# PMOSkills Glossary

## Purpose

This glossary defines the core project management terminology used throughout the PMOSkills repository. It provides a single authoritative reference for terms drawn from PMI standards and for repository-specific constructs defined within this project. All definitions are grounded in PMI Lexicon v5.0 and the PMBOK® Guide Eighth Edition, paraphrased and interpreted for practical use. Repository-specific terms are labeled as synthesis and sourced accordingly.

## Audience

Project managers, PMO practitioners, skills authors, AI agent designers, and contributors working with the PMOSkills repository or the broader PMI PMBOK 8 knowledge base. Readers are expected to have basic familiarity with project management concepts; this glossary does not explain foundational management principles from scratch.

## Prerequisites

Readers should be familiar with the PMOSkills repository structure (see `README.md` and `SKILL-REGISTRY.md`) and should understand that artifact IDs (A01–A39) and skill IDs (SKL-PP-NN) are the primary cross-reference keys used throughout this glossary. Access to the PMI Lexicon v5.0 and PMBOK® Guide Eighth Edition is recommended for deeper study.

## How to Use This Glossary

Entries are arranged alphabetically by letter heading. Each term carries a **Definition**, a **Source** citing the specific PMI reference, a **Related artifact** field referencing the relevant PMOSkills artifact by A-ID and name (or "—" if none applies), and a **Related skill** field referencing the relevant SKL-ID and skill name (or "—" if none applies). Definitions are paraphrased and interpreted from PMI Lexicon v5.0 and PMBOK® Guide Eighth Edition — they are not verbatim extracts. Repository-specific entries (skill, waste test, threshold T1–T4) are marked as synthesis.

---

## A

### Acceptance Criteria
**Definition:** The measurable conditions that a deliverable must satisfy before the customer, sponsor, or authorized party will formally approve it as complete and fit for purpose.
**Source:** PMI Lexicon v5.0 · PMBOK8 Guide §4.5
**Related artifact:** A08 — Scope and Requirements Decision Record
**Related skill:** SKL-03-03 — Elicit and Analyze Requirements

### Accountability
**Definition:** The non-delegable obligation held by an individual or role to answer for the outcome of a decision, action, or result — distinct from responsibility, which can be shared.
**Source:** PMI Lexicon v5.0 · PMBOK8 Standard §3 Principles
**Related artifact:** A35 — Governance and Decision Authority Record
**Related skill:** SKL-01-01 — Establish PM Governance Framework

### Activity
**Definition:** A discrete, scheduled unit of project work with a defined start and finish, consuming time and resources and contributing to the completion of a deliverable or work package.
**Source:** PMI Lexicon v5.0 · PMBOK8 Guide §6.2
**Related artifact:** A15 — Schedule Model and Baseline Record
**Related skill:** SKL-03-06 — Plan Schedule Management

### Adaptive Approach
**Definition:** A project delivery method that uses iterative cycles and continuous feedback to evolve scope and plans over time, suited for environments where requirements are emergent or subject to frequent change.
**Source:** PMI Lexicon v5.0 · PMBOK8 Guide §2.3.3
**Related artifact:** A13 — Development Approach and Lifecycle Decision Record
**Related skill:** SKL-07-01 — Select and Tailor Lifecycle Approach

### Agile
**Definition:** A broad philosophy and set of values, articulated in the Agile Manifesto, that prioritizes customer collaboration, working deliverables, responding to change, and individuals over rigid processes and documentation.
**Source:** PMI Lexicon v5.0 · PMBOK8 Guide §2.3.3
**Related artifact:** A13 — Development Approach and Lifecycle Decision Record
**Related skill:** SKL-07-04 — Plan and Deliver Hybrid Projects

### Artifact
**Definition:** Any document, record, template, or structured output produced or maintained during a project to support decision-making, planning, control, governance, or knowledge retention.
**Source:** PMI Lexicon v5.0 · PMBOK8 Guide §4.1
**Related artifact:** A05 — Context Register
**Related skill:** SKL-01-02 — Define Artifact and Document Control Standards

### Assumption
**Definition:** A factor accepted as true or certain for planning purposes without verified proof, which may carry risk if the assumption later proves incorrect.
**Source:** PMI Lexicon v5.0 · PMBOK8 Guide §4.2
**Related artifact:** A05 — Context Register
**Related skill:** SKL-02-01 — Initiate Project or Phase

### Assumption Log
**Definition:** A record capturing all assumptions and constraints identified during a project, along with their status, owner, and any triggered risk items if an assumption is invalidated.
**Source:** PMI Lexicon v5.0 · PMBOK8 Guide §4.2
**Related artifact:** A05 — Context Register
**Related skill:** SKL-02-01 — Initiate Project or Phase

### Authority Threshold
**Definition:** A pre-approved boundary that defines how much a project manager or designated role may decide independently before escalation to a higher governance level is required.
**Source:** PMI Lexicon v5.0 · PMBOK8 Standard §3 · AUTHORITY-ROUTING.md
**Related artifact:** A35 — Governance and Decision Authority Record
**Related skill:** SKL-01-01 — Establish PM Governance Framework

---

## B

### Backlog
**Definition:** An ordered list of work items, features, or requirements to be completed by the team, continuously refined and reprioritized to reflect current delivery priorities.
**Source:** PMI Lexicon v5.0 · PMBOK8 Guide §2.3.3
**Related artifact:** A08 — Scope and Requirements Decision Record
**Related skill:** SKL-07-02 — Manage Backlog and Iterations

