Term
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Definition
| A set of conditions that are met before deliverables are accepted |
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Term
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Definition
| A distinct, scheduled portion of work performed during the course of a project. |
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Term
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Definition
| An alphanumeric value assigned to each activity that enables classifying, sorting, and filtering. |
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Term
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Definition
| A unique alphanumeric value assigned to an activity and used to differentiate that activity from other activities |
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Term
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Definition
| A phrase that names and describes an activity |
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Term
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Definition
| The realized cost incurred for the work performed on an activity during a specific time period |
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Term
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Definition
| A technique for estimating the duration or cost of an activity or a project using historical data from a similar activity or project |
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Term
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Definition
| An activity where effort is allotted proportionately across certain discrete efforts and not divisible into discrete efforts. |
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Term
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Definition
| A factor in the planning process considered to be true, real, or certain, without proof or demonstration |
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Term
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Definition
| A critical path method technique for calculating the late start and late finish dates by working backward through the schedule model from the project end date |
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Term
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Definition
| The approved version of a work product that can be changed using formal change control procedures and is used as the basis for comparison to actual results |
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Term
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Definition
| A method of estimating project duration or cost by aggregating the estimates of the lower-level components of the work breakdown structure (WBS). |
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Term
| Budget at Completion (BAC). |
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Definition
| The sum of all budgets established for the work to be performed |
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Term
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Definition
| A process whereby modifications to documents, deliverables, or baselines associated with the project are identified, documented, approved, or rejected |
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Term
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Definition
| A formally chartered group responsible for reviewing, evaluating, approving, delaying, or rejecting changes to the project, and for recording and communicating such decisions |
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Term
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Definition
| A set of procedures that describes how modifications to the project deliverables and documentation are managed and controlled. |
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Term
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Definition
| A formal proposal to modify any document, deliverable, or baseline |
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Term
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Definition
| A numbering system used to uniquely identify each component of the work breakdown structure |
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Term
| Communications Management Plan |
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Definition
| A component of the project, program, or portfolio management plan that describes how, when, and by whom information will be administered and disseminated |
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Term
| Configuration Management System |
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Definition
| A collection of procedures used to track project artifacts and monitor and control changes to these artifacts. |
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Term
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Definition
| A limiting factor that affects the execution of a project, program, portfolio, or process |
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Term
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Definition
| A document describing actions that the project team can take if predetermined trigger conditions occur. |
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Term
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Definition
| Time or money allocated in the schedule or cost baseline for known risks with active response strategies |
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Term
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Definition
| A management control point where scope, budget, actual cost, and schedule are integrated and compared to earned value for performance measurement |
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Term
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Definition
| An intentional activity that realigns the performance of the project work with the project management plan. |
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Term
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Definition
| The approved version of work package cost estimates and contingency reserve that can be changed using formal change control procedures and is used as the basis for comparison to actual results |
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Term
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Definition
| A component of a project or program management plan that describes how costs will be planned, structured, and controlled |
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Term
| Cost Performance Index (CPI). |
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Definition
| A measure of the cost efficiency of budgeted resources expressed as the ratio of earned value to actual cost. |
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Term
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Definition
| 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 |
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Term
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Definition
| A schedule compression technique used to shorten the schedule duration for the least incremental cost by adding resources. |
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Term
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Definition
| A schedule method that allows the project team to place buffers on any project schedule path to account for limited resources and project uncertainties. |
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Term
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Definition
| The sequence of activities that represents the longest path through a project, which determines the shortest possible duration |
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Term
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Definition
| Any activity on the critical path in a project schedule. See also critical path and critical path method. |
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Term
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Definition
| A method used to estimate the minimum project duration and determine the amount of scheduling flexibility on the logical network paths within the schedule model |
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Term
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Definition
| A point in time when the status of the project is recorded. |
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Term
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Definition
| A diagramming and calculation technique for evaluating the implications of a chain of multiple options in the presence of uncertainty. |
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Term
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Definition
| A technique used for dividing and subdividing the project scope and project deliverables into smaller, more manageable parts. |
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Term
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Definition
| An intentional activity to modify a nonconforming product or product component |
