3/14/13 Project Management Knowledge Acronyms and Abbreviations » Project Management Knowledge

project-management-knowledge.com/acronyms-and-abbreviations/ 1/14

Project Management Knowledge

The Ultimate Resource for Project Managers

Acronyms and Abbreviations

The following list includes all common acronyms and abbreviations that are used in the world of project

management. Terms are linked to definitions where available. Please let me know if you miss an

abbreviation or an acronym! I will also extend this list from time to time. However, this list is supposed to

include only “pure” project management terms and not industry-specific ones (although I might include some

of the software world).

Please note that some of the acronyms might have a different meaning in other contexts so you should takethem with a grain of salt if you are not sure about the context. You may want to consult Wikipedia for other

meanings.

AC Actual Cost

ACWP Actual Cost of Work Performed

AD Activity Description

ADM Arrow Diagramming Method

AE Apportioned Effort

AF Actual Finish date

AOA Activity – On – Arrow

AON Activity – On – Node

AS Actual Start date

BAC Budget At Completion

BCWP Budgeted Cost of Work Performed

BCWS Budgeted Cost of Work Scheduled

BOM Bill Of Materials

CA Control Account

CAP Control Account Plan

CCB Change Control Board

COQ Cost Of Quality

CPF Cost-Plus-Fee

CPFF Cost-Plus-Fixed-Fee

CPI Cost Performance Index

CPIF Cost-Plus-Incentive-Fee

CPM Critical Path Method

CPPC Cost-Plus-Percentage of Cost

CV Cost Variance

CWBS Contract Work Breakdown Structure

3/14/13 Project Management Knowledge Acronyms and Abbreviations » Project Management Knowledge

project-management-knowledge.com/acronyms-and-abbreviations/ 2/14

DD Data Date

DU Duration

DUR Duration

EAC Estimate at Completion

EF Early Finish Date

EMV Expected Monetary Value

ES Early Start Date

ETC Estimate to Complete

EV Earned Value

EVM Earned Valued Management

EVT Earned Valued Technique

FF Finish-to-Finish

FF Free Float

FFP Firm-Fixed-Price

FMEA Failure Mode and Effect Analysis

FPIF Fixed-Price-Incentive-Fee

FS Finish-to-Start

IFB Invitation for Bid

LF Late Finish date

LOE Level of Effort

LS Late Start date

OBS Organizational Breakdown Structure

OD Original Duration

PC Percent Complete

PCT Percent Complete

PDM Precedence Diagramming Method

PF Planned Finish date

PM Project Management

PM Project Manager

PMBOK Project Management Body Of Knowledge

PMIS Project Management Information System

PMO Program Management Office

PMO Project Management Office

PMP Project Management Professional

PS Planned Start Date

PSWBS Project Summary Work Breakdown Structure

PV Planned Value

QA Quality Assurance

QC Quality Control

RAM Responsibility Assignment Matrix

3/14/13 Project Management Knowledge Acronyms and Abbreviations » Project Management Knowledge

project-management-knowledge.com/acronyms-and-abbreviations/ 3/14

RBS Resource Breakdown Structure

RBS Risk Breakdown Structure

RD Remaining Duration

RFP Request for Proposal

RFQ Request for Quotation

SF Scheduled Finish date

SF Start-to-Finish

SOW Statement of Work

SPI Scheduled Performance Index

SS Scheduled Start date

SS Start-to-Start

SV Schedule Variance

SWAG Sophisticated Wild Ass Guess

SWOTStrenths, Weaknees, Oppurtunities, andThreads

TC Target Completion date

TF Target Finish date

TF Total Float

T&M Time and Material

TQM Total Quality Management

TS Target Start date

VE Value Engineering

WBS Work Breakdown Structure

Related Entries:

Start Date A start date of a project is sometimes determined by the expected completion date. If a project

is to be...

Scheduled Finish Date (SF) In project management, Scheduled Finish date (SF) or planned finish date, is

the date and time work was scheduled to...