### Backlog Refinement
**Definition:** The ongoing process of reviewing, clarifying, estimating, and reordering backlog items so that the highest-priority work is ready for the next iteration.
**Source:** PMI Lexicon v5.0 · PMBOK8 Guide §6.5.3
**Related artifact:** A08 — Scope and Requirements Decision Record
**Related skill:** SKL-07-02 — Manage Backlog and Iterations

### Baseline
**Definition:** An approved, time-stamped version of a plan or document that serves as the fixed reference point for measuring performance and controlling change.
**Source:** PMI Lexicon v5.0 · PMBOK8 Guide §4.3
**Related artifact:** A14 — Integrated Project Management Plan
**Related skill:** SKL-03-01 — Integrate and Align Project Plans

### Benefit
**Definition:** A measurable improvement in capability, condition, or outcome that results from a project's outputs and is realized by the organization or its stakeholders.
**Source:** PMI Lexicon v5.0 · PMBOK8 Standard §2
**Related artifact:** A02 — Benefits and Value Measurement Record
**Related skill:** SKL-06-01 — Close Project or Phase

### Benefits Management Plan
**Definition:** A document that describes how and when expected benefits will be achieved, who is accountable for realization, and how benefits will be measured after project delivery.
**Source:** PMI Lexicon v5.0 · PMBOK8 Guide §1.2.6
**Related artifact:** A02 — Benefits and Value Measurement Record
**Related skill:** SKL-02-01 — Initiate Project or Phase

### Bottom-Up Estimating
**Definition:** An estimation technique that calculates cost or duration by aggregating detailed estimates for individual work packages or activities and rolling them up to a total figure.
**Source:** PMI Lexicon v5.0 · PMBOK8 Guide §7.2
**Related artifact:** A16 — Financial Management and Cost Baseline Record
**Related skill:** SKL-03-14 — Estimate Costs

### Budget
**Definition:** The total approved funding authorized for a project, including all planned costs and approved reserves, representing the financial ceiling within which the project must be delivered.
**Source:** PMI Lexicon v5.0 · PMBOK8 Guide §7.3
**Related artifact:** A16 — Financial Management and Cost Baseline Record
**Related skill:** SKL-03-15 — Develop Budget

### Budget at Completion (BAC)
**Definition:** The total planned cost for all authorized project work — the sum of all planned values at the point when 100% of scope is complete, used as the denominator in earned value calculations.
**Source:** PMI Lexicon v5.0 · PMBOK8 Guide §7.4
**Related artifact:** A16 — Financial Management and Cost Baseline Record
**Related skill:** SKL-05-05 — Control Costs

### Burndown Chart
**Definition:** A visual display showing the quantity of remaining work (story points, tasks, or hours) against elapsed time within an iteration or release, used to track whether the team is on pace to complete its commitment.
**Source:** PMI Lexicon v5.0 · PMBOK8 Guide §2.3.3
**Related artifact:** A17 — Integrated Performance Reporting Record
**Related skill:** SKL-07-02 — Manage Backlog and Iterations

### Business Case
**Definition:** A structured justification document that evaluates the rationale for initiating a project, comparing the anticipated benefits, costs, risks, and strategic alignment to support an authorization decision.
**Source:** PMI Lexicon v5.0 · PMBOK8 Guide §1.2.5
**Related artifact:** A01 — Business Case
**Related skill:** SKL-02-01 — Initiate Project or Phase

### Business Value
**Definition:** The net worth delivered by a project or program to the organization, measured as the combination of financial returns, strategic benefits, social impact, and other outcomes that justify the investment.
**Source:** PMI Lexicon v5.0 · PMBOK8 Standard §2
**Related artifact:** A02 — Benefits and Value Measurement Record
**Related skill:** SKL-06-02 — Final Performance Review

---

## C

### Change Control
**Definition:** The formal process of identifying, evaluating, approving or rejecting, and implementing proposed changes to project baselines, ensuring that only authorized modifications are applied.
**Source:** PMI Lexicon v5.0 · PMBOK8 Guide §4.6
**Related artifact:** A12 — Change and Exception Decision Log
**Related skill:** SKL-05-02 — Perform Integrated Change Control

### Change Control Board (CCB)
**Definition:** A formally constituted body with the delegated authority to review, evaluate, and make decisions on change requests submitted against project baselines.
**Source:** PMI Lexicon v5.0 · PMBOK8 Guide §4.6.2
**Related artifact:** A12 — Change and Exception Decision Log
**Related skill:** SKL-05-02 — Perform Integrated Change Control

### Change Request
**Definition:** A formal proposal to modify any project baseline, document, deliverable, or approved plan, which must proceed through the change control process before implementation.
**Source:** PMI Lexicon v5.0 · PMBOK8 Guide §4.6
**Related artifact:** A12 — Change and Exception Decision Log
**Related skill:** SKL-05-02 — Perform Integrated Change Control

### Communications Management Plan
**Definition:** A component of the project management plan that defines the information needs of stakeholders, the formats and methods of communication, timing, channels, and communication responsibilities.
**Source:** PMI Lexicon v5.0 · PMBOK8 Guide §10.1
**Related artifact:** A28 — Communications and Reporting Record
**Related skill:** SKL-03-08 — Plan Communications Management

### Complexity
**Definition:** A characteristic of a project or environment arising from the number and variety of interconnected elements, human behaviors, ambiguities, and system dynamics that make outcomes difficult to predict or control.
**Source:** PMI Lexicon v5.0 · PMBOK8 Standard §3.7 · Navigating Complexity: A Practice Guide
**Related artifact:** A05 — Context Register
**Related skill:** SKL-01-01 — Establish PM Governance Framework