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Term
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Definition
| Any unique and verifiable product, result, or capability to perform a service that is produced to complete a process, phase, or project. |
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Term
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Definition
| An activity that can be planned and measured and that yields a specific output |
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Term
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Definition
| The total number of work periods required to complete an activity or work breakdown structure component, expressed in hours, days, or weeks |
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Term
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Definition
| In the critical path method, the earliest possible point in time when the uncompleted portions of a schedule activity can finish based on the schedule network logic, the data date, and any schedule constraints |
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Term
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Definition
| In the critical path method, the earliest possible point in time when the uncompleted portions of a schedule activity can start based on the schedule network logic, the data date, and any schedule constraints |
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Term
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Definition
| The measure of work performed expressed in terms of the budget authorized for that work |
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Term
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Definition
| A methodology that combines scope, schedule, and resource measurements to assess project performance and progress. |
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Term
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Definition
| The number of labor units required to complete a schedule activity or work breakdown structure component, often expressed in hours, days, or weeks |
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Term
| Enterprise Environmental Factors |
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Definition
| Conditions, not under the immediate control of the team, that influence, constrain, or direct the project, program, or portfolio. |
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Term
| Estimate at Completion (EAC) |
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Definition
| The expected total cost of completing all work expressed as the sum of the actual cost to date and the estimate to complete |
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Term
| Estimate to Complete (ETC) |
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Definition
| The expected cost to finish all the remaining project work |
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Term
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Definition
| A schedule compression technique in which activities or phases normally done in sequence are performed in parallel for at least a portion of their duration |
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Term
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Definition
| A logical relationship in which a successor activity cannot finish until a predecessor activity has finished |
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Term
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Definition
| A logical relationship in which a successor activity cannot start until a predecessor activity has finished |
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Term
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Definition
| A method of estimating earned value in which a specified percentage of the budget value of a work package is assigned to the start milestone and the remaining percentage is assigned when the work package is complete. |
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Term
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Definition
| A critical path method technique for calculating the early start and early finish dates by working forward through the schedule model from the project start date or a given point in time |
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Term
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Definition
| The amount of time that a schedule activity can be delayed without delaying the early start date of any successor or violating a schedule constraint |
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Term
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Definition
| An organizational structure in which staff is grouped by areas of specialization and the project manager has limited authority to assign work and apply resource |
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Term
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Definition
| A bar chart of schedule information where activities are listed on the vertical axis, dates are shown on the horizontal axis, and activity durations are shown as horizontal bars placed according to start and finish dates. |
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Term
| Human Resource Management Plan. |
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Definition
| A component of the project or program management plan that describes the roles and responsibilities, reporting relationships, and staff management |
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Term
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Definition
| A threat that has occurred |
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Term
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Definition
| The amount of time whereby a successor activity will be delayed with respect to a predecessor activity |
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Term
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Definition
| In the critical path method, the latest possible point in time when the uncompleted portions of a schedule activity can finish based on the schedule network logic, the project completion date, and any schedule constraints |
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Term
|
Definition
| In the critical path method, the latest possible point in time when the uncompleted portions of a schedule activity can start based on the schedule network logic, the project completion date, and any schedule constraints |
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Term
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Definition
| The amount of time whereby a successor activity can be advanced with respect to a predecessor activity |
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Term
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Definition
| The knowledge gained during a project which shows how project events were addressed or should be addressed in the future for the purpose of improving future performance. |
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Term
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Definition
| An activity that does not produce definitive end products and is measured by the passage of time. |
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Term
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Definition
| A dependency between two activities or between an activity and a milestone |
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Term
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Definition
| Time or money that management sets aside in addition to the schedule or cost baseline and releases for unforeseen work that is within the scope of the project. |
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Term
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Definition
| An organizational structure in which the project manager shares authority with the functional manager temporarily to assign work and apply resources |
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Term
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Definition
| A significant point or event in a project, program, or portfolio |
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Term
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Definition
| A type of schedule that presents milestones with planned dates |
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Term
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Definition
| An estimate of the most probable activity duration that takes into account all of the known variables that could affect performance |
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Term
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Definition
| An activity with a total float that is deemed to be low based on expert judgment |
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Term
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Definition
| A sequence of activities with low float which, if exhausted, becomes a critical path sequence for the project |
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Term
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Definition
