio, program, or project components, as well as requirements, risks, features, or other product information.
Probability and Impact Matrix
A grid for mapping the probability of occurrence of each risk and its impact on project objectives if that risk occurs.
Probabilistic Estimating
A method used to develop a range of estimates along with the associated probabilities within that range.
Procurement Management Plan
A component of the project or program management plan that describes how a project team will acquire goods and services from outside of the performing organization.
Product
An artifact that is produced, is quantifiable, and can be either an end item in itself or a component item.
Product Breakdown Structure (PBS)
A hierarchical structure reflecting a product’s components and deliverables. It’s a product-based planning technique that breaks down a product into its components, sub-components, and tasks.
Product Life Cycle
A series of phases that represent the evolution of a product, from concept through delivery, growth, maturity, and to retirement.
Product Management
The integration of people, data, processes, and business systems to create, maintain, and evolve a product or service throughout its life cycle.
Product Owner
A person responsible for maximizing the value of the product and accountable for the end product.
Product Scope
The features and functions that characterize a product, service, or result.
Program
Related projects, subsidiary programs, and program activities that are managed in a coordinated manner to obtain benefits not available from managing them individually.
Program Management
The application of knowledge, skills, and principles to a program to achieve the program objectives and obtain benefits and control not available by managing program components individually.
Progressive Elaboration
The iterative process of increasing the level of detail in a project management plan as greater amounts of information and more accurate estimates become available.
Project
A temporary endeavor undertaken to create a unique product, service, or result.
Project Brief
A high-level overview of the goals, deliverables, and processes for the project.
Project Calendar
A calendar that identifies working days and shifts that are available for scheduled activities.
Project Charter
A document issued by the project initiator or sponsor that formally authorizes the existence of a project and provides the project manager with the authority to apply organizational resources to project activities.
Project Governance
The framework, functions, and processes that guide project management activities in order to create a unique product, service, or result to meet organizational, strategic, and operational goals.
Project Lead
A person who helps the project team to achieve the project objectives, typically by orchestrating the work of the project.
Project Life Cycle
The series of phases that a project passes through from its start to its finish.
Project Management
The application of knowledge, skills, tools, and techniques to project activities to meet the project requirements.
Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK)
A term that describes the knowledge within the profession of project management.
Project Management Office (PMO)
A management structure that standardizes the project-related governance processes and facilitates the sharing of resources, methodologies, tools, and techniques.
Project Management Plan
The document that describes how the project will be executed, monitored, controlled, and closed.
Project Management Process Grouping
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 Team
The members of the project ream who are directly involved in project management activities.
Project Manager
The person assigned by the performing organization to lead the team that is responsible for achieving the project objectives.
Project Phase
A collection of logically related activities that culminates in the completion of one or more deliverables.
Project Review
An event at the end of a phase or project to assess the status, evaluate the value delivered, and determine if the project is ready to move to the next phase or transition to operations.
Project Schedule
An output of a schedule model that presents linked activities with planned dates, durations, milestones, and resources.
Project Schedule Network Diagram
A graphical representation of the logical relationships among the project schedule activities.
Project Scope
The work performed to deliver a product, service or result with the specified features and functions.
Project Scope Statement
The description of the project scope, major deliverables, and exclusions.
Project Team
A set of individuals performing the work of the project to achieve its objectives.
Project Vision Statement
A concise, high-level description of the project that states the purpose and inspires the team to contribute to the project.
Project Work Performance Domain
The performance domain that addresses activities and functions associated with establishing project processes, managing physical resources, and fostering a learning environment.
Prototype
A working model used to obtain early feedback on the expected product before actually building it.
Quality
The degree to which a set of inherent characteristics fulfills requirements.
Quality Management Plan
A component of the project or program management plan that describes how applicable policies, procedures, and guidelines will be implemented to achieve the quality objectives.
Quality Metrics
A description of a project or product attribute and how to measure it.
Quality Policy
The basic principles that should govern the organization’s actions as it implements its system for quality management.
Quality Report
A project document that includes quality management issues, recommendations for corrective actions and a summary of findings from quality control activities and may include recommendations for process, project, and product improvements.
Register
A written record of regular entries for evolving aspects of a project, such as risks, stakeholders, or defects.
Regression Analysis
An analytical method where a series of input variables are examined in relation to their corresponding output results in order to develop a mathematical or statistical relationship.
A set of statistical methods used for the estimation of relationships between a dependent variable and one or more independent variables. It can be utilized to assess the strength of the relationship between variables and for modeling the future relationship between them.