### Configuration Management
**Definition:** A set of practices that identify, document, and control changes to project components and deliverables, ensuring that the characteristics of each configuration item remain traceable and consistent.
**Source:** PMI Lexicon v5.0 · PMBOK8 Guide §4.6
**Related artifact:** A03 — Repository and Tool Configuration Record
**Related skill:** SKL-01-03 — Configure Project Repository and Tool Environment

### Constraint
**Definition:** A limiting factor — such as a fixed deadline, maximum budget, regulatory requirement, or resource cap — that restricts the available options in planning or executing a project.
**Source:** PMI Lexicon v5.0 · PMBOK8 Guide §4.2
**Related artifact:** A05 — Context Register
**Related skill:** SKL-02-01 — Initiate Project or Phase

### Contingency Reserve
**Definition:** A portion of the project budget or schedule set aside to address identified risks that have a probability of occurring, funded and managed at the project manager level within approved thresholds.
**Source:** PMI Lexicon v5.0 · PMBOK8 Guide §7.3
**Related artifact:** A20 — Quantitative Risk and Reserve Decision Record
**Related skill:** SKL-03-15 — Develop Budget

### Cost Baseline
**Definition:** The approved, time-phased budget against which actual project expenditure is measured, excluding management reserve, and used as the reference for earned value analysis.
**Source:** PMI Lexicon v5.0 · PMBOK8 Guide §7.3
**Related artifact:** A16 — Financial Management and Cost Baseline Record
**Related skill:** SKL-03-15 — Develop Budget

### Cost Performance Index (CPI)
**Definition:** An earned value metric expressing cost efficiency as the ratio of earned value to actual cost; a CPI below 1.0 indicates the project is spending more than planned for the work accomplished.
**Source:** PMI Lexicon v5.0 · PMBOK8 Guide §7.4
**Related artifact:** A17 — Integrated Performance Reporting Record
**Related skill:** SKL-05-05 — Control Costs

### Critical Path
**Definition:** The longest sequence of dependent activities in a project network, determining the shortest possible project duration; any delay to a critical path activity delays the project end date.
**Source:** PMI Lexicon v5.0 · PMBOK8 Guide §6.5
**Related artifact:** A15 — Schedule Model and Baseline Record
**Related skill:** SKL-03-06 — Plan Schedule Management

---

## D

### Decomposition
**Definition:** A planning technique that progressively breaks down project scope into smaller, more manageable components — work packages, activities, or tasks — to enable accurate planning and assignment.
**Source:** PMI Lexicon v5.0 · PMBOK8 Guide §5.4
**Related artifact:** A08 — Scope and Requirements Decision Record
**Related skill:** SKL-03-05 — Develop Scope Structure

### Deliverable
**Definition:** Any unique, verifiable product, result, or capability produced during a project that is required to be produced in order to complete a process, phase, or the project itself.
**Source:** PMI Lexicon v5.0 · PMBOK8 Guide §4.3
**Related artifact:** A08 — Scope and Requirements Decision Record
**Related skill:** SKL-04-01 — Direct and Manage Project Work

### Dependency
**Definition:** A logical relationship between two activities or deliverables that determines the sequence in which work must be performed, constraining when one item can start or finish relative to another.
**Source:** PMI Lexicon v5.0 · PMBOK8 Guide §6.3
**Related artifact:** A15 — Schedule Model and Baseline Record
**Related skill:** SKL-03-06 — Plan Schedule Management

### Development Approach
**Definition:** The method selected for creating project deliverables — predictive, adaptive, or hybrid — chosen based on the nature of the product, requirements stability, delivery cadence needs, and organizational context.
**Source:** PMI Lexicon v5.0 · PMBOK8 Guide §2.3
**Related artifact:** A13 — Development Approach and Lifecycle Decision Record
**Related skill:** SKL-07-01 — Select and Tailor Lifecycle Approach

### Duration
**Definition:** The total elapsed calendar time required to complete an activity or project, measured from start to finish and including working and non-working periods as relevant.
**Source:** PMI Lexicon v5.0 · PMBOK8 Guide §6.4
**Related artifact:** A15 — Schedule Model and Baseline Record
**Related skill:** SKL-03-06 — Plan Schedule Management

---

## E

### Earned Value (EV)
**Definition:** The budgeted amount for the work that has actually been completed to date, representing the monetary value of authorized work accomplished regardless of what was actually spent.
**Source:** PMI Lexicon v5.0 · PMBOK8 Guide §7.4 · PMI Standard for Earned Value Management
**Related artifact:** A17 — Integrated Performance Reporting Record
**Related skill:** SKL-05-05 — Control Costs

### Earned Value Management (EVM)
**Definition:** An integrated management methodology that combines scope, schedule, and cost data to provide objective performance measurement and forecasting of project outcomes.
**Source:** PMI Lexicon v5.0 · PMBOK8 Guide §7.4 · PMI Standard for Earned Value Management
**Related artifact:** A17 — Integrated Performance Reporting Record
**Related skill:** SKL-05-05 — Control Costs

### Enterprise Environmental Factors (EEFs)
**Definition:** Internal and external conditions — such as organizational culture, market conditions, regulatory requirements, and technology infrastructure — that influence and constrain project decisions without being under the project team's control.
**Source:** PMI Lexicon v5.0 · PMBOK8 Guide §2.2.1
**Related artifact:** A05 — Context Register
**Related skill:** SKL-01-01 — Establish PM Governance Framework

### Estimate at Completion (EAC)
**Definition:** A forecast of the total cost expected to complete the project, calculated using actual cost to date plus the projected cost of remaining work, often derived from EVM data.
**Source:** PMI Lexicon v5.0 · PMBOK8 Guide §7.4
**Related artifact:** A17 — Integrated Performance Reporting Record
**Related skill:** SKL-05-05 — Control Costs

