PMBOK Definitions

Acceptance Criteria

A set of conditions that is required to be met before deliverables are accepted.

Accuracy

Within the quality management system, accuracy is an assessment of correctness.

Activity List.

A documented tabulation of schedule activities that shows the activity description, activity identifier, and a sufficiently detailed scope of work description so project team members understand what work is to be performed.

Actual Cost (AC).

The realized cost incurred for the work performed on an activity during a specific time period.

Adaptive Approach.

A development approach in which the requirements are subject to a high level of uncertainty and volatility and are likely to change throughout the project.

Affinity Diagram.

A diagram that shows large numbers of ideas classified into groups for review and analysis.

Affinity Grouping.

The process of classifying items into similar categories or collections on the basis of their likeness.

Agile.

A term used to describe a mindset of values and principles as set forth in the Agile Manifesto.

Alternatives Analysis.

A method used to evaluate identified options in order to select the options or approaches to use to perform the work of the project.

Ambiguity.

A state of being unclear, having difficulty in identifying the cause of events, or having multiple options from which to choose.

Analogous Estimating.

A method for estimating the duration or cost of an activity or a project using historical data from a similar activity or project.

Artifact.

A template, document, output, or project deliverable.

Assumption.

A factor in the planning process that is considered to be true, real, or certain, without proof or demonstration.

Assumption and Constraint Analysis.

An assessment that ensures assumptions and constraints are integrated into the project plans and documents, and that there is consistency among them.

Assumption Log.

A project document used to record all assumptions and constraints throughout the project.

Authority.

The right to apply project resources, expend funds, make decisions, or give approvals.

Backlog.

An ordered list of work to be done. (Agile)

Backlog Refinement.

Progressive elaboration of the content in the backlog and (re)prioritization of it to identify the work that can be accomplished in an upcoming iteration.

Baseline.

The approved version of a work product, used as a basis for comparison to actual results.

Basis of Estimates.

Supporting documentation outlining the details used in establishing project estimates such as assumptions, constraints, level of detail, ranges, and confidence levels.

Benchmarking.

The comparison of actual or planned products, processes, and practices to those of comparable organizations to identify best practices, generate ideas for improvement, and provide a basis for measuring performance.

Benefits Management Plan.

The documented explanation defining the processes for creating, maximizing, and sustaining the benefits provided by a project or program.

Bid Documents.

All documents used to solicit information, quotations, or proposals from prospective sellers.

Bidder Conference.

The meetings with prospective sellers prior to the preparation of a bid or proposal to ensure all prospective vendors have a clear and common understanding of the procurement. Also known as contractor conferences, vendor conferences, or pre-bid conferences.

Budget.

The approved estimate for the project or any work breakdown structure (WBS) component or any schedule activity.

Budget at Completion (BAC).

The sum of all budgets established for the work to be performed.

Burn Chart.

A graphical representation of the work remaining in a timebox or the work completed

toward the release of a product or project deliverable.

Business Case.

A value proposition for a proposed project that may include financial and

nonfinancial benefits.

Business Model Canvas.

A one-page, visual summary that describes the value proposition, infrastructure, customers, and finances. These are often used in Lean Startup situations.

Business Value.

The net quantifiable benefit derived from a business endeavor that may be tangible, intangible, or both.

Cadence.

A rhythm of activities conducted throughout the project.

Cause-and-Effect Diagram.

A visual representation that helps trace an undesirable effect back to its root cause.

Change.

A modification to any formally controlled deliverable, project management plan component, or project document.

Change Control.

A process whereby modifications to documents, deliverables, or baselines associated with the project are identified, documented, approved, or rejected.

Change Control Board (CCB).

A formally chartered group responsible for reviewing, evaluating, approving, delaying, or rejecting changes to the project, and for recording and communicating such decisions.

Change Control Plan.

A component of the project management plan that establishes the change control board, documents the extent of its authority, and describes how the change control system will be implemented.

Change Control System.

A set of procedures that describes how modifications to the project

deliverables and documentation are managed and controlled.

Change Log

A comprehensive list of changes submitted during the project and their current status

Change Management

A comprehensive, cyclic, and structured approach for transitioning individuals,

groups, and organizations from a current state to a future state with intended business benefits.

Change Request

A formal proposal to modify a document, deliverable, or baseline.

Check Sheet.

A tally sheet that can be used as a checklist when gathering data.

Closing Process Group

The process(es) performed to formally complete or close a project, phase,

or contract.

Communications Management Plan.

A component of the project, program, or portfolio

management plan that describes how, when, and by whom information about the project will be

administered and disseminated.

Complexity

A characteristic of a program or project or its environment that is difficult to manage

due to human behavior, system behavior, and ambiguity.

Confirmation Bias

A type of cognitive bias that confirms preexisting beliefs or hypotheses.

Conformance.

The degree to which the results meet the set quality requirements.

Constraint.

A limiting factor that affects the execution of a project, program, portfolio, or process.

Contingency.

An event or occurrence that could affect the execution of the project, which may be

accounted for with a reserve.

Contingency Reserve.

Time or money allocated in the schedule or cost baseline for known risks with

active response strategies.

Continuous Delivery

The practice of delivering feature increments immediately to customers, often

through the use of small batches of work and automation technology.

Contract.

A mutually binding agreement that obligates the seller to provide the specified product,

service, or result and obligates the buyer to pay for it.

Control.

The process of comparing actual performance with planned performance, analyzing

variances, assessing trends to effect process improvements, evaluating possible alternatives, and

recommending appropriate corrective action as needed

Control Chart.

A graphic display of process data over time and against established control limits,

which has a centerline that assists in detecting a trend of plotted values toward either control limit.

