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Project Management Glossary

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150+ Project Management Glossary Terms and Terminologies for Project Managers and Teams

Stay ahead with doInsights' ultimate Project Management glossary—your go-to resource for clear, concise definitions of complex terms. Easily accessible anytime, anywhere. Have suggestions? Share your insights with us!

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- A -

Adaptive Project Framework (APF): Iterative methodology for high-uncertainty projects.

Assumption Log- Document recording project assumptions and their validity.

Assumption- A factor considered true during planning (e.g., resource availability).

Agile- Flexible, iterative approach emphasizing collaboration (e.g., Scrum, Kanban).

Accountability- Responsibility for outcomes (often tracked via RACI matrix).

Action Item- Task assigned during meetings with deadlines.

Acceptance Criteria – Specific Conditions a Deliverable Must Meet for Stakeholder Approval

- B -

Burnup Chart : Visualizes work completed vs. total scope (common in Agile).

Burn Rate- Rate at which project funds are spent.

Brainstorming- Collaborative idea-generation technique.

Benchmarking- Comparing project processes to industry standards.

Baseline- Approved plan used to measure project performance (scope, cost, schedule).

Balanced Scorecard- Strategy tool aligning projects with organizational goals.

Backlog Grooming- Refining and prioritizing backlog items.

Backlog- Prioritized list of tasks/features (e.g., product backlog in Scrum).

- C -

Crystal (Agile Methodology)- Agile methodology tailored to project size/complexity.

Constraints – Limitations impacting project execution (e.g., budget, time).

Critical Path Method (CPM)- Identifies the longest task sequence determining project duration.

Critical Chain Method (CCM)- Focuses on resource constraints to schedule tasks.

Cost Performance Index (CPI)- Measures cost efficiency (EV/AC).

Cost-Benefit Analysis (CBA)- Evaluating project costs vs. benefits.

Contingency Reserve – Budget/time buffer for unforeseen risks.

Co-Location- Team members working in the same physical space.

Closeout Report – Final document summarizing project outcomes and lessons learned.

Change Request- Formal proposal to modify project parameters.

Change Log- Record of all approved changes to scope, schedule, or cost.

Case Study- Analysis of a past project to inform future work.

Change Control Board (CCB)- Group approving/rejecting project changes.

Capacity Planning : Estimating resource availability for tasks.

- D -

DSDM (Dynamic Systems Development Method)- Agile framework for rapid delivery.

Discretionary Dependency- Optional task sequence based on best practices.

Design Thinking- Human-centered approach to problem-solving.

Dependency- Relationship between tasks (e.g., finish-to-start).

Delphi Technique- Expert consensus method for risk/estimation.

Decision Tree- Diagram mapping decisions and potential outcomes.

Daily Standup- Short Agile meeting to sync team progress (common in Scrum)

- E -

Ethnography- Observational research method for user-centric projects.

Estimation- Predicting task duration, cost, or effort.

Enterprise Environmental Factors (EEFs)- Internal/external influences on projects (e.g., culture, regulations).

Emotional Intelligence (EQ)- Ability to manage team dynamics and stakeholder relationships.

Effort- Work hours required to complete a task.

Earned Value (EV)- Measures work completed against the plan.

Early Start/Early Finish- Earliest dates tasks can start/finish based on dependencies.

- F -

Funding Limit Reconciliation : Aligns project spending with available funds.

Functional Manager: Oversees team members in a specific department (e.g., engineering).

Flowchart: Visual representation of process steps.

Float (Slack): Time a task can be delayed without affecting the project end date.

Fishbone Diagram (Ishikawa): Root-cause analysis tool.

Fast Tracking: Overlapping tasks to shorten the schedule.

- G -

Greenfield Project – Project built from scratch (no legacy systems).

Governance- Framework ensuring alignment with organizational goals.

GERT (Graphical Evaluation and Review Technique)- Network diagram with probabilistic task durations.

- H -

Human Resource Management Plan- Outlines roles, responsibilities, and team structure.

Historical Data – Past project records used for estimation/planning.

Herzberg Theory- Motivation theory distinguishing hygiene factors from satisfiers.