### Estimate to Complete (ETC)
**Definition:** The expected cost required to finish all remaining project work from the status date to project completion, used alongside actual cost to project the estimate at completion.
**Source:** PMI Lexicon v5.0 · PMBOK8 Guide §7.4
**Related artifact:** A17 — Integrated Performance Reporting Record
**Related skill:** SKL-05-05 — Control Costs

---

## F

### Float
**Definition:** The amount of time an activity can be delayed without delaying a successor activity (free float) or the project end date (total float), representing scheduling flexibility.
**Source:** PMI Lexicon v5.0 · PMBOK8 Guide §6.5
**Related artifact:** A15 — Schedule Model and Baseline Record
**Related skill:** SKL-03-06 — Plan Schedule Management

### Focus Area
**Definition:** One of the six foundational guides to behavior in PMBOK 8 that describe effective project management conduct without prescribing specific methods or processes.
**Source:** PMBOK8 Standard §3.3–§3.8
**Related artifact:** A14 — Integrated Project Management Plan
**Related skill:** —

### Forecast
**Definition:** An estimate or prediction of conditions and events in the project's future based on information and knowledge currently available, used to inform decisions on cost, schedule, or scope adjustments.
**Source:** PMI Lexicon v5.0 · PMBOK8 Guide §4.5
**Related artifact:** A17 — Integrated Performance Reporting Record
**Related skill:** SKL-05-01 — Monitor and Control Project Work

### Forward Pass
**Definition:** A network analysis calculation that moves from the first activity to the last to determine the earliest start and earliest finish times for each activity in the schedule.
**Source:** PMI Lexicon v5.0 · PMBOK8 Guide §6.5
**Related artifact:** A15 — Schedule Model and Baseline Record
**Related skill:** SKL-03-06 — Plan Schedule Management

---

## G

### Governance
**Definition:** The framework of policies, decision rights, authority structures, and accountability mechanisms that guide how projects, programs, portfolios, and organizations are directed and controlled.
**Source:** PMI Lexicon v5.0 · PMBOK8 Standard §3 · Governance of Portfolios, Programs and Projects: A Practice Guide
**Related artifact:** A35 — Governance and Decision Authority Record
**Related skill:** SKL-01-01 — Establish PM Governance Framework

---

## H

### Hybrid Approach
**Definition:** A project delivery method that deliberately combines predictive and adaptive elements, applying each where it best suits the nature of the work, level of uncertainty, and stakeholder expectations.
**Source:** PMI Lexicon v5.0 · PMBOK8 Guide §2.3.3
**Related artifact:** A13 — Development Approach and Lifecycle Decision Record
**Related skill:** SKL-07-04 — Plan and Deliver Hybrid Projects

---

## I

### Impediment
**Definition:** An obstacle or blocking condition that prevents the team from completing planned work at the expected pace, requiring escalation or intervention to remove.
**Source:** PMI Lexicon v5.0 · PMBOK8 Guide §2.3.3
**Related artifact:** A18 — Issue, Impediment, and Action Log
**Related skill:** SKL-04-01 — Direct and Manage Project Work

### Issue
**Definition:** A point of contention, gap, inconsistency, or problem that has already occurred and requires a decision or corrective action to resolve, distinguishing it from a risk which is future-oriented.
**Source:** PMI Lexicon v5.0 · PMBOK8 Guide §4.4
**Related artifact:** A18 — Issue, Impediment, and Action Log
**Related skill:** SKL-04-01 — Direct and Manage Project Work

### Iteration
**Definition:** A fixed-length development cycle in an adaptive or agile project during which a defined set of work items is planned, executed, reviewed, and potentially delivered.
**Source:** PMI Lexicon v5.0 · PMBOK8 Guide §2.3.3
**Related artifact:** A13 — Development Approach and Lifecycle Decision Record
**Related skill:** SKL-07-02 — Manage Backlog and Iterations

---

## K

### Kickoff
**Definition:** A formal meeting held at the start of a project or phase to align the team, stakeholders, and sponsor on objectives, roles, approach, and ground rules before execution begins.
**Source:** PMI Lexicon v5.0 · PMBOK8 Guide §4.3
**Related artifact:** A04 — Project Charter
**Related skill:** SKL-02-01 — Initiate Project or Phase

---

## L

### Lag
**Definition:** A deliberate delay applied to a schedule dependency relationship, allowing time to elapse between the finish or start of one activity and the start or finish of a successor.
**Source:** PMI Lexicon v5.0 · PMBOK8 Guide §6.3
**Related artifact:** A15 — Schedule Model and Baseline Record
**Related skill:** SKL-03-06 — Plan Schedule Management

### Lead
**Definition:** An acceleration applied to a schedule dependency that allows a successor activity to begin before its predecessor is fully complete, compressing the overall schedule where conditions permit.
**Source:** PMI Lexicon v5.0 · PMBOK8 Guide §6.3
**Related artifact:** A15 — Schedule Model and Baseline Record
**Related skill:** SKL-03-06 — Plan Schedule Management

### Lessons Learned
**Definition:** Knowledge and insights captured from project experience — successes, failures, near-misses, and process improvements — that are documented and stored to benefit future projects.
**Source:** PMI Lexicon v5.0 · PMBOK8 Guide §4.4
**Related artifact:** A30 — Knowledge and Lessons Management Record
**Related skill:** SKL-06-03 — Capture and Archive Lessons Learned