| All activity dependencies in a project schedule network diagram |
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Term
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Definition
| A sequence of activities connected by logical relationships in a project schedule network diagram |
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Term
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Definition
| A point at which dependency lines connect on a schedule network diagram |
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Term
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Definition
| A risk that would have a positive effect on one or more project objectives |
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Term
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Definition
| An estimate of the shortest activity duration that takes into account all of the known variables that could affect performance |
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Term
| Organizational Breakdown Structure. |
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Definition
| A hierarchical representation of the project organization, which illustrates the relationship between project activities and the organizational units that will perform those activities |
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Term
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Definition
| Organizational Enabler. A structural, cultural, technological, or human-resource practice that the performing organization can use to achieve strategic objectives |
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Term
| Organizational Process Assets. |
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Definition
| Plans, processes, policies, procedures, and knowledge bases specific to and used by the performing organization. |
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Term
| Organizational Project Management. |
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Definition
| A framework in which portfolio, program, and project management are integrated with organizational enablers in order to achieve strategic objectives |
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Term
| Organizational Project Management Maturity. |
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Definition
| The level of an organization’s ability to deliver the desired strategic outcomes in a predictable, controllable, and reliable manner. |
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Term
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Definition
| An estimating technique in which an algorithm is used to calculate cost or duration based on historical data and project parameters |
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Term
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Definition
| A relationship in which a schedule activity has more than one predecessor |
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Term
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Definition
| A relationship in which a schedule activity has more than one successor |
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Term
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Definition
| An estimate expressed as a percent of the amount of work that has been completed on an activity or a work breakdown structure component |
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Term
| Performance Measurement Baseline. |
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Definition
| Integrated scope, schedule, and cost baselines used for comparison to manage, measure, and control project execution |
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Term
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Definition
| An enterprise whose personnel are the most directly involved in doing the work of the project or program |
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Term
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Definition
| An estimate of the longest activity duration that takes into account all of the known variables that could affect performance |
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Term
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Definition
| A review at the end of a phase in which a decision is made to continue to the next phase, to continue with modification, or to end a project or program |
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Term
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Definition
| The authorized budget assigned to scheduled work |
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Term
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Definition
| Projects, programs, subportfolios, and operations managed as a group to achieve strategic objectives |
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Term
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Definition
| The process of optimizing the mix of portfolio components to further the strategic objectives of the organization |
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Term
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Definition
| A document issued by a sponsor that authorizes and specifies the portfolio structure and links the portfolio to the organization’s strategic objectives |
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Term
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Definition
| The centralized management of one or more portfolios to achieve strategic objectives |
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Term
| Portfolio Management Plan. |
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Definition
| A document that specifies how a portfolio will be organized, monitored, and controlled |
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Term
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Definition
| The person or group assigned by the performing organization to establish, balance, monitor, and control portfolio components in order to achieve strategic business objectives |
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Term
| Precedence Diagramming Method. |
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Definition
| A technique used for constructing a schedule model in which activities are represented by nodes and are graphically linked by one or more logical relationships to show the sequence in which the activities are to be performed |
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Term
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Definition
| An activity that logically comes before a dependent activity in a schedule |
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Term
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Definition
| An intentional activity that ensures the future performance of the project work is aligned with the project management plan |
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Term
| Probability and Impact Matrix. |
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Definition
| A grid for mapping the probability of occurrence of each risk and its impact on project objectives if that risk occurs |
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Term
| Procurement Management Plan. |
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Definition
| A component of the project or program management plan that describes how a team will acquire goods and services from outside of the performing organization |
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Term
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Definition
| The series of phases that represent the evolution of a product, from concept through delivery, growth, maturity, and to retirement |
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Term
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Definition
| A group of related projects, subprograms, and program activities that are managed in a coordinated way to obtain benefits not available from managing them individually |
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Term
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Definition
| A document issued by a sponsor that authorizes the program management team to use organizational resources to execute the program and links the program to the organization’s strategic objectives |
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Term
| Program Evaluation and Review Technique (PERT). |
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Definition
| A technique used to estimate project duration through a weighted average of optimistic, pessimistic, and most likely activity durations when there is uncertainty with the individual activity estimates |
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Term
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Definition
| The application of knowledge, skills, tools, and techniques to a program to meet the program requirements and to obtain benefits and control not available by managing projects individually |
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Term
| Program Management Office. |
