Engineering Project Management
Expert-defined terms from the Graduate Certificate in Engineering course at London School of Planning and Management. Free to read, free to share, paired with a globally recognised certification pathway.
**Activity Sequencing #
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The process of determining the order in which project activities will be execute… #
This is often depicted in a project schedule network diagram, which shows the dependencies between activities.
**Critical Path #
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The sequence of activities in a project schedule network diagram that determines… #
Any delay in a critical path activity will delay the project completion date.
**Earned Value Management (EVM) #
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A project management technique for measuring project performance and progress in… #
It involves comparing the value of work completed to the planned value and the actual cost of that work.
**Gantt Chart #
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A type of bar chart that illustrates a project schedule #
It shows the start and finish dates of individual activities and their dependencies.
**Integrated Change Control #
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The process of reviewing all change requests, approving or rejecting them, and m… #
The process of reviewing all change requests, approving or rejecting them, and managing the implementation of approved changes to minimize their impact on project scope, time, and cost.
**Monte Carlo Simulation #
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A statistical modeling technique used in project management to estimate the prob… #
It involves running multiple simulations of a project, using different assumptions about activity durations and other variables, to determine the range of possible outcomes.
**Network Diagram #
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A graphical representation of the sequence and dependencies of project activitie… #
It shows how activities are connected and the order in which they must be completed.
**Pareto Analysis #
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A technique used in project management to identify the most significant contribu… #
It involves ranking factors in order of their impact and focusing on the few that have the greatest impact.
**Project Charter #
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A document that formally authorizes the project and establishes the project mana… #
It includes the project's objectives, scope, and constraints.
**Quality Management #
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The process of ensuring that a project's products or services meet the required… #
It involves planning, controlling, and improving quality throughout the project.
**Resource Leveling #
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The process of adjusting the start and finish dates of project activities to ens… #
This helps to avoid overloading resources and ensures that the project can be completed within the available budget and time.
**Risk Management #
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The process of identifying, assessing, and controlling risks in a project #
It involves developing a risk management plan, monitoring and controlling risks, and taking corrective action when necessary.
**Scope Management #
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The process of defining, planning, controlling, and monitoring the work required… #
It involves developing a project scope statement, creating a work breakdown structure, and managing changes to the scope.
**Stakeholder Analysis #
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The process of identifying and evaluating the interests, influence, and impact o… #
It involves developing a stakeholder management plan to ensure that stakeholders' needs and expectations are met.
**Time Management #
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The process of planning, estimating, scheduling, and controlling the time requir… #
It involves developing a project schedule, monitoring progress, and taking corrective action when necessary.
**Triangular Constraint #
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The relationship between project scope, time, and cost #
The concept is that changes to one constraint will affect the other two. For example, increasing the project scope will require more time and/or resources, increasing the project cost.
**Value Engineering #
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A systematic approach to improving the value of a project by reducing costs whil… #
It involves analyzing the project's requirements, functions, and materials to identify opportunities for cost savings.
**Work Breakdown Structure (WBS) #
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A hierarchical decomposition of the total scope of work to be carried out by the… #
It provides a framework for planning, organizing, and managing the project.
**Earned Value Analysis (EVA) #
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A project management technique that compares the value of work completed to the… #
It provides objective measures of project performance and progress.
**Float #
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The amount of time that an activity can be delayed without affecting the project… #
It is the difference between the earliest start time and the latest start time of an activity.
**Gold Plating #
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The practice of adding extra features or functionality to a project beyond what… #
It can lead to project overruns and should be avoided.
**Lessons Learned #
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The knowledge and insights gained from a project that can be used to improve fut… #
It involves documenting successes, failures, and recommendations for improvement.
**Make #
or-Buy Decision:**
The process of deciding whether to produce or purchase a product or service requ… #
It involves evaluating the cost, quality, and time implications of both options.
**Network Path #
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A sequence of activities in a project schedule network diagram that connects two… #
It shows the order in which activities must be completed.
**Operational Planning #
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The process of developing detailed plans for how a project's products or service… #
It involves identifying the resources, procedures, and training required to ensure the long-term success of the project.
**Procurement Management #
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The process of acquiring goods, services, or resources from external sources for… #
It involves developing a procurement plan, identifying potential suppliers, soliciting bids, and managing contracts.
**Program Evaluation and Review Technique (PERT) #
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A statistical project management technique used to estimate the duration of acti… #
It involves determining the most likely, optimistic, and pessimistic durations for each activity and calculating the expected duration based on those estimates.
**Project Management Information System (PMIS) #
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**Project Management Office (PMO) #
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A centralized function that provides project management support, guidance, and o… #
It can be responsible for developing project management standards, providing training and resources, and monitoring project performance.
**Quality Assurance #
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The process of ensuring that a project's products or services meet the required… #
It involves developing a quality management plan, monitoring quality, and taking corrective action when necessary.
**Resource Allocation #
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The process of assigning resources to project activities #
It involves determining the resources required for each activity, scheduling their use, and monitoring their availability.
**Risk Identification #
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The process of identifying potential risks in a project #
It involves reviewing the project scope, objectives, and constraints to identify factors that could negatively impact the project.
**Schedule Compression #
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The process of shortening the duration of a project schedule without changing th… #
It involves techniques such as fast tracking and crashing.
**Stakeholder Communication #
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The process of communicating with project stakeholders to keep them informed and… #
It involves developing a stakeholder communication plan, identifying the appropriate communication channels, and delivering timely and accurate information.
**Triple Constraint #
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The relationship between project scope, time, and cost #
The concept is that changes to one constraint will affect the other two. For example, increasing the project scope will require more time and/or resources, increasing the project cost.
**Value Analysis #
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A systematic approach to improving the value of a project by reducing costs whil… #
It involves analyzing the project's requirements, functions, and materials to identify opportunities for cost savings.
**Work Package #
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The lowest level of a work breakdown structure #
It represents a discrete piece of work that can be estimated, scheduled, and managed as a single unit.
**Activity #
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A specific task or piece of work that must be completed as part of a project #
It has a defined start and end date and requires resources to complete.
**Baseline #
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The original plan for a project, including the project scope, schedule, and budg… #
It provides a reference point for measuring project performance and progress.
**Contingency Plan #
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A plan that outlines the actions to be taken in the event of a specific risk or… #
It provides a proactive approach to managing risks and minimizing their impact on the project.
**Critical Success Factors (CSFs) #
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The key areas that must be addressed for a project to be successful #
They provide a framework for defining project objectives and measuring project performance.
**Deliverable #
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A product or service that is produced as part of a project #
It is a tangible output that can be measured and verified.
**Dependency #
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The relationship between two activities in a project schedule network diagram #
It shows the order in which activities must be completed and the dependencies between them.
**Duration #
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The amount of time required to complete an activity #
It is expressed in work periods, such as hours, days, or weeks.
**Estimate #
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A prediction of the amount of time, resources, or cost required to complete an a… #
It is based on historical data, expert judgment, or other factors.