Plain-English definitions of the terms that recur in PMP study. Simplified for learning; PMI’s materials are authoritative.
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| Predictive (waterfall) | Planning the project in detail up front. |
| Agile | Delivering iteratively in short cycles with frequent feedback. |
| Hybrid | Combining predictive and agile approaches. |
| Servant leadership | Leading by supporting and removing blockers for the team. |
| Stakeholder | Anyone affected by or able to affect the project. |
| Scope | The work required to deliver the product. |
| Scope creep | Uncontrolled growth of scope. |
| WBS | Work Breakdown Structure — hierarchical decomposition of work. |
| Critical path | The longest sequence of dependent tasks; sets minimum duration. |
| Earned Value (EV) | The budgeted value of work actually completed. |
| Planned Value (PV) | The budgeted value of work planned. |
| Actual Cost (AC) | The real cost of work completed. |
| Risk | An uncertain event that could affect objectives. |
| Risk register | A log of identified risks and responses. |
| Sprint / iteration | A short, fixed cycle of agile delivery. |
| Product backlog | A prioritised list of work in agile. |
| Tailoring | Adapting the approach to the project’s needs. |
| Change control | A process for evaluating and approving changes. |
| Procurement | Acquiring goods or services from outside the team. |
| Lessons learned | Knowledge gained, captured for future projects. |
| Business value | The worth a project delivers to the organisation. |