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Definition
| A management structure that standardizes the program-related governance processes and facilitates the sharing of resources, methodologies, tools, and techniques |
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Term
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Definition
| A document that integrates the program’s subsidiary plans and establishes the management controls and overall plan for integrating and managing the program’s individual components |
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Term
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Definition
| The person authorized by the performing organization to lead the team or teams responsible for achieving program objectives |
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Term
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Definition
| The iterative process of increasing the level of detail in a project management plan as greater amounts of information and more accurate estimates become available |
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Term
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Definition
| A temporary endeavor undertaken to create a unique product, service, or result |
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Term
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Definition
| The sum of work package cost estimates, contingency reserve, and management reserve |
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Term
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Definition
| A calendar that identifies working days and shifts that are available for scheduled activities |
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Term
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Definition
| A document issued by the project initiator or sponsor that formally authorizes the existence of a project and provides the project manager with the authority to apply organizational resources to project activities |
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Term
| Projectized Organization. |
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Definition
| An organizational structure in which the project manager has full authority to assign work and apply resources |
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Term
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Definition
| The series of phases that a project passes through from its initiation to its closure |
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Term
|
Definition
| The application of knowledge, skills, tools, and techniques to project activities to meet the project requirements |
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Term
| Project Management Office. |
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Definition
| A management structure that standardizes the project-related governance processes and facilitates the sharing of resources, methodologies, tools, and techniques |
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Term
|
Definition
| The document that describes how the project will be executed, monitored and controlled, and closed |
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Term
|
Definition
| The person assigned by the performing organization to lead the team that is responsible for achieving the project objectives |
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Term
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Definition
| A collection of logically related project activities that culminates in the completion of one or more deliverables |
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Term
|
Definition
| An output of a schedule model that presents linked activities with planned dates, durations, milestones, and resources. |
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Term
| Project Schedule Network Diagram. |
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Definition
| A graphical representation of the logical relationships among the project schedule activities |
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Term
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Definition
| The work performed to deliver a product, service, or result with the specified features and functions. |
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Term
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Definition
| The description of the project scope, major deliverables, assumptions, and constraints. |
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Term
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Definition
| A component of the project or program management plan that describes how an organization’s quality policies will be implemented |
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Term
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Definition
| The risk that remains after risk responses have been implemented |
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Term
| Resource Breakdown Structure. |
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Definition
| A hierarchical representation of resources by category and type |
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Term
|
Definition
| A calendar that identifies the working days and shifts upon which each specific resource is available |
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Term
|
Definition
| A resource optimization technique in which adjustments are made to the project schedule to optimize the allocation of resources and which may affect critical path |
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Term
| Resource Optimization Technique. |
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Definition
| A technique in which activity start and finish dates are adjusted to balance demand for resources with the available supply |
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Term
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Definition
| A resource optimization technique in which free and total float are used without affecting the critical path |
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Term
| Responsibility Assignment Matrix. |
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Definition
| A grid that shows the project resources assigned to each work package |
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Term
|
Definition
| A condition or capability that is required to be present in a product, service, or result to satisfy a contract or other formally imposed specification |
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Term
| Requirements Management Plan. |
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Definition
| A component of the project or program management plan that describes how requirements will be analyzed, documented, and managed |
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Term
| Requirements Traceability Matrix. |
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Definition
| A grid that links product requirements from their origin to the deliverables that satisfy them. |
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Term
|
Definition
| An uncertain event or condition that, if it occurs, has a positive or negative effect on one or more project objectives |
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Term
|
Definition
| A risk response strategy whereby the project team decides to acknowledge the risk and not take any action unless the risk occurs |
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Term
|
Definition
| The degree of uncertainty an organization or individual is willing to accept in anticipation of a reward |
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Term
|
Definition
| A risk response strategy whereby the project team acts to eliminate the threat or protect the project from its impact |
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Term
| Risk Breakdown Structure. |
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Definition
| A hierarchical representation of risks that is organized according to risk categories |
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Term
|
Definition
| A group of potential causes of risk |
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Term
|
Definition
| A risk response strategy whereby the project team acts to increase the probability of occurrence or impact of an opportunity |
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Term
|
Definition
| A risk response strategy whereby the project team acts to ensure that an opportunity occurs |
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Term
|
Definition
| An aggregate measure of the potential impact of all risks at any given point in time in a project, program, or portfolio. |
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Term
|
Definition
| A component of the project, program, or portfolio management plan that describes how risk management activities will be structured and performed |
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Term
|
Definition
| A risk response strategy whereby the project team acts to decrease the probability of occurrence or impact of a threat |