Cost Baseline.

The approved version of the time-phased project budget, excluding any management

reserves, which can be changed only through formal change control procedures and is used as a basis

for comparison to actual results.

Cost-Benefit Analysis

A financial analysis method used to determine the benefits provided by

a project against its costs.

Cost Management Plan.

A component of a project or program management plan that describes

how costs will be planned, structured, and controlled.

Cost of Quality (COQ).

All costs incurred over the life of the product by investment in preventing

nonconformance to requirements, appraisal of the product or service for conformance to requirements,

and failure to meet requirements.

Cost Performance Index (CPI).

A measure of the cost efficiency of budgeted resources expressed

as the ratio of earned value to actual cost.

Cost Plus Award Fee Contract (CPAF).

A category of contract that involves payments to the seller for

all legitimate actual costs incurred for completed work, plus an award fee representing seller profit.

Cost Plus Fixed Fee Contract (CPFF)

A type of cost-reimbursable contract where the buyer

reimburses the seller for the seller’s allowable costs (allowable costs are defined by the contract)

plus a fixed amount of profit (fee).

Cost Plus Incentive Fee Contract (CPIF).

A type of cost-reimbursable contract where the buyer

reimburses the seller for the seller’s allowable costs (allowable costs are defined by the contract),

and the seller earns its profit if it meets defined performance criteria.

Cost-Reimbursable Contract.

A type of contract involving payment to the seller for the seller’s

actual costs, plus a fee typically representing the seller’s profit.

Cost Variance (CV).

The amount of budget deficit or surplus at a given point in time, expressed

as the difference between the earned value and the actual cost.

Crashing.

A method used to shorten the schedule duration for the least incremental cost by

adding resources.

Criteria.

Standards, rules, or tests on which a judgment or decision can be based or by which

a product, service, result, or process can be evaluated.

Critical Path.

The sequence of activities that represents the longest path through a project, which

determines the shortest possible duration.

Critical Path Method (CPM).

A method used to estimate the minimum project duration and

determine the amount of schedule flexibility on the logical network paths within the schedule model.

Cumulative Flow Diagram (CFD).

A chart indicating features completed over time, features in other

states of development, and those in the backlog.

Cycle Time.

The total elapsed time from the start of a particular activity or work item to its completion.

Cycle Time Chart

A diagram that shows the average cycle time of the work items completed

over time.

Daily Standup.

A brief, daily collaboration meeting in which the team reviews progress from the

previous day, declares intentions for the current day, and highlights any obstacles encountered

or anticipated.

Dashboard.

A set of charts and graphs showing progress or performance against important

measures of the project.

Data Gathering and Analysis Methods.

Methods used to collect, assess, and evaluate data and

information to gain a deeper understanding of a situation.

Decision Tree Analysis

A diagramming and calculation method for evaluating the implications

of a chain of multiple options in the presence of uncertainty.

Decomposition.

A method used for dividing and subdividing the project scope and project

deliverables into smaller, more manageable parts.

Definition of Done (DoD).

A checklist of all the criteria required to be met so that a deliverable can

be considered ready for customer use.

Deliverable.

Any unique and verifiable product, result, or capability to perform a service that is

required to be produced to complete a process, phase, or project.

Delivery Performance Domain

The performance domain that addresses activities and functions

associated with delivering the scope and quality that the project was undertaken to achieve.

Development Approach.

A method used to create and evolve the product, service, or result during

the project life cycle, such as a predictive, adaptive, or hybrid method.

Development Approach and Life Cycle Performance Domain.

The performance domain that

addresses activities and functions associated with the development approach, cadence, and life cycle

phases of the project.

DevOps.

A collection of practices for creating a smooth flow of deliveries by improving collaboration

between development and operations staff.

Digital Product.

A product or service that is delivered, used, and stored in an electronic format.

Discretionary Dependency.

A relationship that is based on best practices or project preferences.

Duration.

The total number of work periods required to complete an activity or work breakdown

structure component, expressed in hours, days, or weeks. Contrast with effort.

Earned Value (EV).

The measure of work performed expressed in terms of the budget authorized

for that work.

Earned Value Analysis (EVA).

An analysis method that uses a set of measures associated with scope,

schedule, and cost to determine the cost and schedule performance of a project.

Effort

The number of labor units required to complete a schedule activity or work breakdown

structure component, often expressed in hours, days, or weeks. Contrast with duration.

Emotional Intelligence

The ability to identify, assess, and manage the personal emotions of oneself

and other people, as well as the collective emotions of groups of people.

Enterprise Environmental Factors (EEF).

Conditions, not under the immediate control of the team,

that influence, constrain, or direct the project, program, or portfolio.

Epic.

A large, related body of work intended to hierarchically organize a set of requirements and

deliver specific business outcomes.

Estimate.

A quantitative assessment of the likely amount or outcome of a variable, such as project

costs, resources, effort, or durations.

Estimate at Completion (EAC).

The expected total cost of completing all work expressed as the sum

of the actual cost to date and the estimate to complete.

Estimate to Complete (ETC).

The expected cost to finish all the remaining project work.

Estimating Methods

Methods used to develop an approximation of work, time, or cost on a project.

Executing Process Group.

Those processes performed to complete the work defined in the project

management plan to satisfy the project requirements.

Expected Monetary Value (EMV).

The estimated value of an outcome expressed in monetary terms.

Explicit Knowledge

Knowledge that can be codified using symbols such as words, numbers,

and pictures.

External Dependency.

A relationship between project activities and non-project activities.

Fast Tracking.

A schedule compression method in which activities or phases normally done

in sequence are performed in parallel for at least a portion of their duration.

Feature

A set of related requirements or functionalities that provides value to an organization.