Project management definitions


Project - a temporary set of actions which aim to create a unique, final deliverable.

Deliverable - a tangible, verifiable outcome of a project or a project phase.

Project management - the knowledge of planning, organizing, and managing project related resources in the effort to successfully achieve the project objectives.

Project stakeholders - individuals and organizations whose interests are affected by or exert influence over the project evolution (e.g. sponsors, customers, project manager, team members).

Constraints - restrictions that affect the project limiting the options about scope, resources and schedule.

Assumptions - factors considered to be true in the planning phase.

Project charter - a written summary of the scope, objectives and stakeholders, that formally authorizes the project.

Work breakdown structure (WBS) – a comprehensive, deliverable-oriented decomposition of the project scope.

Gantt chart - a graphic representation of the project components showing their dates and dependencies (developed in 1915 by an american engineer, Henry Gantt).

Critical path - the sequence of activities for which the slightest delay will influence the end of the project.

Milestone – a key event marking the end of a major stage of a project.