Project Management Vocabulary: 100 Key English Terms
Project work in international companies, agencies and engineering firms is often run in English: kickoff meetings, status reports, risk registers and sprint reviews all use the same core vocabulary. This glossary explains the words project managers use every day, from scope and milestones to backlogs and sign-off, in plain English and Turkish with examples from real project situations. It is written for project managers, team members, PMO staff and students who want to follow and lead projects in English.
100 terms
11 topics
45 core terms
200 example sentences
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No account needed. Read the meaning, see where the term is used, then study the examples. Click any word in the lesson for help. You can also select a word and press Alt + Enter.
Project Lifecycle
project
noun
Meaning
A temporary piece of work with a clear goal, a start date and an end date, done to create a specific product, service or result.
Where you use it
The basic word of the field. You start, launch, run, manage, deliver and close a project. It is different from ongoing operations: when the work never ends, such as running a help desk, it is usually not called a project.
Examples
The CRM migration is a six-month project with a team of eight people.
We can't start a new project until the current one is closed.
Usage note
The noun is stressed on the first syllable (PRO-ject), the verb “to project” on the second (pro-JECT).
Common phrases
run a project · launch a project · deliver a project · project team · pilot project
The first meeting of a project, where the team and key stakeholders meet to agree on goals, scope, roles, plan and ways of working.
Where you use it
Very common in agencies, consulting and IT projects. People hold, run or attend a kickoff meeting, and often just say “the kickoff”. There can be an internal kickoff and a separate one with the client.
Examples
The kickoff meeting with the client is on Monday, so please read the brief before then.
At the kickoff meeting, we agreed to send a status report every Friday.
Usage note
American English usually writes kickoff; British English often writes kick-off. Both are correct.
Common phrases
hold a kickoff meeting · internal kickoff meeting · client kickoff meeting · kickoff deck
A document, or set of documents, that explains how a project will be carried out: its scope, schedule, budget, resources, risks and how it will be controlled.
Where you use it
Prepared early in the project and updated when things change. People write, review, approve, update and follow the project plan. In everyday speech it can also just mean the Gantt chart or schedule.
Examples
I'll share the updated project plan after the sponsor approves the new dates.
According to the project plan, user training should start next week.
Common phrases
draw up a project plan · update the project plan · detailed project plan · according to the project plan
The series of phases a project goes through from start to finish, commonly initiation, planning, execution, monitoring and control, and closure.
Where you use it
Used in training, methodology documents and interviews. People say “at every stage of the project lifecycle” or “early in the lifecycle”. The exact phase names differ between methods and companies.
Examples
Risk management should continue through the whole project lifecycle, not only at the start.
In the interview, they asked me to describe each stage of the project lifecycle.
Usage note
You will see lifecycle, life-cycle and life cycle. All are accepted; lifecycle is the most common in project management.
Common phrases
stages of the project lifecycle · throughout the project lifecycle · early in the lifecycle
A short official document that authorises a project to start. It states the goals, high-level scope, main stakeholders, budget and the project manager's authority.
Where you use it
Signed by the sponsor at the start of the project. People draft, approve and refer back to the charter when there is a disagreement about goals. In PRINCE2, a similar role is played by the project initiation documentation (PID).
Examples
The project charter says the goal is to cut delivery times by 20%, not to replace the whole system.
Work can't start until the sponsor signs the project charter.
Common phrases
draft a project charter · approve the project charter · sign the project charter
One of the main stages a project is divided into, such as design, build or testing, each with its own goals and deliverables.
Where you use it
Common in plans, contracts and status reports. Projects enter, complete or move to the next phase. People talk about phase 1, the design phase or a phased approach (delivering in stages).
Examples
Phase 1 covers the three pilot stores; the rest of the country comes in phase 2.
We can't move to the build phase until the design is signed off.
Common phrases
design phase · next phase · phase 1 · phased approach · end of the phase
To introduce a new system, product, process or policy to its users, often step by step, for example first to one office and then to the whole company.
Where you use it
Used in IT, retail, HR and business change. Things are rolled out to users, regions or stores. The noun is rollout (or roll-out): a phased rollout, a global rollout, the rollout plan.
Examples
We'll roll out the new expense app to the Istanbul office first and to the other offices in June.
The rollout was paused after users in the pilot region reported login problems.
Usage note
Verb: roll out (two words). Noun: rollout or roll-out.
Common phrases
roll out to · phased rollout · rollout plan · global rollout
A document or argument that explains why a project is worth doing, comparing its expected benefits with its costs, risks and alternative options.
Where you use it
Written before a project is approved and checked again at key points. People write, build, present and approve a business case. “There is a strong business case for…” means there are good reasons to do something.
Examples
The business case shows that the new system will pay for itself in about three years.
Before the board approves the budget, we need a business case with at least two options.
Common phrases
build a business case · strong business case · approve the business case · make the business case for
An early study that checks whether a proposed project is practical and realistic, looking at technical, financial, legal and time factors before a final decision.
Where you use it
Common in construction, engineering, energy and large investment projects. Organisations commission, carry out or complete a feasibility study, and its results often feed into the business case.
Examples
The feasibility study found that the site could support the new building, but only with deeper foundations.
We commissioned a feasibility study before asking the board for the full budget.