### Lifecycle
**Definition:** The series of phases or stages a project passes through from initiation to closure, providing a structured framework that governs when major decisions, reviews, and transitions occur.
**Source:** PMI Lexicon v5.0 · PMBOK8 Guide §2.3
**Related artifact:** A13 — Development Approach and Lifecycle Decision Record
**Related skill:** SKL-07-01 — Select and Tailor Lifecycle Approach

---

## M

### Management Reserve
**Definition:** A portion of the total project budget withheld outside the performance measurement baseline for unforeseen risks or scope changes, released only by senior management or sponsor authorization.
**Source:** PMI Lexicon v5.0 · PMBOK8 Guide §7.3
**Related artifact:** A20 — Quantitative Risk and Reserve Decision Record
**Related skill:** SKL-03-15 — Develop Budget

### Milestone
**Definition:** A significant point or event in the project schedule — typically marking the completion of a major deliverable, phase transition, or key decision — that has zero duration and serves as a control point.
**Source:** PMI Lexicon v5.0 · PMBOK8 Guide §6.2
**Related artifact:** A15 — Schedule Model and Baseline Record
**Related skill:** SKL-03-06 — Plan Schedule Management

### Monte Carlo Simulation
**Definition:** A quantitative risk analysis technique that runs thousands of iterative scenarios using probability distributions for cost and schedule inputs to produce a range of possible project outcomes and confidence levels.
**Source:** PMI Lexicon v5.0 · PMBOK8 Guide §11.4
**Related artifact:** A20 — Quantitative Risk and Reserve Decision Record
**Related skill:** SKL-03-11 — Perform Risk Analysis

---

## O

### Organizational Process Assets (OPAs)
**Definition:** Plans, processes, policies, procedures, and knowledge bases maintained by the organization that are available as inputs to project planning and execution, including lessons learned repositories and templates.
**Source:** PMI Lexicon v5.0 · PMBOK8 Guide §2.2.2
**Related artifact:** A05 — Context Register
**Related skill:** SKL-01-02 — Define Artifact and Document Control Standards

### Outcome
**Definition:** The end result, consequence, or effect produced by a project or program — distinguishing the realized change in condition or behavior from the deliverable or output that enabled it.
**Source:** PMI Lexicon v5.0 · PMBOK8 Standard §2
**Related artifact:** A02 — Benefits and Value Measurement Record
**Related skill:** SKL-06-01 — Close Project or Phase

---

## P

### Performance Domain
**Definition:** One of the eight interrelated areas of project management activity — Stakeholders, Team, Development Approach and Life Cycle, Planning, Project Work, Delivery, Measurement, and Uncertainty — that collectively account for the conditions required for project success.
**Source:** PMBOK8 Guide §2.2
**Related artifact:** A14 — Integrated Project Management Plan
**Related skill:** —

### Planned Value (PV)
**Definition:** The authorized budget allocated to the work scheduled to be accomplished at a given point in time, serving as the baseline for measuring earned value and schedule performance.
**Source:** PMI Lexicon v5.0 · PMBOK8 Guide §7.4
**Related artifact:** A16 — Financial Management and Cost Baseline Record
**Related skill:** SKL-05-05 — Control Costs

### Planning
**Definition:** The iterative process of establishing objectives, defining the scope of work, sequencing activities, estimating resources and durations, and developing the integrated management plan that guides project execution.
**Source:** PMI Lexicon v5.0 · PMBOK8 Guide §2.2.5
**Related artifact:** A14 — Integrated Project Management Plan
**Related skill:** SKL-03-01 — Integrate and Align Project Plans

### Portfolio
**Definition:** A collection of projects, programs, subsidiary portfolios, and operations managed together to achieve strategic objectives, where components may not be directly related to one another.
**Source:** PMI Lexicon v5.0 · PMBOK8 Standard §1 · Standard for Portfolio Management 4th Ed.
**Related artifact:** A22 — Portfolio Interdependency Record
**Related skill:** —

### Predictive Approach
**Definition:** A project delivery method in which scope, cost, and schedule are defined in detail at the outset and the project follows a sequential, plan-driven execution path with formal change control for deviations.
**Source:** PMI Lexicon v5.0 · PMBOK8 Guide §2.3.2
**Related artifact:** A13 — Development Approach and Lifecycle Decision Record
**Related skill:** SKL-07-01 — Select and Tailor Lifecycle Approach

### Principle (PMBOK8)
**Definition:** One of the twelve foundational guides to behavior established in the PMBOK® Guide Eighth Edition Standard that describe effective project management conduct without prescribing specific methods or processes.
**Source:** PMBOK8 Standard §3
**Related artifact:** A05 — Context Register
**Related skill:** SKL-01-01 — Establish PM Governance Framework

### Product Backlog
**Definition:** A prioritized, emergent list of everything needed in the product, maintained by the product owner and used to plan iterations and guide team delivery in adaptive projects.
**Source:** PMI Lexicon v5.0 · PMBOK8 Guide §2.3.3
**Related artifact:** A08 — Scope and Requirements Decision Record
**Related skill:** SKL-07-02 — Manage Backlog and Iterations

### Program
**Definition:** A group of related projects, subsidiary programs, and program activities managed in a coordinated way to realize benefits that could not be achieved by managing them individually.
**Source:** PMI Lexicon v5.0 · PMBOK8 Standard §1 · Standard for Program Management 5th Ed.
**Related artifact:** A22 — Portfolio Interdependency Record
**Related skill:** —

### Project
**Definition:** A temporary endeavor undertaken to create a unique product, service, or result, characterized by a defined beginning and end, a distinct objective, and constraints of scope, time, cost, and quality.
**Source:** PMI Lexicon v5.0 · PMBOK8 Standard §1
**Related artifact:** A04 — Project Charter
**Related skill:** SKL-02-01 — Initiate Project or Phase

