PMBoK Vocabulary Flashcards
acceptance criteria
A set of conditions that are met before deliverables are accepted.
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.
affinity diagram
A diagram that shows large numbers of ideas classified into groups for review and analysis.
“Convergent thinking tool used to organize or ‘cluster’ ideas and data”
*thinking brainstorming with sticky notes and grouping into categories
analogous estimating
A technique for estimating the duration, cost, or required resources for an activity or project using historical data from a similar activity or project. See also bottom-up estimating, parametric estimating, program evaluation and review technique (PERT), and multipoint estimating.
backlog
An ordered list of work to be done, often written as user stories, and prioritized by the business to manage and organize an adaptive or agile project’s work.
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.
backward pass
A critical path method technique for calculating the late start and late finish dates by working backward through the schedule model from the project end date.
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 program or project.
Bidder Conference
The meetings with 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 conferences, vendor conferences, or pre-bid conferences.
Blocker
An obstacle that prevents the team from achieving its objectives.
AKA: impediment
budget at completion (BAC)
The sum of all budgets established for the work to be performed.
burndown chart
A graphical representation of the work remaining versus the time left in a timebox.
burnup chart
A graphical representation of the work completed toward a milestone.
Business Model Canvas
A one-page, visual summary that describes the value proposition, infrastructure, customers, and finances. Often used in Lean Startup situations.
cause-and-effect diagram
A visual representation that helps trace an effect back to its root cause. A cause-and-effect diagram may also be known as a fishbone or Ishikawa diagram.
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.
contingency reserve
Time or money allocated in the schedule or cost baseline for known risks with active response strategies.
cost baseline
The approved version of the time-phased project budget, excluding any management reserves (includes contingency reserves), which can be changed only through formal change control procedures and is used as a basis for comparison to actual results.
cost management plan
A component of a program or project management plan that describes how costs will be planned, structured, and controlled.
cost of quality (COQ)
All costs incurred over the life of the product 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)
A measure of the cost efficiency of budgeted resources expressed as the ratio of earned value to actual cost.