Finish Date The term finish date refers specifically to the date in which the particular schedule activity as

part of the overall...

Actual Duration The term actual duration can refer to a couple of different things depending on usage andcontext. In one usage,...

Actual Start Date (AS) Effective Project Management depends largely on keeping track of Actual StartDates to determine productivity. The Actual Start Date marks...

3/14/13 Project Management Knowledge Acronyms and Abbreviations » Project Management Knowledge

project-management-knowledge.com/acronyms-and-abbreviations/ 4/14

Start Date A start date of a project is sometimes determined by the expected completion date. If a project

is to be...

Scheduled Finish Date (SF) In project management, Scheduled Finish date (SF) or planned finish date, is

the date and time work was scheduled to...

Finish Date The term finish date refers specifically to the date in which the particular schedule activity as

part of the overall...

Actual Duration The term actual duration can refer to a couple of different things depending on usage andcontext. In one usage,...

Actual Start Date (AS) Effective Project Management depends largely on keeping track of Actual Start

Dates to determine productivity. The Actual Start Date marks...

Search for: Search

Search

Search for: Search

Resources

DefinitionsA

Apportioned Effort (AE)

Arrow Diagramming Method (ADM) [Technique]

AcceptAcceptance

Acceptance Criteria

Acquire Project Team

ActivityActivity Attributes

Activity Code

Activity DefinitionActivity Description

Activity Duration

Activity Duration Estimating

Activity IdentifierActivity List

Activity Resource Estimating [Process]

Activity Sequencing [Process]

Activity-on-Arrow (AOA)Activity-on-Node

Actual Cost

Actual Cost of Work Performed (ACWP)

3/14/13 Project Management Knowledge Acronyms and Abbreviations » Project Management Knowledge

project-management-knowledge.com/acronyms-and-abbreviations/ 5/14

Actual DurationActual Finish Date (AF)

Actual Start Date (AS)

Analogous Estimating [Technique]

Application AreaApproval

Approve

Approved Change Request [Output/input]

ArrowAs-of Date

Assumptions Analysis [Technique]

Assumptions [Output/Input]Authority

B

Backward Pass

Bar Chart [Tool]Baseline

Baseline Finish Date

Baseline Start Date

Bill of materials (BOM)Bottom-up Estimating [Technique]

Brainstorming [Technique]

BudgetBudget at Completion

Budgeted Cost of Work Performed

Budgeted Cost of Work Scheduled

BufferBuyer

C

Calendar UnitChange Control

Change Control Board (CCB)

Change Control System [Tool]

Change RequestChart of Accounts

Charter

Checklist

ClaimClose Project

Closing Process

Co-locationCode of Accounts (in Project Management)

Common Cause

Communication (in project management)

Communication Management PlanCommunications Planning

Compensation

Component

Configuration Management System

3/14/13 Project Management Knowledge Acronyms and Abbreviations » Project Management Knowledge

project-management-knowledge.com/acronyms-and-abbreviations/ 6/14

Constraint

Contingency

Contingency AllowanceContingency Reserve

Contract

Contract Administration

Contract ClosureContract Management Plan

Contract Statement of Work

Contract Work Breakdown Structure

Control

Control Account

Control Account PlanControl Limits

Controlling

Corrective Action

Cost

Cost Baseline

Cost Budgeting

Cost ControlCost Estimating

Cost Management Plan

Cost of Quality (COQ)

Cost Performance Index

Cost Variance (CV)

Cost-Plus-Fee

Cost-Plus-Fixed-Fee (CPFF) ContractCost-Plus-Percentage of Cost (CPPC)

Cost-Reimbursable Contract

Crashing

Create Work Breakdown Structure (WBS)

Criteria

Critical Activity

Critical Chain Method

Critical PathCritical Path Method (CPM)

Current Finish Date

Current Start Date

Customer

D

Data Date (DD)