### Project Charter
**Definition:** The document issued by the project sponsor that formally authorizes the project, names the project manager, establishes initial scope and objectives, and grants authority to apply organizational resources.
**Source:** PMI Lexicon v5.0 · PMBOK8 Guide §4.1
**Related artifact:** A04 — Project Charter
**Related skill:** SKL-02-01 — Initiate Project or Phase

### Project Management Plan (PMP)
**Definition:** The comprehensive, integrated document that describes how the project will be planned, executed, monitored, controlled, and closed, encompassing all subsidiary plans and baselines.
**Source:** PMI Lexicon v5.0 · PMBOK8 Guide §4.2
**Related artifact:** A14 — Integrated Project Management Plan
**Related skill:** SKL-03-01 — Integrate and Align Project Plans

### Project Manager
**Definition:** The individual assigned by the performing organization to lead the project team in achieving project objectives, responsible for integrating all aspects of planning, execution, and delivery.
**Source:** PMI Lexicon v5.0 · PMBOK8 Guide §3
**Related artifact:** A35 — Governance and Decision Authority Record
**Related skill:** SKL-01-01 — Establish PM Governance Framework

---

## Q

### Quality Management Plan
**Definition:** A component of the project management plan that defines how quality policies, objectives, standards, and responsibilities will be implemented, measured, and continuously improved throughout the project.
**Source:** PMI Lexicon v5.0 · PMBOK8 Guide §8.1
**Related artifact:** A09 — Quality Management Plan
**Related skill:** SKL-03-02 — Plan Scope Management

### Quantitative Risk Analysis
**Definition:** A numerical approach to assessing the combined effect of identified risks on overall project objectives, using techniques such as Monte Carlo simulation to quantify probability distributions of project outcomes.
**Source:** PMI Lexicon v5.0 · PMBOK8 Guide §11.4
**Related artifact:** A20 — Quantitative Risk and Reserve Decision Record
**Related skill:** SKL-03-11 — Perform Risk Analysis

---

## R

### RACI Matrix
**Definition:** A responsibility assignment matrix that maps roles to tasks or deliverables using four designations — Responsible, Accountable, Consulted, and Informed — to clarify ownership and communication expectations.
**Source:** PMI Lexicon v5.0 · PMBOK8 Guide §9.1
**Related artifact:** A25 — Team Operating and Responsibility Record
**Related skill:** SKL-04-05 — Manage Team

### Requirements
**Definition:** Conditions or capabilities that a product, service, or result must satisfy to meet stakeholder needs, regulatory obligations, or contractual specifications, documented and baselined before delivery begins.
**Source:** PMI Lexicon v5.0 · PMBOK8 Guide §5.2
**Related artifact:** A08 — Scope and Requirements Decision Record
**Related skill:** SKL-03-03 — Elicit and Analyze Requirements

### Risk
**Definition:** An uncertain event or condition that, if it occurs, has a positive or negative effect on one or more project objectives including scope, schedule, cost, or quality.
**Source:** PMI Lexicon v5.0 · PMBOK8 Guide §11.1
**Related artifact:** A19 — Risk Management Record
**Related skill:** SKL-03-09 — Plan Risk Management

### Risk Appetite
**Definition:** The degree of uncertainty an organization or stakeholder is prepared to accept in pursuit of value, representing the overall attitude toward risk-taking that guides risk threshold decisions.
**Source:** PMI Lexicon v5.0 · PMBOK8 Standard §3.9 · Risk Management in Portfolios, Programs, and Projects
**Related artifact:** A05 — Context Register
**Related skill:** SKL-03-09 — Plan Risk Management

### Risk Register
**Definition:** A repository of identified risks, including their descriptions, probability, impact, root causes, owners, and planned responses, maintained and updated throughout the project lifecycle.
**Source:** PMI Lexicon v5.0 · PMBOK8 Guide §11.2
**Related artifact:** A19 — Risk Management Record
**Related skill:** SKL-03-10 — Identify Risks

### Risk Response
**Definition:** An action or set of actions selected to address a specific risk, categorized as avoid, transfer, mitigate, or accept for threats, and exploit, share, enhance, or accept for opportunities.
**Source:** PMI Lexicon v5.0 · PMBOK8 Guide §11.5
**Related artifact:** A19 — Risk Management Record
**Related skill:** SKL-03-12 — Plan Risk Responses

---

## S

### Schedule Baseline
**Definition:** The approved version of the schedule model that includes planned start and finish dates for all activities, used as the reference for measuring schedule performance and assessing variance.
**Source:** PMI Lexicon v5.0 · PMBOK8 Guide §6.5
**Related artifact:** A15 — Schedule Model and Baseline Record
**Related skill:** SKL-03-06 — Plan Schedule Management

### Scope
**Definition:** The sum of all products, services, and results to be provided by a project, defining the boundary of what is and is not included in the project's work.
**Source:** PMI Lexicon v5.0 · PMBOK8 Guide §5.1
**Related artifact:** A08 — Scope and Requirements Decision Record
**Related skill:** SKL-03-04 — Define Scope

### Scope Baseline
**Definition:** The approved version of the scope statement, WBS, and WBS dictionary, used as the reference for controlling scope and assessing change requests affecting deliverables or boundaries.
**Source:** PMI Lexicon v5.0 · PMBOK8 Guide §5.4
**Related artifact:** A08 — Scope and Requirements Decision Record
**Related skill:** SKL-03-05 — Develop Scope Structure

