Project Management Fundamentals - Vocabulary

Vocabulary flashcards covering key PMBOK and project management concepts.

PMBOK Guide

The PMI publication that defines widely accepted project management practices. The CAPM and the PMP exam are based on this book.

Application areas

Areas of expertise, industry, or function where a project is centered (e.g., architecture, IT, health care, manufacturing).

Business value

A quantifiable return on investment; can be tangible (equipment, money, market share) or intangible (brand recognition, trademarks, reputation).

CAPM

Certified Associate in Project Management; a person with slightly less experience than a PMP who has qualified for and passed the CAPM exam.

Cultural and social environment

Defines how a project affects people and how people may affect the project; includes economic, educational, ethical, religious, demographic, and ethnic factors.

Deliverable

A product, service, or result created by a project (projects can have multiple deliverables).

General management skills

Skills including accounting, procurement, sales and marketing, contracting, manufacturing, logistics, strategic planning, HR management, standards and regulations, and IT.

International and political environment

Consideration of local and international laws, languages, communication challenges, time zone differences, and non-collocated issues affecting progress.

Interpersonal skills

The ability to interact, lead, motivate, and manage people.

Iron Triangle of Project Management / Triple Constraints

A triangle with time, cost, and scope. All three must be balanced; otherwise the project suffers.

Physical environment

The physical structure and surroundings that affect a project’s work.

Process groups

A collection of related processes in project management; five groups: Initiating, Planning, Executing, Monitoring and Controlling, and Closing.

Program

A collection of related projects working in unison toward a common deliverable.

Progressive elaboration

The process of gathering project details using deductive reasoning, logic, and information-gathering techniques.

Project

A temporary endeavor to create a unique product, service, or result; the end result is called a deliverable.

Project benefits management plan

A document created and maintained by the project sponsor and manager; defines benefits, timing, and how benefits will be measured.

Project business case

Created and maintained by the project sponsor; shows the financial validity of why a project is chartered and launched; used as go/no-go decision point.

Project environment

Location and culture of the environment where the project work resides; includes social, economic, and environmental variables.

Project Management Institute (PMI)

An organization of project management professionals worldwide, supporting and promoting PM careers, values, and concerns.

Project life cycle

The phases that make up the project; unique to the type of work and not universal to all projects.

Project management office (PMO)

A central office that oversees all projects within an organization or department; provides support through software, training, templates, policies, and other services.

Project Management Professional (PMP)

A person who has proven project management experience and has passed the PMP examination.

Project portfolio management

The management and selection of projects that support an organization’s vision and mission; balances priority, risk, reward, and ROI; senior management process.

Subprojects

A smaller project managed within a larger parent project; often contracted work whose deliverable enables progress of the larger project.

Work performance data

Raw data, observations, and measurements about project components stored in the project management information system.

Work performance information

Processed and analyzed data that helps the project manager make decisions.

Work performance reports

Formatted communication of work performance information (e.g., status reports, memos, dashboards).