CompTIA Project+ (PK0-005) Consolidated Master Study Guide Flashcards

Comprehensive vocabulary flashcards covering the CompTIA Project+ (PK0-005) exam domains, including frameworks, life cycles, scrum roles, team dynamics, scheduling mechanics, EVM formulas, IT infrastructure, and procurement.

Project

A temporary endeavor with a defined start and finish, unique objectives, and a specific purpose.

Programs

Groups of related projects managed together to achieve strategic benefits that wouldn't be realized by managing them individually.

Portfolios

High-level collections of projects and programs aligned with organizational strategic goals.

Project Lifecycle

The multi-phase sequence of transitions a single project progresses through from initiation to closing: Initiation → Planning → Execution → Closing.

Product Lifecycle

A strategic model tracking the lifespan of an asset from initial market conception to ultimate withdrawal, featuring phases: Introduction, Growth, Maturity, and Decline.

Waterfall (Predictive)

A linear, sequential approach where phases are completed in strict order and requires static, well-defined environments up front.

Agile (Adaptive)

An iterative approach emphasizing flexibility and customer value, delivering work in cycles called Sprints.

Kanban

A visual framework for continuous delivery that explicitly limits Work in Progress (WIP) to minimize multitasking and eradicate bottlenecks.

Extreme Programming (XP)

An agile software methodology targeting high-quality engineering through practices such as Pair Programming, Test-Driven Development (TDD), and Continuous Integration.

DevSecOps

A practice that integrates security, automated compliance checks, and threat modeling into the development pipeline from the outset ("Shift Left").

PRINCE2 (PRojects IN Controlled Environments)

A highly structured, process-driven project management methodology that emphasizes defined board/management roles and product-based planning.

Product Owner (PO)

The Scrum role that owns the overarching product value, manages and prioritizes the Product Backlog, and represents customer needs.

Scrum Master (SM)

A servant-leader and coach who clears operational obstacles, removes blockers, and protects the Scrum process.

Strong Matrix

An organizational structure where power is shared, but the Project Manager's power is greater than the Functional Manager's power.

Project Sponsor

The executive who provides funding, approves the charter, champions the project, and holds final escalatory authority.

Storming

The stage of team development where interpersonal conflicts arise as interaction patterns are established and members clash.

Collaborating/Problem Solving

A conflict resolution technique that incorporates multiple viewpoints to find an integrated solution that achieves true consensus (win-win).

Sprint Retrospective

An event held at the very end of a sprint for the team to inspect internal processes and implement improvements.

SWOT Analysis

Evaluation of internal Strengths and Weaknesses, and external Opportunities and Threats.

Project Charter

A document that formally authorizes a project's existence, defines high-level SMART objectives, and gives the PM authority to apply resources.

Scope Baseline

A set of baseline documents consisting of the Project Scope Statement, the Work Breakdown Structure (WBS), and the WBS Dictionary.

Scope Creep

The uncontrolled, organic expansion of scope without authorized changes to schedule or budget.

Gold Plating

When team members intentionally add unrequested features or quality enhancements without official approval.

RACI Chart

A task-level matrix defining roles by documenting who is Responsible, Accountable, Consulted, and Informed.

PERT Three-Point Estimate Formula

$$\text{PERT} = \frac{\text{Optimistic} + 4 \times \text{MostLikely} + \text{Pessimistic}}{6}$$

Critical Path

The longest sequence of dependent tasks which determines the absolute shortest project duration and features Zero Float.

Crashing

A schedule compression technique that adds human or capital resources to shorten task duration, thereby increasing cost.

Fast-Tracking

A schedule compression technique that performs sequential tasks in parallel to shorten timelines, which increases risk.

Communication Channels Formula

$$\text{Channels} = \frac{n(n - 1)}{2}$$

Cost Performance Index (CPI)

$\text{CPI} = \frac{EV}{AC}$ (where $< 1.0$ indicates being over budget/poor value).

Schedule Performance Index (SPI)

$\text{SPI} = \frac{EV}{PV}$ (where $< 1.0$ indicates being behind schedule).

Pareto Chart

A specialized histogram ranking issues by descending frequency using the $80/20$ Rule ($80\%$ of problems stem from $20\%$ of causes).

Control Chart

A chart tracking process variation against a mean and limits (Upper/Lower) to separate common cause variation from special cause variation.

Requirements Traceability Matrix (RTM)

A matrix linking raw business requirements directly to the project deliverables or testing parameters that fulfill them.

Capital Expenses (CapEx)

Investments in assets with long-term fixed structural value, such as hardware or physical facilities.

Black-Box Testing

Testing from an end-user perspective with zero view or access to source code paths or structural logic.

Regression Testing

Rerunning test suites post-patch to verify that updates did not break or corrupt existing baseline code.

Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS)

A cloud model offering virtualized raw hardware computing resources like servers, network channels, and storage.

Blue-Green Deployment

A release strategy utilizing two identical production environments to ensure seamless rollbacks and zero downtime.

Recovery Point Objective (RPO)

The maximum acceptable age of files that must be recovered from backup storage for operations to resume (tolerable data loss).

Recovery Time Objective (RTO)

The maximum tolerable duration of time a system can be down before unacceptable consequences occur.

Statement of Work (SOW)

A contractually binding document defining project work, timelines, parameters, and specific deliverables.

Firm-Fixed-Price (FFP)

A contract where a flat lump-sum payment is established for a locked scope, placing 100% of the financial risk on the seller.

Cost Plus Fixed Fee (CPFF)

A contract where the buyer reimburses actual costs plus a static fixed fee, placing 100% of the financial risk on the buyer.