### Skill (PMOSkills Definition)
**Definition:** An executable, structured instruction set within the PMOSkills repository that defines exactly how to perform one project management task — including purpose, inputs, steps, outputs, constraints, and acceptance tests — enabling consistent, repeatable execution by any qualified practitioner or AI agent.
**Source:** Synthesis — PMOSkills repository design · PMBOK8 Guide §3
**Related artifact:** —
**Related skill:** SKL-01-02 — Define Artifact and Document Control Standards

### Sponsor
**Definition:** The individual or group providing financial resources, advocacy, and executive authority for the project, accountable for removing organizational obstacles and championing the project within the governance structure.
**Source:** PMI Lexicon v5.0 · PMBOK8 Guide §2.4
**Related artifact:** A04 — Project Charter
**Related skill:** SKL-02-01 — Initiate Project or Phase

### Sprint
**Definition:** A fixed-length iteration used in Scrum-based adaptive delivery — typically one to four weeks — during which a cross-functional team completes a defined set of backlog items and produces a potentially shippable increment.
**Source:** PMI Lexicon v5.0 · PMBOK8 Guide §2.3.3
**Related artifact:** A13 — Development Approach and Lifecycle Decision Record
**Related skill:** SKL-07-02 — Manage Backlog and Iterations

### Stakeholder
**Definition:** Any individual, group, or organization that may affect, be affected by, or perceive itself to be affected by a decision, activity, or outcome of the project — whether positively or negatively.
**Source:** PMI Lexicon v5.0 · PMBOK8 Guide §13.1
**Related artifact:** A07 — Stakeholder Register and Engagement Strategy
**Related skill:** SKL-02-02 — Identify Stakeholders

### Stakeholder Register
**Definition:** A project document containing information about identified stakeholders including their interests, involvement, influence, and interdependencies, used to plan and manage engagement throughout the project.
**Source:** PMI Lexicon v5.0 · PMBOK8 Guide §13.1
**Related artifact:** A07 — Stakeholder Register and Engagement Strategy
**Related skill:** SKL-02-02 — Identify Stakeholders

---

## T

### Tailoring
**Definition:** The deliberate adaptation of project governance, processes, methods, artifacts, and tools to fit the specific context, complexity, size, and constraints of a project while remaining aligned with organizational standards.
**Source:** PMI Lexicon v5.0 · PMBOK8 Guide §2.3.1
**Related artifact:** A06 — Tailoring Decision Record
**Related skill:** SKL-07-01 — Select and Tailor Lifecycle Approach

### Threshold (T1–T4) (PMOSkills Definition)
**Definition:** The decision routing bands used in the PMOSkills repository to assign each project decision to the correct approval authority based on the breadth of impact and governance implications: T1 = project manager acts independently; T2 = delegated change authority; T3 = sponsor or governing body approval required; T4 = portfolio or enterprise-level decision.
**Source:** Synthesis — AUTHORITY-ROUTING.md · PMBOK8 Standard §3 Principles
**Related artifact:** A35 — Governance and Decision Authority Record
**Related skill:** SKL-01-01 — Establish PM Governance Framework

### Timebox
**Definition:** A fixed period of time within which a defined set of work must be completed, after which the iteration ends regardless of whether all items were finished, supporting predictable delivery cadence in adaptive approaches.
**Source:** PMI Lexicon v5.0 · PMBOK8 Guide §2.3.3
**Related artifact:** A13 — Development Approach and Lifecycle Decision Record
**Related skill:** SKL-07-02 — Manage Backlog and Iterations

### T-Shaped Skills
**Definition:** A competency profile in which a practitioner has broad knowledge across multiple project management disciplines (the horizontal bar) combined with deep expertise in one or more specific areas (the vertical bar), enabling effective collaboration and flexibility in cross-functional teams.
**Source:** PMI Lexicon v5.0 · PMBOK8 Guide §2.4
**Related artifact:** A25 — Team Operating and Responsibility Record
**Related skill:** SKL-04-04 — Develop Team

---

## U

### Uncertainty
**Definition:** A state in which outcomes, conditions, or events cannot be reliably predicted due to incomplete information, high complexity, or inherent variability — broader than risk, encompassing both quantifiable and unquantifiable unknowns.
**Source:** PMI Lexicon v5.0 · PMBOK8 Standard §3.9 · PMBOK8 Guide §2.2.8
**Related artifact:** A19 — Risk Management Record
**Related skill:** SKL-03-09 — Plan Risk Management

---

## V

### Value
**Definition:** The worth, importance, or benefit of something to a recipient — in project management, value is delivered when project outputs produce outcomes that matter to stakeholders, whether financial, strategic, social, or operational.
**Source:** PMI Lexicon v5.0 · PMBOK8 Standard §2
**Related artifact:** A02 — Benefits and Value Measurement Record
**Related skill:** SKL-06-01 — Close Project or Phase

### Velocity
**Definition:** The average amount of work completed by a team in a single iteration, expressed in story points or similar units, used to forecast future delivery capacity and set realistic iteration commitments.
**Source:** PMI Lexicon v5.0 · PMBOK8 Guide §2.3.3
**Related artifact:** A17 — Integrated Performance Reporting Record
**Related skill:** SKL-07-02 — Manage Backlog and Iterations

---

## W

### Waste Test (PMOSkills Definition)
**Definition:** A quality check applied in the PMOSkills repository to every artifact to determine whether it adds distinct governance or delivery value; an artifact fails the waste test if it duplicates information already held in another record without providing distinct decision control, a separate approval authority, or a regulatory/audit obligation that requires separation.
**Source:** Synthesis — PMOSkills Artifact Quality Standard · PMBOK8 Guide §4.1
**Related artifact:** A06 — Tailoring Decision Record
**Related skill:** SKL-01-02 — Define Artifact and Document Control Standards

