Project Management Fundamental Terms

Question 1

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

Answer 1

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

Question 2

The areas of expertise, industry, or function where a project is centered. Examples include architecture, IT, health care, and manufacturing.1

Answer 2

Application areas

Question 3

A quantifiable return on investment. The return can be tangible, such as equipment, money, or market share. The return can also be intangible, such as brand recognition, trademarks, and reputation.

Answer 3

Business value

Question 4

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

Answer 4

Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM)

Question 5

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

Answer 5

Cultural and social environment

Question 6

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

Answer 6

Deliverable

Question 7

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

Answer 7

General management skills

Question 8

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.

Answer 8

International and political environment

Question 9

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

Answer 9

Interpersonal skills

Question 10

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. This is also known as the Triple Constraints of Project Management, as all projects are constrained by time, cost, and scope.

Answer 10

Iron Triangle of Project Management

Question 11

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

Answer 11

Physical environment

Question 12

A collection of related processes in project management. There are five process groups and 49 project management processes. The five groups are Initiating, Planning, Executing, Monitoring and Controlling, and Closing.

Answer 12

Process groups

Question 13

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

Answer 13

Program

Question 14

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.

Answer 14

Progressive elaboration

Question 15

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

Answer 15

Project

Question 16

A documented created and maintained by the project sponsor and the project manager. This plan defines what benefits the project will create, when the benefits will be realized, and how the benefits will be measured.

Answer 16

Project benefits management plan

Question 17

Created and maintained by the project sponsor and shows the financial validity of why a project is chartered and launched within the organization. Typically, this is created before the launch of the project and may be used as a go/no-go decision point.

Answer 17

Project business case

Question 18

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

Answer 18

Project environment

Question 19

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

Answer 19

Project Management Institute (PMI)

Question 20

The phases that make up the project. These are unique to the type of work being performed and are not universal to all projects.

Answer 20

Project life cycle

Question 21

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.

Answer 21

Project management office (PMO)

Question 22

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

Answer 22

Project Management Professional (PMP)

Question 23

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.

Answer 23

Project portfolio management

Question 24

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

Answer 24

Subprojects

Question 25

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

Answer 25

Triple Constraints of Project Management

Question 26

Raw data, observations, and measurements about project components. This is gathered and stored in the project management information system.

Answer 26

Work performance data

Question 27

This is the processed and analyzed data that will help the project manager make project decisions.

Answer 27

Work performance information

Question 28

The formatted communication of work performance information. It communicate what’s happening in the project through status reports, memos, dashboards, or other modalities.

Answer 28

Work performance reports