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Term
|
Definition
| The person responsible for monitoring the risk and for selecting and implementing an appropriate risk response strategy |
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Term
|
Definition
| A repository in which outputs of risk management processes are recorded |
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Term
|
Definition
| A risk response strategy whereby the project team allocates ownership of an opportunity to a third party who is best able to capture the benefit for the project |
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Term
|
Definition
| The level of risk exposure above which risks are addressed and below which risks may be accepted |
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Term
|
Definition
| The degree of uncertainty that an organization or individual is willing to withstand |
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Term
|
Definition
| A risk response strategy whereby the project team shifts the impact of a threat to a third party, together with ownership of the response |
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Term
|
Definition
| An iterative planning technique in which the work to be accomplished in the near term is planned in detail, while the work in the future is planned at a higher level |
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Term
|
Definition
| The approved version of a schedule model that can be changed using formal change control procedures and is used as the basis for comparison to actual results |
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Term
|
Definition
| A technique used to shorten the schedule duration without reducing the project scope |
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Term
| Schedule Management Plan. |
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Definition
| Schedule Management Plan. A component of the project or program management plan that establishes the criteria and the activities for developing, monitoring, and controlling the schedule |
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Term
|
Definition
| A representation of the plan for executing the project’s activities, including durations, dependencies, and other planning information, used to produce a project schedule along with other scheduling artifacts |
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Term
|
Definition
| A process used to investigate or analyze the output of the schedule model in order to optimize the schedule |
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Term
| Schedule Network Analysis. |
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Definition
| A technique to identify early and late start dates, as well as early and late finish dates, for the uncompleted portions of project activities |
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Term
| Schedule Performance Index (SPI). |
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Definition
| A measure of schedule efficiency expressed as the ratio of earned value to planned value |
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Term
|
Definition
| A measure of schedule performance expressed as the difference between the earned value and the planned value |
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Term
|
Definition
| The approved version of a scope statement, work breakdown structure (WBS), and its associated WBS dictionary that can be changed using formal change control procedures and is used as the basis for comparison to actual results |
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Term
|
Definition
| The uncontrolled expansion to product or project scope without adjustments to time, cost, and resources |
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Term
|
Definition
| A component of the project or program management plan that describes how the scope will be defined, developed, monitored, controlled, and validated |
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Term
|
Definition
| A technique used to indicate performance trends by using a graph that displays cumulative costs over a specific time period |
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Term
|
Definition
| A risk that arises as a direct result of implementing a risk response |
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Term
|
Definition
| An individual or a group that provides resources and support for the project, program, or portfolio, and is accountable for enabling success |
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Term
| Staffing Management Plan. |
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Definition
| A component of the human resource plan that describes when and how team members will be acquired and how long they will be needed |
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Term
|
Definition
| An individual, group, or organization that may affect, be affected by, or perceive itself to be affected by a decision, activity, or outcome of a project, program, or portfolio |
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Term
| Stakeholder Management Plan. |
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Definition
| A component of the project management plan that describes how stakeholders will be engaged in project decision making and execution |
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Term
|
Definition
| A logical relationship in which a successor activity cannot finish until a predecessor activity has started |
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Term
|
Definition
| A logical relationship in which a successor activity cannot start until a predecessor activity has started |
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Term
|
Definition
| A dependent activity that logically comes after another activity in a schedule |
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Term
|
Definition
| A group of related schedule activities aggregated and displayed as a single activity |
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Term
|
Definition
| A risk that would have a negative effect on one or more project objectives |
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Term
|
Definition
| A technique used to estimate cost or duration by applying an average or weighted average of optimistic, pessimistic, and most likely estimates when there is uncertainty with the individual activity estimates |
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Term
| To-Complete Performance Index (TCPI). |
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Definition
| A measure of the cost performance that is achieved with the remaining resources in order to meet a specified management goal, expressed as the ratio of the cost to finish the outstanding work to the remaining budget |
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Term
|
Definition
| The amount of time that a schedule activity can be delayed or extended from its early start date without delaying the project finish date or violating a schedule constraint. |
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Term
|
Definition
| An event or situation that indicates that a risk is about to occur |
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Term
|
Definition
| A technique for determining the cause and degree of difference between the baseline and actual performance |
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Term
| Variance at Completion (VAC). |
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Definition
| A projection of the amount of budget deficit or surplus, expressed as the difference between the budget at completion and the estimate at completion |
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Term
|
Definition
| A document that provides detailed deliverable, activity, and scheduling information about each component in the work breakdown structure |
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Term
| Weighted Milestone Method. |
|
Definition
| A method of estimating earned value in which the budget value of a work package is divided into measurable segments, each ending with a milestone that is assigned a weighted budget value |
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Term
| What-If Scenario Analysis. |
|
Definition
| The process of evaluating scenarios in order to predict their effect on project objectives |
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Term
|
Definition
| An immediate and temporary response to an issue, for which a prior response had not been planned or was not effective |
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Term
| Work Breakdown Structure (WBS). |
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Definition
| A hierarchical decomposition of the total scope of work to be carried out by the project team to accomplish the project objectives and create the required deliverables |
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Term
|
Definition
| The work defined at the lowest level of the work breakdown structure for which cost and duration can be estimated and managed. |
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