### Work Breakdown Structure (WBS)
**Definition:** A hierarchical decomposition of the total scope of project work into progressively smaller components, organized to define and structure all deliverables and the work required to create them.
**Source:** PMI Lexicon v5.0 · PMBOK8 Guide §5.4 · Practice Standard for Work Breakdown Structures 3rd Ed.
**Related artifact:** A08 — Scope and Requirements Decision Record
**Related skill:** SKL-03-05 — Develop Scope Structure

### Work Package
**Definition:** The lowest level of the WBS at which cost and schedule can be estimated and managed, containing work that can be assigned to a specific owner and tracked to completion.
**Source:** PMI Lexicon v5.0 · PMBOK8 Guide §5.4
**Related artifact:** A08 — Scope and Requirements Decision Record
**Related skill:** SKL-03-05 — Develop Scope Structure

---

## Z — Additional Terms

### Acceptance (Risk Response)
**Definition:** A risk response strategy in which the project team decides to acknowledge a risk and take no proactive action, either actively by establishing a contingency plan or passively by absorbing any impact if the risk occurs.
**Source:** PMI Lexicon v5.0 · PMBOK8 Guide §11.5
**Related artifact:** A19 — Risk Management Record
**Related skill:** SKL-03-12 — Plan Risk Responses

### Benefits Realization
**Definition:** The process by which the changes and improvements enabled by a project's outputs are embedded into ongoing operations and measured against the expected benefit profile defined in the business case.
**Source:** PMI Lexicon v5.0 · PMBOK8 Standard §2 · Standard for Program Management 5th Ed.
**Related artifact:** A24 — Closure and Benefits Transition Record
**Related skill:** SKL-06-01 — Close Project or Phase

### Change Management Plan
**Definition:** A structured document that defines how changes to the project will be identified, submitted, evaluated, decided upon, implemented, and recorded, including the governance bodies and authorities involved.
**Source:** PMI Lexicon v5.0 · PMBOK8 Guide §4.6 · Managing Change in Organizations: A Practice Guide
**Related artifact:** A39 — Change Management Plan
**Related skill:** SKL-05-02 — Perform Integrated Change Control

### Communications Management
**Definition:** The performance domain and set of processes concerned with planning, creating, distributing, storing, and monitoring all project information and communications across stakeholders throughout the lifecycle.
**Source:** PMI Lexicon v5.0 · PMBOK8 Guide §10.1
**Related artifact:** A28 — Communications and Reporting Record
**Related skill:** SKL-03-08 — Plan Communications Management

### Knowledge Area (Legacy)
**Definition:** The structural grouping used in earlier PMBOK editions (for example, Integration, Scope, Schedule, Cost, Quality, Resource, Communications, Risk, Procurement, Stakeholder Management). PMBOK 8 replaces Knowledge Areas with Performance Domains as the primary structural framework.
**Source:** PMBOK6 · PMBOK7 (historical); PMBOK8 Guide §2 (for domain shift)
**Related artifact:** A40 — PMBOK Evolution and Principles Traceability Record
**Related skill:** —

### Knowledge Management
**Definition:** The systematic approach to creating, capturing, sharing, and applying project knowledge and experience so that it remains available to the organization and future projects beyond the current team.
**Source:** PMI Lexicon v5.0 · PMBOK8 Guide §4.4
**Related artifact:** A30 — Knowledge and Lessons Management Record
**Related skill:** SKL-04-02 — Manage Project Knowledge

### Procurement
**Definition:** The process of obtaining goods, services, or results from external suppliers through formal agreements, including planning procurement needs, soliciting bids, selecting vendors, and managing contracts.
**Source:** PMI Lexicon v5.0 · PMBOK8 Guide §12.1
**Related artifact:** A31 — Procurement and Supplier Management Record
**Related skill:** SKL-04-09 — Conduct Procurements

### Retrospective
**Definition:** A structured team event held at the end of an iteration or project phase to inspect what went well, what should be improved, and what specific actions the team will take in the next cycle to improve performance and collaboration.
**Source:** PMI Lexicon v5.0 · PMBOK8 Guide §2.3.3
**Related artifact:** A30 — Knowledge and Lessons Management Record
**Related skill:** SKL-07-03 — Facilitate Retrospectives and Continuous Improvement

### Schedule Performance Index (SPI)
**Definition:** An earned value metric that expresses schedule efficiency as the ratio of earned value to planned value; an SPI below 1.0 indicates the project is behind the approved schedule baseline.
**Source:** PMI Lexicon v5.0 · PMBOK8 Guide §7.4
**Related artifact:** A17 — Integrated Performance Reporting Record
**Related skill:** SKL-05-04 — Control Schedule

### Scope Creep
**Definition:** The uncontrolled expansion of project scope resulting from undocumented or unapproved additions to requirements or deliverables, typically degrading schedule, cost, and quality performance.
**Source:** PMI Lexicon v5.0 · PMBOK8 Guide §5.6
**Related artifact:** A12 — Change and Exception Decision Log
**Related skill:** SKL-05-03 — Control Scope

### Variance Analysis
**Definition:** A review technique that compares actual project performance against the approved plan to quantify the difference, identify the root cause, and determine whether corrective or preventive action is needed.
**Source:** PMI Lexicon v5.0 · PMBOK8 Guide §4.5
**Related artifact:** A17 — Integrated Performance Reporting Record
**Related skill:** SKL-05-01 — Monitor and Control Project Work

---

*Authority: PMI Lexicon v5.0 · PMBOK8 Primary · PMI Companion References Secondary*
*Source type: PMI-derived (definitions) · Synthesis (PMOSkills-specific entries)*
