Welcome! This alphabetized glossary contains many of the terms in this course.

This
comprehensive glossary also includes additional industry-recognized terms not used in course
videos. These terms are essential for you to recognize when working in the industry,
participating in user groups, and participating in other certificate programs.

Video or reading where

Term Definitions
the term is introduced

The ability to respond to changing The 12 Principles of

Adaptability
conditions. Project Management

Project Management
A project lifecycle that is iterative or
Adaptive Models and
incremental
Methodologies

A change model that offers a five-step

approach to managing change; the
ADKAR Leading Change
acronym stands for awareness, desire,
knowledge, ability, and reinforcement.

The act of organizing potential defects into

Affinity Diagram categories or groups for analysis is an Managing Quality
excellent brainstorming tool

An optimal lifecycle where the deliverable

Overview of Key Project
Agile frequency is high and anticipated change is
Management Models
high.

A declaration of a unifying philosophy for

frameworks like scrum, extreme Overview of Key Project
Agile Manifesto
programming, and feature-driven Management Models
development (FDD) developed in 2001

A method that combines historical data

and expert judgment to anticipate the
Analogous Estimation costs and resources of a project, using this Project Budgets
method, a project manager compares the
current project to similar past projects.

A condition or event considered to be true,

Assumption Analysis real, or certain without proof or Project Budgets
demonstration
Autocratic When a single individual makes a decision. Decision Making

Many of the same attributes as a weak

matrix, but the project manager has more Different Types of
Balanced Matrix
time, authority, power, and support Organizations
regarding the project.

The approved and accepted project Introduction and the

Baseline
management plan. Project Initiation Phase

A simple technique to compare the

Benefit to Cost Ratio
benefits of a project with its costs BCR >1 Key Financial Metrics
(BCR)
is positive.

It involves evaluating prices and resources

needed for each task or component, then
Bottom-Up Estimation Project Budgets
combining those estimates to provide a
detailed project budget.

A three-step change model where flow

Bridge's Transition Model includes ending-losing and letting go, the Leading Change
neutral zone, and a new beginning.

Budget at Completion Planning Earned Value

Earned Value Management Metric
(BAC) Management

The business analyst focuses on products

and solutions. The project manager Project Planning
Business Analyst
focuses on the processes performed to Introduction
deliver a solution with sufficient quality.

Feasibility study to determine the merit of a Introduction and the

Business Case
potential project Project Initiation Phase
 This diagram breaks out various causes
Cause and Effect Diagram that result in an effect. It is also known as Managing Quality
fishbone, Ishikawa, or why/why.

The final phase of the project lifecycle is

where the team transitions the final Project Management
Closing Phase
product or service to the customer or Phases
operations

Numbering identifies and differentiates all

Code of Account Identifier Module 5
work breakdown structure (WBS) activities.

A project or item produced or conducted by The 12 Principles of

Collaborative
two or more parties working together Project Management

A plan that defines project

Communications
communications and the schedule to Project Support Planning
Management Plan
implement each communications item

Result of human behavior, system The 12 Principles of

Complexity
interactions, uncertainty, and ambiguity. Project Management

The ability to manage stakeholders who

Effective Meeting
Conflict Management may have different opinions or diverse
Management
views

The allocation of contingency reserves

Contingency Reserves Budget Planning
supports known or identified risks.

Defines the optimal project management Project Management

Continuum of Lifecycles approach based on delivery requirements Models and
and the amount of anticipated change Methodologies
 Reviews work so that it meets practices,
templates, standards, and have some
decision making capabilities, but they are The Project Management
Controlling PMO
not absolute. Shares the same information Office
as the supportive Project Management
Office (PMO)

Cost Performance Index Planning Earned Value

Earned Value Management Metric
(CPI) Management

Planning Earned Value

Cost Variance (CV) Earned Value Management Metric
Management

The path of longest duration on a project Overview of Key Project

Critical Path
network diagram Management Models

Most accurate estimate is the closest one

to the actual cost. Upon completion of
Definitive Estimate project planning, the project team prepares Project Budgets
these estimates. They range from -5% to
+10

Method of determining an asset's value

loss over time as a result of regular wear
Depreciation Key Financial Metrics
and tear, aging, and technological
advancements

Design for Excellence: shows different

aspects of product development (x factors)
Design for X Managing quality
that may result in business value (y
factors).

