Project Management Fundamental Terms Flashcards
A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK Guide)
The PMI publication that defines widely accepted project management practices. The CAPM and the PMP exam are based on this book.
Application areas
The areas of expertise, industry, or function where a project is centered. Examples of application areas include architecture, IT, health care, and manufacturing.
Business value
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.
Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM)
A person who has slightly less project management experience than a PMP, but who has qualified for and then passed the CAPM examination.
Cultural and social environment
Defines how a project affects people and how those people may affect the project. Cultural and social environments include the economic, educational, ethical, religious, demographic, and ethnic composition of the people affected by the project.
Deliverable
A product, service, or result created by a project. Projects can have multiple deliverables.
General management skills
These include the application of accounting, procurement, sales and marketing, contracting, manufacturing, logistics, strategic planning, human resource management, standards and regulations, and information technology
International and political environment
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
Interpersonal skills
The ability to interact, lead, motivate, and manage people.
Iron Triangle of Project Management
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. The Iron Triangle of Project Management is also known as the Triple Constraints of Project Management.
Physical environment
The physical structure and surroundings that affect a project’s work.
Process groups
A collection of related processes in project management. There are five process groups and 49 project management processes.
The five process groups are Initiating, Planning, Executing, Monitoring and Controlling, and Closing.
Program
A collection of related projects working in unison toward a common deliverable.
Progressive elaboration
The process of gathering project details. This process uses deductive reasoning, logic, and a series of informationgathering techniques to identify details about a project, product, or solution.
Project
A temporary endeavor to create a unique product, service, or result. The end result of a project is also called a deliverable.