What is a Project?
Project Components & Shared Language
The Project Lifecycle
100

This term describes a temporary endeavor that creates a unique product, service, or result.

What is a project?

100

This component answers the question: What are we trying to achieve?  

What is the project goal?

100

The phase where the team formally authorizes the project and identifies stakeholders.

What is Initiating?

200

Unlike projects, these ongoing activities produce repetitive, routine outputs and have no defined end date.

What are operations?

200

This defines what is included — and excluded — from the project.

What is scope?

200

The phase where the project team develops the project management plan, baselines, and detailed scope.

What is Planning?

300

Time, budget, and resources are examples of these constraints that shape every project.

What are project constraints?

300

These individuals are anyone impacted by the project’s outcome, not just those doing the work.

Who are stakeholders?

300

The phase focused on coordinating people and resources to produce deliverables.

What is Executing?

400

According to the PMBOK® Guide, a project must have these two characteristics: a clear beginning and a clear end.

What are a defined start and finish?

400

This structured approach coordinates people, resources, tasks, and timelines to ensure goals are met within scope, budget, and schedule.

What is project management?

400

The phase that includes lessons learned, final acceptance, and releasing resources.

What is Closing?