LCPS Project Management Academy - Cohort 2

Executive Sponsor

Responsible for overseeing the strategic vision for implementing the project within LCPS.

Key Stakeholder

Groups, units, individuals, or organizations impacted by, or can impact, the outcomes of the project/program.

Project Manager

Develops and monitors the project plan, manages risks, and reports to key stakeholders and executive sponsors.

Project Owner

The leader of the department responsible for the ownership and implementation of the program.

Project Team

The group responsible for executing tasks and producing deliverables outlined in the project plan.

Steering Committee

Responsible for the work within their scope of control and champions the project within the organization.

Acceptance Criteria

A set of conditions established by the Key Stakeholders that must be met before deliverables are accepted.

Agile

An iterative approach that emphasizes flexibility and adaptation, with regular feedback and collaboration.

Business Case

Justifies the necessity of the project, explaining its strategic importance, anticipated benefits, and financial rationale.

Constraints

Things that might limit or negatively impact the outcome of the project, including resources, procurement issues, timing, or lack of information

Critical Path

The longest sequence of activities in a project that determines the shortest possible duration to complete it.

Deliverable

Outcomes of project activities, which can be tangible or intangible, including products, services, or documentation.

Dependency

A series of tasks that are interrelated, with various types such as Finish-to-Start and Start-to-Finish.

Gantt Chart

A project management tool that illustrates work completed over time in relation to the planned schedule.

Gap Analysis

The comparison of actual performance with potential or desired performance; current state vs. desired future state.

Go Live

The moment when a new system, tool, process, or service is formally released for real-world use.

Go Live Meeting

A structured stakeholder check-in meeting held right before a system is launched into real-world use.

Go/No-Go

A formal decision point during a Go Live meeting where project leaders decide if the system is ready to Go Live.

Kanban

An agile project management methodology that uses a visual board to help teams manage and track work.

Lessons Learned

Documented insights and experiences gained throughout a project lifecycle to guide future projects.

Level of Effort

Refers to the amount of work required to support a project, typically measured in labor hours or staff days.

Milestone

A reference point that marks a significant event or a branching decision point within a project.

Network Diagram

A visual representation of project tasks, their relationships, and the sequence for completion.

Objectives

Targeted changes an organization is expected to achieve through a project, defined at the planning process's beginning.

Organizational Change Management

A structured approach to guiding individuals, teams, and entire organizations from their current state to a desired future state. It focuses on the "people side of change" by minimizing resistance, maximizing stakeholder buy-in, and ensuring smooth transitions during transformations.

Predictive Project Management

A traditional approach that uses a linear, sequential lifecycle with detailed upfront planning to deliver a unique product, service, or result.

Program

A group of related projects, where combining them together creates extra benefits.

Project

A temporary endeavor undertaken to create a unique product, service, or result, with a clear start and end.

Project Charter

A formal, typically short document that describes your project in its entirety, including objectives, execution, and stakeholders.

Project Closure Report

A document that formalizes the closure of the project and requests sign-off from the Project Sponsor.

Project Kickoff Meeting

The initial meeting where all project stakeholders gather to discuss and solidify key project details.

Project Plan

A blueprint of the goals, objectives, and tasks that need to be accomplished for a specific project.

Project Portfolio

A collection of projects, programs, and operations that are managed as a group.

Project Scope

A key document that provides all stakeholders with a clear understanding of why the project was initiated and defines its key goals.

Project Timeline

A visual list of tasks or activities placed in chronological order.

RACI Matrix

A type of responsibility matrix that assists in alleviating role confusion by mapping out key activities and deliverables.

RAID Log

A project management tool that simplifies tracking a project's Risks, Assumptions, Issues, and Decisions.

Risk

Potential events or conditions that could negatively impact the project.

Assumption

Accepted as true without proof for the purpose of planning and decision-making.

Issue

Current problems or challenges that are actively affecting the project and require immediate attention.

Decision

Concrete choices made along the way that push a project to fruition.

Requirement

A specific, measurable, and documented condition that a project's final product or outcome must meet to be successful.

Scope Creep

When a project's requirements, features, or work expands beyond what was originally agreed upon.

Scrum

An Agile project management methodology involving a small team led by a Scrum master.

Triple Constraint

The three primary limitations that define any project: scope, time, and cost.

Waterfall

A predictive project management methodology that involves a linear, sequential process with clearly defined phases.

Work Breakdown Structure

A product-oriented 'family tree' of project components that organizes and defines the total scope of the project.

Project Statement of Work (SoW)

A detailed breakdown of all work to be performed by a project team and any important elements that may impact the outcome.

Scope exclusions

Anything that will not be part of the project or its deliverables