The project budget will cover the costs that

the project incurs. The project manager
Direct Cost Budget Planning
must calculate and request these funds
from the sponsor.

Provides information and manages

compliance. May manage all project
The Project Management
Directive PMO management resources and assign them
Office
to projects to meet the organization's
needs.
 Breaking a dependency is possible if
Discretionary Dependency necessary. Typically, one adds Schedule Planning
discretionary dependencies to reduce risk

Review documentation that leads to a

Document Review Module 4
project's creation.

A method used to determine the real-time

Earned Value Planning Earned Value
scope, schedule, and budget status for a
Management Management
project

Measures the value a company generates

Economic Value Added
for its shareholders; a subjective analysis Key Financial Metrics
(EVA)
by stakeholders.

The process of facilitating with

stakeholders to determine the best method Effective Meeting
Elicitation
to satisfy a need; generally the job of a Management
business analyst.

Estimate at Completion Planning Earned Value

Earned Value Management Metric
(EAC) Management

The third phase of the project lifecycle is

Project Management
Executing Phase where the team produces deliverables by
Phases
the project management plan

Expert Estimation See Analogous Estimation Project Budgets

Involves experts in the decision-making

process to improve the chances of project
Expert Judgement Decision Making
success and increase stakeholder
confidence in the process and outcome.
 A relationship that is dependent upon
external factors; often, these external
External Dependency Schedule Planning
factors may be legal or regulatory in
nature.

A quick way to determine general

agreement on a decision; the speaker
restates a course of action and then
Fist to Five Decision Making
requests the team express their level of
support by putting up several fingers
ranging from 0 to 5.

Shows process flow and where quality

Flowchart Managing quality
issues may occur.

The process of tracking the actual

Funding Limit expenses against the funding limit to
Project Budgets
Reconciliation ensure that the project finishes on time
and within budget

The 12 Principles of
Standards of behavior ensure the teams
Ground Rules and Norms Project Management
are cohesive and effective.
Scenario

An optimal lifecycle is when the deliverable Project Management

Incremental frequency is big and anticipated project Models and
change is low. Methodologies

The project will pay for costs incurred

Indirect Cost Budget Planning
externally to the project.

The ability to motivate stakeholders to

Influencing perform the tasks required for a project to Module 3 Introduction
be successful

The first phase in the project lifecycle is

where the manager develops the project Project Management
Initiation Phase
charter and stakeholder register, and the Phases
sponsor approves them.
 The 12 Principles of
A formal process to manage project
Integrated Change Control Project Management
change.
Scenario

Defined as any dependency within the

Internal Dependency Schedule Planning
team's ability to control.

The discount rate that makes the net

Internal Rate of Return
present value (NPV) of a project zero, Key Financial Metrics
(IRR)
measured as a percentage

Obtain information from stakeholders by

Interviewing Influencing for Results
directly talking with them

A timed period where the team implements

an adaptive or agile project generally, Traditional Project
Iteration
timeboxed at 15 or 30 days, also known as Management
a sprint in scrum

An optimal lifecycle is when the deliverable

Traditional Project
Iterative frequency is low, and the anticipated
Management
project change is big.

A visual way to capture project status

Overview of Key Project
Kanban using boards that are visible to everyone
Management Models
on the team.

Meeting to present approved Project

Effective Meeting
Kick-Off Meeting Management Plan to stakeholders for
Management
acceptance.

An eight-step process for leading change

to transform organizations; is a top-down
Kotter Change Model Leading change
approach where the need originates at the
organization's top.
 Attitude, talent, character, and behaviors
The 12 Principles of
Leadership influence individuals to achieve desired
Project Management
outcomes.