Hammock Activity- Summary task spanning multiple subtasks.

- I -

Iron Triangle (Triple Constraint)- Balancing scope, time, and cost (Triple Constraint).

Internal Rate of Return (IRR)- Financial metric for evaluating profitability.

Integration Management- Coordinating project processes and components.

Influence Map- Identifies stakeholders’ authority and interest.

Incremental Delivery- Delivering project outcomes in phases.

Impact Map- Visualizes how deliverables align with business goals.

- J -

Just-in-Time (JIT)- Delivering resources/materials only when needed.

Joint Venture (JV)- Partnership between organizations for a specific project.

- K -

Kurt Lewin Change Model- Three-stage change process (unfreeze, change, refreeze).

KPI (Key Performance Indicator)- Metrics tracking project success (e.g., cycle time).

Knowledge Transfer- Sharing expertise between team members.

Kickoff Meeting- Launch meeting to align stakeholders on goals.

Kaizen- Continuous improvement philosophy (Lean).

- L -

Logical Framework (LogFrame)- Matrix linking objectives, activities, and outcomes.

Lessons Learned Register- Document capturing insights for future projects.

Lean Six Sigma- Combines Lean (efficiency) and Six Sigma (quality).

Lead- Overlap between tasks to shorten the schedule.

Late Start/Finish- Latest dates tasks can start/finish without delaying the project.

Lag- Delay between dependent tasks.

- M -

Murphy Law: “Anything that can go wrong, will go wrong” (risk mindset).

Motivation Theory: Study of factors driving team performance (e.g., Maslow, Herzberg).

Monte Carlo Simulation: Predicts outcomes using probabilistic modeling.

Milestone Chart: Visualizes key project checkpoints.

Mandatory Dependency: Legally/contractually required task sequence.

Management Reserve: Buffer for unknown risks (controlled by senior management).

- N -

Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA): Confidentiality contract for stakeholders.

Nimble Methodology: Agile approach for software projects.

Net Present Value (NPV): Present value of future cash flows minus initial investment.

Negative Risk: Threats that could harm the project.

- O -

Observation: Passive data collection method (e.g., user behavior).

Opportunity Cost: Value of the next-best alternative not chosen.

Organizational Process Assets (OPAs): Reusable processes/templates from past projects.

Outsourcing: Contracting external vendors for tasks.

Overallocation: Assigning more work to a resource than it can handle.

- P -

Phase Gate- Decision point to approve/reject project progression.

PDCA Cycle (Plan-Do-Check-Act)- Plan-Do-Check-Act iterative improvement method.

Parametric Estimating- Cost/duration prediction using statistical relationships.

Pareto Principle (80/20 Rule)- 80% of outcomes come from 20% of causes.

Performance Measurement Baseline (PMB)- Approved scope, schedule, and cost plans.

PERT (Program Evaluation and Review Technique)- Statistical tool for estimating task durations.

Pilot Project- Small-scale test of a solution.

- Q -

Quantitative Risk Analysis- Numerical assessment of risk impacts.

Queue Time- Idle time between tasks in a workflow.

Quality Management Plan- Outlines quality objectives and processes.

Quality Audit- Review to ensure compliance with standards.

Qualitative Risk Analysis- Subjective assessment of risk probability/impact.

- R -

Root Cause Analysis (RCA)- Identifies the origin of a problem.

Rolling Wave Planning- Iterative planning for near-term tasks.

Risk Tolerance- Degree of risk variability an organization accepts.

Risk Threshold- Level of risk exposure triggering action.

Risk Mitigation: Actions to reduce risk probability/impact.

Risk Breakdown Structure (RBS): Categorizes risks by type/source.

Risk Appetite: Level of risk an organization is willing to accept.

Retrospective: Agile meeting to reflect on team performance.

Resource Smoothing: Adjusting schedules without delaying the project.

Resource Leveling: Adjusting tasks to resolve resource overallocation.

Resource Calendar: Availability schedule for team members.

Resource Breakdown Structure (RBS): Hierarchical resource categorization.

Residual Risk: Risk remaining after mitigation

Regression Testing: Re-testing after changes to ensure no new defects.

