Project Management Glossary
A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z
A
Acceptance Testing: Formal testing conducted to determine whether or not a system satisfies its acceptance criteria and to enable the customer to determine whether or not to accept the system.
Activity: The lowest level of a Work Breakdown Structure (WBS). Activities are further subdivided into Tasks.
Activity List: A list of all the activities required to complete a project.
Activity-On-Node (AON): A network diagramming methodology in which tasks are represented by boxes (or nodes) and connected with arrows that show the sequence in which activities must be performed.
Affinity Diagram: A diagramming technique used to organize ideas, opinions, or data into meaningful groups or categories.
Agile Project Management: A project management methodology that emphasizes flexibility, responsiveness, and incremental development.
B
Baseline: A reference point used for comparison in determining progress.
Benchmarking: The process of assessing performance against established performance standards.
Bottom-Up Estimating: A technique used to estimate the cost and duration of tasks in a project by aggregating times and costs estimated by individuals who will be performing the tasks.
C
Capability Maturity Model (CMM): A model used to measure the ability of an organization to manage its software development and maintenance processes.
Critical Path: The sequence of activities that represents the longest path through a network diagram and therefore determines the minimum duration of a project.
D
Diagramming: The use of graphical techniques to visually represent the logical relationships among tasks.
E
Earned Value Management (EVM): A project management technique used to measure and control a projects performance and progress.
F
Fast Tracking: A technique used to shorten the project duration by overlapping activities on the critical path.
G
Gantt Chart: A bar chart used to represent the sequence, duration, and interdependence of tasks in a project.
H
Histogram: A graphical display of data that shows the frequency of occurrence of each value (or range of values) in the sample.
I
Iterative: A process of repeating, or iterating, tasks as part of a larger process.
K
Kanban: A method used to control the production of goods, services, or tasks in a project.
L
Lead Time: The time required to complete an activity, task, or project.
M
Milestone: A major event in a project used to track progress and monitor performance.
P
PERT Chart: A diagram used to represent the sequence and duration of tasks in a project.
R
RACI Chart: A visual representation of the roles and responsibilities of individuals in a project.
S
Scrum: A project management methodology based on iterative, incremental development.
S-Curve: A curve used to visually represent the progress of a project over time.
T
Task: The smallest unit of a Work Breakdown Structure (WBS). A Task is further divided into Activities.
Work Breakdown Structure (WBS): A hierarchical representation of the tasks that must be completed in order to achieve a projects objectives. The WBS is used to break a project down into manageable chunks.