A methodology that sets goals to reduce

Overview of Key Project
Lean waste, minimize resources, and improve
Management Models
delivery speed

Project closing activity that identifies and

shares what went well, what can be
Lessons Learned Project Budgets
approved, and what recommended
changes

Project Management
A series of phases that a project passes
Lifecycle Models and
through from start to completion.
Methodologies

A model project managers use to identify

where quality issues may occur; in this
Logical Data Model model, managers define a problem and Managing quality
brainstorm potential factors impacting the
problem

More than 50% of all voting members must

Majority Decision Making
approve.

The project team may request

Management Reserves Management Reserves to support Budget Planning
unknown risks.

Dependencies legally or contractually

Mandatory Dependency Schedule Planning
required or inherent like work

This diagram shows the strength of

relationships between various factors.
Project managers use this diagram to
Matrix Diagram Managing quality
determine where strong and weak
relationships exist to make better-informed
decisions.
 It visually organizes information around a
Mind Mapping single quality concept. This is similar to Managing quality
affinity charting.

The fourth phase of the project lifecycle is

Monitoring and Project Management
where customers inspect for verification
Controlling Phase Phases
and validate deliverables

The process that initiates, guides, and The 12 Principles of

Motivation
maintains goal-oriented behaviors. Project Management

Weighted decision-making method

Multi-Criteria Decision involves choosing between options when
Decision Making
Analysis multiple criteria (or objectives) are
available for consideration.

Business analysts work closely with

organization leadership to identify
Needs Assessment opportunities assess the current state, Project Planning
determine the future state, and generate
solutions

The difference between the present value

of cash inflows and the present value of
Net Present Value (NPV) Key Financial Metrics
cash outflows over a period, measured in
dollars or other currency

A systematic approach to group

brainstorming promotes contributions
Nominal Group Technique from all participants and allows agreement Decision Making
on the importance of topics, problems, or
solutions.

OARP stands for owner, approver,

reviewers, and participants although not
OARP Decision Making
documented by the PMI. This is a useful
technique for making effective decisions.

The 12 Principles of
Opportunity A positive risk. Project Management
Scenario
 The possible benefits that a person,
Opportunity Cost investor, or company forgoes while Key Financial Metrics
deciding between two options.

An organizational model is sometimes

known as the silo; in this model, support is Different Types of
Organic or Functional
minimal, and a project manager may not be Organizations
assigned.

Involves using statistical data and

Parametric Estimation mathematical models to estimate the Project Budgets
costs and resources.

Time is required to recover the initial

investment cost; it is the break-even point
Payback Key Financial Metrics
at which the total investment equals the
total revenue.

The second phase of a project lifecycle is

where the manager and team accomplish Project Management
Planning Phase
all project planning; the key deliverable in Phases
this phase is the project management plan.

Largest group or segment determines the

Plurality Decision Making
final decision.

Values that all project managers must

The 12 Principles of
PMI Code of Ethics adopt; include responsibility, fairness,
Project Management
honesty, and respect

Helps the Project Manager plan effectively

Political Awareness based on the project environment as well Module 5
as the organization's political environment

An activity in a project network diagram

Predecessor Activity Schedule Planning
that precedes a successor activity
 A lifecycle where the manager determines
Project Management
project scope, schedules, and budgets
Predictive Models and
early in a project is best if delivery
Methodologies
requirements and change are low.

A group of individual processes in the

Project Management
project lifecycle which includes initiation,
Process Group Models and
planning, executing, monitoring and
Methodologies
controlling, and closing

Plan that identifies the overall project

Procurement
procurement management strategy for a Project Failure Overview
Management Plan
project

An adaptive role with the responsibility of

Project Management
maintaining the product backlog,
Product Owner Models and
developing user stories, and acting as the
Methodologies
voice of the customer

A brief synopsis of a project to familiarize

Introduction and the
Project Brief key stakeholders with the purpose,
Project Initiation Phase
benefits, and key objectives

A document that defines high-level scope,

schedule, and budget; once the sponsor Introduction and the
Project Charter
approves the project charter, project Project Initiation Phase
planning can begin.

