Term |
Definition |
| Closure |
The last phase of a project life cycle -- resources are released, contracts are closed, deliverables are accepted by the customer, lessons learned are documented, project team celebrates. |
| Contingency Plan |
An alternative for action if things don't go as planned or if an expected result fails to materialize. |
| Deliverable |
A report of product that must be completed to ensure satisfaction of project requirements. |
| Dependencies |
A relation between project activities, such that one requires input from the other. The relationship can exist within a single project or across a suite of projects. |
| Duration |
The "calendar" time from the time a task is started to the time the task is completed, usually expressed in hours, days, weeks, etc.. This is not usually the same as the amount of labor (person-hours) needed to complete a task. |
| Goals |
Project performance indicators set at the beginning of the project that reflect directly on the key objectives of the project and provide the basis for ratings during project status appraisals. |
| Governance |
The processes, decision rights, and accountability at various levels of the institution to manage ITS functions. |
| Initiative |
Those endeavors with impact and benefit beyond the sponsoring division. They may have external stakeholders, be influenced by strategic planning or require external resources for success. |
| Issue |
A formally defined matter that may impede progress of a program or project. |
| Labor (or Effort) |
The amount of "work" associated with completing a task, usually expressed in person-hours. Think of it as the amount of time it would take for one person to do a task in one continuous period without interruption. |
| Launch |
The process of preparing for, assembling resources and getting work started. It is the process of committing an organization to begin a project. |
| Phase gate |
Approval points during a project lifecycle phase where decisions are made to move the project to the next phase or to closure. |
| PMBOK |
Project Management Book Of Knowledge - The high-level guide to project management methodology published by the Project Management Institute (PMI). |
| Portfolio Management |
Process by which a set of campus initiatives are identified, evaluated, ranked matched to available resources and approved for implementation |
| Program |
Group of related projects addressing a common business goal or initiative |
| Program Management |
Means by which multiple projects are managed to achieve a common strategic business goal or objective. |
| Project |
A group of related work activities organized under the direction of a project manager which, when carried out, will achieve specified objectives within a stated timeframe. |
| Project change control |
The review, approval, disapproval, implementation, tracking, closure, and status reporting of proposed changes to project deliverables. |
| Project Charter Document |
A document consisting of a problem, opportunity statement, background, purpose, and benefits, goals and objectives, scope, assumptions, and constraints. |
| Project Life Cycle |
The complete history of a project through its define, plane, launch, manage, and close phases. |
| Project Management |
Application of modern management techniques to execute a project from start to finish, achieve predetermined objectives of scope, quality, time and cost, to the equal satisfaction of those involved. |
| PM Framework |
A set of general project activities and deliverables mapped into the 5 phases of the project lifecycle. |
| Project Proposal |
A document consisting of a problem/opportunity statement, including background, purpose, and benefits, a goal, objectives, scope, assumptions and constraints. A Project Proposal clearly documents project definition in order to bring a project team into necessary agreement. |
| Risk |
The cumulative effect of the chances of uncertain occurrences adversely affecting project objectives. |
| Risk Management |
Identifies potential risks and defines appropriate mitigation strategies. |
| Scope |
Bounded set of measurable deliverables of a project. |
| Scope creep |
On-going requirements increase without corresponding adjustment of approved cost and schedule allowances via change management process. |
| Sponsor |
Individual(s) with ultimate authority, approval, and responsibility for a project. |
| Stakeholders |
Campus community member affected by or participating in a project. One who has a stake or interest in the outcome of the project. Also one who is affected by the project. |
