Glossary

0-9 | A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z

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3-point estimating

A method of securing consistent approaches to estimates by asking for best/most likely/worst

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A

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B

balanced scorecard

A strategic management approach that identifies four perspectives from which to view an organisation

baseline data

Measurements taken of the performance of the existing process or system before changes are introduced or implemented

baseline plan

The first agreed version of a plan against which progress will be measured

benchmark data

One or more performance indicators taken for comparison from another source, e.g. regional, national or a competitor or a similar project run elsewhere

benefit

A measurable improvement as a result of outcomes - normally do not manifest until some time has passed following implementation (see 'tangible', 'intangible', payback, performance indicator)

benefits manager

Also known as business change manager

blueprint

Documented description of a desired state

Boston Matrix

Management tool (developed by Boston Consulting Group) for measuring long term prospects of products/market sectors

brief

Project brief/programme brief - this document contains brief information about the background and context of a project/programme

business case

Document setting out what you intend to do, why, what options exist and how the achievement will be measured

business change manager

The person responsible for realisation of benefits who normally leads the change management aspects of a programme

business process

A methodology for a set of activities and/or transactions that together perform a major function

boundary

See stage boundaries

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C

CAMEL

Collaborative Approaches to the Management of e-Learning - www.jiscinfonet.ac.uk/camel

change agent

Someone whose task is to realise benefits by embedding outcomes into normal routine operations

contingency budget

An amount of money set aside for use in the event of specifically identified risks turning into issues

contingency plan

An alternative plan designed to be used in the event of a high-impact risk turning into an issue

critical path

The route through a plan with the least or no spare or float time

customer

In project terms, the team(s) and/or organisation(s) who expect to gain benefits from the outputs of the project

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D

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E

exception

As in 'managing by exception' - a variance from the planned or expected

executive

Chair of the Project Board in PRINCE2 terminology

executive dashboard

A strategic management tool, based on the balanced scorecard, developed by Oracle Systems and Liverpool John Moores University

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F

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

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G

Gantt chart

A commonly used method of diagrammatically showing a plan, invented by Henry Gantt

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H

handover

The point at which a project delivers its outputs and they are used in an operational manner - responsibility normally changes hands at this point

highlight report

Also known as Status report

HR

Human Resources

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I

ICT

Information and Communications Technology

ILT

Information and Learning Technology

intangible

Subjective, a matter of opinion, measurable only in terms of surveying reactions e.g. better, more fun, happier

issue

An event that has occurred that impacts on objectives for good or bad

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J

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K

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L

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M

managing by exception

A way of ensuring senior management involvement only where necessary

mandate

The authorisation to start up a programme or project

milestone

A point at which a project achieves something significant

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N

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O

outcome

The changes and or learning that accrue from co-ordinated outputs, normally as a result of implementing policy

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P

payback

Benefit/return gained from an action

performance indicator (PI)

A descriptor for a qualitative or quantitative measurement - PIs require baseline or benchmark PIs for useful comparison

phase

An identifiable period of a project ending with a milestone - e.g. procurement phase, testing phase

project initiation document (PID)

A highly detailed and refined version of the Project Brief

PRINCE2

Projects In a Controlled Environment - a popular project management methodology

process

A transformation of input(s) into a different form of output(s)

product-based planning

A method of planning by thinking of the major output of the project as a product and its component breakdown

programme

A management framework for co-ordinating projects to deliver outcomes and benefits

project

A particular way of managing activities to deliver specified outputs

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Q

Q&A

Questions and Answers

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R

R&D

Research & Development

risk

A future event or series of events with a probability for impact on objectives for good or bad

ROI

Return on investment

rolling wave

Another name for sliding planning window

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S

scope

The definition of what is included in the project

scope creep

Addition of other items to an originally agreed project scope

senior responsible owner (SRO)

Senior Manager with ultimate responsibility for a programme

senior supplier

Nominated representative of a supplier group who represents the group on the project board

senior user

Nominated representative of a user group who represents the group on the project board

sliding planning window

The concept of continually planning in detail only as far as you can reasonably expect to be able to foresee events

sponsor

Chair of the Project Board (Executive in PRINCE2 terminology)

stakeholder

An individual or organisation with the capability to impact on your objectives

stage

An agreed period of time in a project during which the project board is not scheduled to meet

stage boundaries

The points at which the project board reviews and authorises continuity or early closure of a project

status report

Also known as Highlight report

supplier

An individual or organisation supplying goods, services, skills, knowledge, or physical or mental effort in order to progress the project

supplier group

A meeting of suppliers to a project

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T

tangible

Measurable by objective means - a number, a percentage, an existence

tolerance

Upper and lower limits of expenditure or timescale beyond which further authorisation is required

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U

user

Someone who will use first hand, or will access output from, the outcomes of your project or programme

UAT

User Acceptance Testing - a process undertaken to formally assess the quality and fitness for purpose of a product

user group

A meeting of users normally required where different interests are to be served by the output from a project

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V

VLE

Virtual Learning Environment

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W

wiki

Website that can be edited and updated collaboratively

work package

A block of work making up part of a project, delegated by the project manager to someone else

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X

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Y

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Z

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