These are the financial, time-phased

Project Funding
resources needed to complete a specific Project Budgets
Requirements
project.

An application of skills, knowledge, tools,

What Inspired Us to Create
Project Management and techniques to project activities to meet
this Course?
the project requirements

Also known as PMBOK, this shares proven

Project Management Body traditional practices that are widely applied Overview of Key Project
of Knowledge and innovative practices emerging in Management Models
project management.
 A management structure that standardizes
Project Management project-related governance processes and The Project Management
Office (PMO) facilitates sharing of resources, Office
methodologies, tools, and techniques.

A person assigned by an organization to

What Inspired Us to Create
Project Manager lead the team who is accountable for
this Course
project objectives

A sequenced flow of work packages

organised in the order of their completion.
Project Network Diagram Schedule Planning
There are annotations for each work
package and critical route.

Project Oriented Organizations whose primary focus is on Different Types of

Organizations managing projects. Organizations

A product or service that conforms to

Quality Module 3 Introduction
requirements and is fit for use.

The process of performing quality audits to

Quality Assurance (QA) ensure compliance with policies and Managing quality
standards; preventative in nature

The process of performing inspections to

Quality Control (QC) Managing quality
verify deliverables; corrective in nature

Describes how the team will implement The 12 Principles of

Quality Management Plan applicable policies, procedures, and Project Management
guidelines to achieve quality objectives. Scenario

Plan that defines how end-to-end project

Requirements
requirements will be planned and Module 5
Management Plan
documented. A "how to" plan
Reserves Funds set aside for potential risk events Budget Planning

The ability to absorb impacts and recover The 12 Principles of

Resiliency
quickly from a setback or failure Project Management

Tabular tool used to identify and track

Resource Breakdown resources requirements by Work
Project Planning
Structure Breakdown Structure (WBS) Code of
Account Identifier

Used to determine how well a company

Return on Invested Capital
allocates its capital to profitable projects Key Financial Metrics
(ROIC)
or investments measured as a percentage.

A percentage metric determines the

Return on Investment profitability of an investment. It determines Stakeholder Engagement
(ROI) the amount of investment return to the Plan
cost of the investment.

Any potential event, positive or negative,

Risk Project Failure Overview
can impact a project.

Plan that identifies the overall project risk The 12 Principles of

Risk Management Plan
management strategy for a project Project Management

A financial metric is defined in the early

stages of a project to estimate
Rough Order of Magnitude
approximate costs and determine project Project Budgets
(ROM)
feasibility. ROM estimates range from -75%
to +75%.

A method of classifying stakeholders by

Salience Model Module 3
power, urgency, and legitimacy.
 A diagram that shows the relationship
between two variables, Project Managers
Scatter Diagram Managing Quality
look for correlations or statistically
independent findings.

Plan that provides process and direction to

Schedule Management the team on how to define, develop,
Schedule Planning
Plan monitor, control, and validate the project
schedule. A "How to" plan

Schedule Performance Planning Earned Value

Earned Value Management Metric
Index (SPI) Management

Planning Earned Value

Schedule Variance (SV) Earned Value Management Metric
Management

Plan that defines how end-to-end project

Scope Management Plan scope will be planned and executed. A Scope Planning
"how to" plan

The most detailed version of the scope.

Scope Statement Allows for the development of a Work Scope Planning
Breakdown Structure (WBS)

A popular form of agile that the majority of Overview of Key Project

Scrum
agile practitioners use. Management Models

An adaptive role that trains and coaches

Overview of Key Project
Scrum Master the development team to adhere to all agile
Management Models
processes.