Regulatory Compliance: Adherence to laws/standards (e.g., GDPR, HIPAA).

Request for Proposal (RFP): Solicits vendor bids for project work.

Release Plan: Schedule for delivering product increments (Agile).

Refactoring: Restructuring code without changing functionality (common in Agile).

RACI Matrix: Defines roles (Responsible, Accountable, Consulted, Informed).

- S -

Systems Development Life Cycle (SDLC)- Phases for software development (e.g., Waterfall, Agile).

SWOT Analysis- Evaluates Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats.

Story Points- Agile unit for estimating task complexity.

Steering Committee- Senior group guiding project decisions.

Statement of Work (SOW)- Formal agreement outlining project deliverables.

Start-to-Start (SS) Dependency- Dependency where Task B starts when Task A starts.

Stakeholder Engagement Plan- Outlines strategies to manage stakeholder expectations.

Sprint Review- Scrum meeting to demo completed work.

Sprint Retrospective- Scrum meeting to review team performance.

Sprint Planning- Meeting to define sprint goals and tasks.

Sprint Backlog- Tasks selected for a Scrum sprint.

Sponsor- Individual funding and advocating for the project.

Slack- See Float

Soft Skills- Interpersonal abilities (e.g., communication, leadership).

Six Sigma- Data-driven quality methodology (DMAIC: Define, Measure, Analyze, Improve, Control).

Sender-Receiver Model- Communication model emphasizing clarity and feedback.

Secondary Risk- Risk arising from implementing a risk response.

S-Curve- Graph showing cumulative project costs over time.

Scrum of Scrums- Coordination meeting for multiple Scrum teams.

Scope Management Plan- Outlines how scope will be defined and controlled.

Schedule Variance (SV)- Measures schedule performance (EV – PV).

Schedule Compression- Techniques to shorten timelines (fast tracking, crashing).

- T -

Tuckman Model- Stages of team development (forming, storming, norming, performing).

Triple Constraint- Scope, time, and cost balance.

Total Float- Time a task can be delayed without affecting the project end date.

Timeboxing- Allocating fixed time periods to tasks (Agile).

Theory of Constraints (TOC)- Focuses on addressing bottlenecks.

Technical Debt- Future rework caused by shortcuts in development.

Task Management- Tracking and prioritizing tasks.

Task Dependency- See Dependency .

- U -

User Story: Feature described from an end-user perspective (Agile).

User Interface (UI): Design of how users interact with a system.

User Experience (UX): Focus on end-user satisfaction.

User Acceptance Testing (UAT): Final validation by end-users.

Use Case Diagram: Visualizes system interactions from a user perspective.

Unanimity: Full agreement among stakeholders (vs. majority vote).

- V -

VUCA (Volatility, Uncertainty, Complexity, Ambiguity)- Volatility, Uncertainty, Complexity, Ambiguity (project environment).

Voice of the Customer (VoC)- Process to capture customer needs.

Virtual Team- Geographically dispersed team collaborating remotely.

Vested Outsourcing- Long-term partnership between client and vendor.

Variance at Completion (VAC)- Predicted budget surplus/deficit (BAC – EAC).

Variance- Deviation between planned and actual performance.

Value Engineering: Optimizing project value while reducing costs.

Validation: Confirming deliverables meet requirements.

- W -

Workaround- Temporary solution to an unforeseen problem.

Work Package- Smallest unit of work in the WBS.

Weighted Scoring Model- Prioritization method using criteria scores.

Wideband Delphi- Estimation technique combining expert opinions.

Work Authorization System (WAS)- Formal process to approve task execution.

Water-Scrum-Fall- Hybrid of Waterfall and Scrum.

War Room- Dedicated space for co-located teams to collaborate.

- X -

X-Theory / Y-Theory- Douglas McGregor’s management style theories.

X-Matrix- Lean tool aligning strategy, goals, and metrics.

- Y -

Yammer- Microsoft’s enterprise social networking tool.

Yield- Ratio of output to input (e.g., defect-free deliverables).

- Z -

Zombie Project- Project that continues without clear purpose or funding.

Zero-Sum Game- Situation where one party’s gain equals another’s loss.

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