- Project scope
- The defined boundaries of a project — what will be delivered, what is excluded, and what conditions must be met.
- Work breakdown structure (WBS)
- A hierarchical decomposition of a project into smaller, manageable tasks and deliverables.
- Critical path
- The longest sequence of dependent tasks in a project schedule; any delay on the critical path delays the project end date.
- Risk register
- A log of identified project risks, their likelihood and impact scores, and the planned mitigation or response for each.
- Change control
- The formal process for requesting, reviewing, approving, and communicating changes to a project's scope, schedule, or budget.
- Milestone
- A significant checkpoint or deliverable in a project schedule that marks the end of a phase or the completion of a key outcome.
- Stakeholder
- Any person, team, or organization that has an interest in or is affected by the project's outcome.
- Project sponsor
- The senior individual or body that authorizes the project, owns the business case, and resolves escalated issues.
- RACI matrix
- A responsibility-assignment chart that labels each task with who is Responsible, Accountable, Consulted, and Informed.
- Scope creep
- The gradual expansion of a project's scope beyond its original boundaries, typically without corresponding adjustments to budget or schedule.
- Acceptance criteria
- The specific, measurable conditions a deliverable must satisfy before the client or sponsor formally signs it off.
- Post-mortem
- A structured review conducted after project completion to assess what went well, what did not, and what should change next time.