This acronym stands for Supplier, Input,

Process, Output, and Customer. SIPOC
SIPOC Managing Quality
shows the horizontal value chain for a
process from start to end.
 A collection of tools and techniques to Overview of Key Project
Six Sigma
improve processes Management Models

An individual who authorizes the project Stakeholder Engagement

Sponsor
and provides the required funding Plan Lab

A scrum term that defines a timed period

Project Management
where the team implements an adaptive or
Sprint Models and
agile project; generally, timeboxed at 15 or
Methodologies
30 days, also known as an iteration.

A project selection methodology developed

Project Management
by Ralph Stacey, this methodology bases
Stacey Method Models and
decisions on stakeholder acceptance and
Methodologies
complexity considerations.

Anyone interested in or impacted by a

Stakeholder Stakeholder Register
project.

A list of current and desired commitment

Stakeholder Engagement Stakeholder Engagement
levels, which includes unaware, neutral,
Assessment Matrix Plan
resistant, supportive, and leading

Planning document that identifies

Stakeholder Engagement stakeholders, current and desired Introduction and the
Plan commitment levels, and strategies to move Project Initiation Phase
stakeholders to desired levels

A method of classifying stakeholders by

Stakeholder Mapping Module 4
power and interest

A list of key stakeholders by assigned roles

Stakeholder Register Stakeholder Register
and responsibilities to support a project
 One who shows integrity, care, compliance, The 12 Principles of
Stewardship
and trustworthiness. Project Management

The project manager has more power than

the functional manager, can make Different Types of
Strong Matrix
decisions on the allocation of resources, Organizations
and has a great deal of control.

Subject Matter Expert An individual who possesses knowledge

Project Budgets
(SME) and expertise critical to project success

An activity in a project network diagram

Successor Activity Schedule Planning
that follows a predecessor activity

Low level of control (decision-making) but

The Project Management
Supportive PMO does provide best practices, common
Office
oversight, and templates.

A set of interacting and independent

The 12 Principles of
System components that function as a unified
Project Management
whole

Determining which processes are required The 12 Principles of

Tailoring
to plan and implement a project effectively Project Management

The 12 Principles of
Threat A negative risk. Project Management
Scenario

Adds the optimistic, most likely, and

pessimistic estimates and averages them.
Three-Point Averaging Budget Planning
Another name for this method is triangular
distribution
 An estimation method that considers
pessimistic, optimistic, and most likely
Three-Point Estimation Budget Planning
estimates and calculates them
mathematically to achieve an estimation.

The PERT (Program Evaluation Review

Technique) method weights the optimistic,
Three-Point PERT Budget Planning
most likely, and pessimistic estimates
based on statistical norms

A concept stating that the value of a

Time Value of Money Key Financial Metrics
currency decreases over time.

Top Down Estimation See Analogous Estimation Project Budgets

Plan used to track the evolution of product

Traceability Matrix development from conception through Project Planning
launch

A list of principles that serve as

Twelve Principles of
foundational guidelines for strategy, Module 3 Introduction
Project Management
decision-making, and problem-solving

The business objectives and intended The 12 Principles of

Value
benefits of a project. Project Management

A process that identifies and improves the

Value Added Analysis benefits and attributes of a product or Project Budgets
service that appeal to the customer.

Opportunities for stakeholders to interact Project Management in

Virtual Communications
using communications technology the Virtual Environment
 A popular method of collective decision-
making. This method helps the manager
Voting make decisions effectively in certain Decision Making
situations by allowing democratic
participation and representation.

A list of tasks associated with work

WBS Dictionary Scope Planning
package completion

The project manager works directly for a

functional manager. The role is a project
Different Types of
Weak Matrix coordinator with limited power or project
Organizations
expediter as strictly a communications
lead.

A systematic forecasting method used to

Wideband Delphi
gather opinions of experts on a problem is Decision Making
Technique
through questionnaires or mail

A hierarchical breakout of all work

Work Breakdown
packages by phase is required to complete Scope Planning
Structure (WBS)
a project successfully

The lowest level of activity in a Work

Work Package Project Support Planning
Breakdown Structure (WBS)