DateDecision Tree Analysis

Decomposition

Defect

Defect Repair

Deliverable

Delphi Technique

Dependency

3/14/13 Project Management Knowledge Acronyms and Abbreviations » Project Management Knowledge

project-management-knowledge.com/acronyms-and-abbreviations/ 7/14

Design Review

Develop Project Charter

Develop Project Management Plan

Develop Project Scope Statement (preliminary)

Develop Project Team

Direct and Manage Project Execution

DisciplineDiscrete Effort

Document

Documented Procedure

Dummy Activity

Duration

E

Early Finish Date

Early Start DateEarned Value

Earned Value Management

Earned Value Technique

Effort

Enterprise

Enterprise Environmental Factors

EstimateEstimate at Completion

Estimate to Complete

Event

Exception Report

Execute

Executing

Executing ProcessExecution

Expected Monetary Value Analysis

Expert Judgment

F

Failure Mode and Effect Analysis

Fast Tracking

Finish Date

Finish-to-FinishFinish-to-Start

Firm-Fixed-Price Contract

Fixed-Price or Lump Sum Contract

Fixed-Price-Incentive-Fee Contract

Float

Flowcharting

ForecastsForward Pass

Free Float

Functional Manager

Functional Organization

Funds

3/14/13 Project Management Knowledge Acronyms and Abbreviations » Project Management Knowledge

project-management-knowledge.com/acronyms-and-abbreviations/ 8/14

G

Gantt ChartGoods

Grade

Ground Rules

H

Hammock Activity

Historical Information

Human Resource Planning

IImposed Date

Influence Diagram

Influencer

Information Distribution

Initiating Process

Initiator

InputInspection

Integral

Integrated

Integrated Change Control

Invitation for Bid

Issue

KKnowledge

Knowledge Area Process

Knowledge Area, Project Management

L

Lag

Late Finish Date

Late Start Date

Latest Revised EstimateLead (Technique)

Lessons Learned

Lessons Learned Knowledge Base

Level of Effort (LOE)

Leveling

Life cycle

LogLogic

Logic Diagram

Logical Relationship

M

Manage Project Team

Manage Stakeholders

Master ScheduleMateriel

Matrix Organization

Methodology

3/14/13 Project Management Knowledge Acronyms and Abbreviations » Project Management Knowledge

project-management-knowledge.com/acronyms-and-abbreviations/ 9/14

Milestone

Milestone schedule

Monitor

Monitor and Control Project Work

MonitoringMonitoring and Controlling Processes

Monte Carlo Analysis

N

Near-Critical Activity

Network

Network Analysis

Network LogicNetwork Loop

Network Open End

Network Path

Networking [Technique]

Node

O

ObjectiveOperations

Opportunity

Organization

Organization Chart [Tool]

Organizational Breakdown Structure (OBS)

Organizational Process Assets

Original Duration (OD)Output

P

Parametric Estimating

Pareto Chart

Path Convergence

Path Divergence

Percent Complete (PC or PCT)

Perform Quality Assurance (QA)Perform Quality Control (QC)

Performance Maintenance Baseline

Performance Reporting

Performance Reports

Performing Organization

Phase

Plan ContractingPlan Purchases and Acquisitions

Planned Finish Date

Planned Start Date

Planned Value

Planning Package

Planning Processes

PortfolioPortfolio Management

3/14/13 Project Management Knowledge Acronyms and Abbreviations » Project Management Knowledge

project-management-knowledge.com/acronyms-and-abbreviations/ 10/14

Position Description

Practice

Precedence Diagramming Method

Precedence Relationship

Predecessor Activity

Preventive Action

Probability and Impact MatrixProcedure

Process

Process Group

Procurement Documents

Procurement Management Plan

Product

Product Life CycleProduct Scope

Product Scope Description

Program

Program Management

Program Management Office

Progressive Elaboration

ProjectProject Calendar

Project Charter

Project Communications Management

Project Cost Management

Project Human Resource Management

Project Initiation

Project Integration Management

Project Life CycleProject Management (PM)

Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK)

Project Management Information System (PMIS)

Project Management Knowledge Area

Project Management Office

Project Management Plan

Project Management ProcessProject Management Process Group

Project Management Professional

Project Management Software

Project Management System

Project Management Team

Project Manager

Project Organization ChartProject Phase

Project Process Groups

Project Procurement Management

Project Quality Management

Project Risk Management

Project Schedule

3/14/13 Project Management Knowledge Acronyms and Abbreviations » Project Management Knowledge

project-management-knowledge.com/acronyms-and-abbreviations/ 11/14

Project Schedule Network Diagram

Project ScopeProject Scope Management Plan

Project Scope Statement

Project Sponsor

Project Stakeholder

Project Summary Breakdown Structure

Project Team

Project Team DictionaryProject team members

Project Time Management

Project Work

Projectized Organization

Q

Qualitative Risk Analysis

QualityQuality Management Plan

Quality Planning

Quantitative Risk Analysis

R

RegulationReliability

Remaining DurationRequest for Information

Request for ProposalRequest for Quotation

Request Seller ResponsesRequested ChangeRequirement

ReserveReserve Analysis

Residual RiskResource

Resource Breakdown StructureResource CalendarResource Histogram

Resource LevelingResource Planning

Resource-constrained ScheduleResource-Limited Schedule

Responsibility Assignment MatrixResultRetainage

ReworkRisk

Risk AcceptanceRisk Avoidance

Risk Breakdown StructureRisk category

3/14/13 Project Management Knowledge Acronyms and Abbreviations » Project Management Knowledge

project-management-knowledge.com/acronyms-and-abbreviations/ 12/14

Risk Database

Risk identificationRisk management plan

Risk Management PlanningRisk Mitigation

Risk Monitoring and ControlRisk RegisterRisk Response Planning

Risk TransferenceRole

Rolling Wave PlanningRoot Cause Analysis

SS-Curve

ScheduleSchedule ActivitySchedule Analysis

Schedule CompressionSchedule Control

Schedule DevelopmentSchedule Management Plan

Schedule MilestoneSchedule ModelSchedule Network Analysis

Schedule Performance IndexScheduled Finish Date (SF)

Scheduled Start Date (SS)Scheduled Variance

ScopeScope ChangeScope Control

Scope CreepScope Definition

Scope PlanningScope Verification

Secondary RiskSelect SellersSeller

Sensitivity AnalysisService

Should-Cost EstimateSimulation

SkillSpecial CauseSpecification

Specification LimitsSponsor

Staffing Management PlanStakeholder

3/14/13 Project Management Knowledge Acronyms and Abbreviations » Project Management Knowledge

project-management-knowledge.com/acronyms-and-abbreviations/ 13/14

StandardStart DateStart-to-Finish (SF)

Start-to-StartStatement of Work

Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats (SWOT) AnalysisSubnetwork

SubphaseSubproject

Successor ActivitySummary Activity, Hammock ActivitySWAG

SystemT

Target Completion DateTarget Finish Date

Target ScheduleTarget Start Date (TS)Task

Team MembersTechnical Performance Measurement

TechniqueTemplate

ThreatThree-Point EstimatesThresholds

Time & Material (T&M) ContractTime-Scaled Schedule Network Diagram

ToolTotal Float

Total Quality Management (TQM)Trend Analysis [Technique]Triggers

Triple ConstraintU

UserV

ValidationValue EngineeringVariance

Variance AnalysisVerification

Virtual TeamVoice of the Customer

WWar RoomWork

Work Authorization (Method)Work Authorization System

3/14/13 Project Management Knowledge Acronyms and Abbreviations » Project Management Knowledge

project-management-knowledge.com/acronyms-and-abbreviations/ 14/14

Work Breakdown StructureWork Breakdown Structure Dictionary

Work PackageWork Performance Information

WorkaroundXZ

Blogroll

Project Management 2.0Scope Crêpe

General

Max’s Project Management WisdomMCTS Exam Preparation

PMIProjektmanagement (German)

The PM Podcast

This article about Acronyms and Abbreviations is fromproject-management-knowledge.com

© 2007-2010, All Rights Reserved.