Common phrases
carry out a feasibility study · commission a feasibility study · technical feasibility · feasibility report
All the work, features and results that a project has agreed to deliver, and by extension what it will not deliver.
Where you use it
One of the most frequent words in project work. You define, agree, expand, reduce or freeze the scope. Things are in scope or out of scope, and a scope statement describes it in writing.
Examples
Mobile support was never part of the scope, so we'll need a change request for it.
If the deadline can't move, we have to reduce the scope.
Common phrases
define the scope · scope statement · reduce the scope · within scope · scope of work
A specific product, document or result that a project must produce and hand over, for example a report, a design, a piece of software or a trained team.
Where you use it
Used in plans, contracts and status reports. Deliverables are defined, produced, reviewed, accepted and signed off. Each phase usually ends with one or more deliverables.
Examples
The main deliverable of the discovery phase is a requirements document approved by the client.
Two deliverables are late, but neither affects the launch date.
Usage note
In normal English, “deliverable” is an adjective (able to be delivered), but in project work it is almost always a countable noun: a deliverable, two deliverables.
Common phrases
key deliverables · produce a deliverable · sign off a deliverable · project deliverables · final deliverable
The slow, uncontrolled growth of a project's scope, when new features or tasks are added without adjusting time, budget or resources.
Where you use it
A common complaint in project meetings and lessons-learned sessions. Teams try to avoid, prevent or control scope creep, usually through a formal change request process.
Examples
Every small extra request looks harmless, but together they're turning into scope creep.
Scope creep added six weeks to the project, and nobody approved the extra budget.
Common phrases
avoid scope creep · control scope creep · cause scope creep · sign of scope creep
A tree-like breakdown of all the work in a project, from the main deliverables down to small work packages that can be estimated, assigned and tracked.
Where you use it
Usually shortened to WBS (said letter by letter). It is created in the planning phase and is the basis for the schedule, cost estimates and responsibilities. People create, build or break down the WBS.
Examples
Let's finish the work breakdown structure first; then we can estimate each work package.
Training wasn't in the work breakdown structure, so nobody had planned time for it.
Common phrases
create a work breakdown structure · WBS element · work package · level of the WBS
Something that the final product or result must do or have, as agreed with the client or users, for example a function, a performance level or a legal rule.
Where you use it
Requirements are gathered, documented, analysed, prioritised and approved. People often distinguish business requirements, functional requirements and non-functional requirements such as speed and security.
Examples
One key requirement is that the system must work offline in the warehouse.
We spent the first three weeks gathering requirements from the sales and finance teams.
Common phrases
gather requirements · business requirements · functional requirements · meet a requirement · requirements document
A formal request to change something already agreed in the project, such as the scope, schedule or budget. It is assessed and then approved or rejected.
Where you use it
Part of change control. Anyone can raise or submit a change request; the project manager assesses its impact, and the sponsor or a change board approves it. Often shortened to CR.
Examples
Adding a second language to the website will need a change request, because it affects cost and timing.
The change request was approved, with two extra weeks and an additional budget of 40,000 euros.
Common phrases
raise a change request · approve a change request · change request form · change control
The idea that scope, time and cost are linked, so a change to one of them, such as adding features, affects at least one of the others, with quality in the middle.
Where you use it
A classic idea in training and job interviews. Also called the iron triangle or project management triangle. People use it to explain trade-offs to clients: “fast, cheap, good: pick two”.
Examples
Because of the triple constraint, we can't add the new module without more time or more money.
I used the triple constraint to explain why the earlier date would mean fewer features.
Common phrases
the triple constraint · iron triangle · balance the triple constraint
The specific, agreed conditions that a deliverable or user story must meet before the client or product owner will accept it as complete.
Where you use it
Written in contracts, requirement documents and user stories. Deliverables meet, pass or fail the acceptance criteria. In agile teams they are often written as “Given… when… then…” scenarios.
Examples
One of the acceptance criteria is that the page loads in under two seconds on a mobile phone.
The story can't be closed because it doesn't meet all the acceptance criteria yet.
Usage note
Criteria is plural; the singular is criterion. Say “one criterion, two criteria”, not “one criteria”.
Not part of the work that the project has agreed to deliver, so it will not be done unless the scope is formally changed.
Where you use it
Very common in scope statements, proposals and meetings, often used to say no politely. The opposite is in scope. Before a noun it is hyphenated: out-of-scope items, an out-of-scope request.
Examples
Integration with the old accounting system is out of scope for this phase.
That request is out of scope, but we can raise a change request if it's important.
Common phrases
out of scope for · out-of-scope items · in scope · explicitly out of scope
An important point or event in a project schedule, such as the end of a phase or the approval of a key document. It marks progress and takes no time itself.
Where you use it
Used in plans, Gantt charts and status reports. Teams set, reach, hit or miss milestones. Payments in contracts are often linked to milestones.
Examples
We hit our first milestone yesterday: the prototype was approved by the client.
The second payment is due when the testing milestone is completed.
Common phrases
hit a milestone · miss a milestone · key milestone · milestone date · milestone payment
The latest date or time by which a task, deliverable or project must be finished.
Where you use it
Common in all workplaces. You set, agree, meet, miss, extend or move a deadline. A tight deadline leaves little time; a hard deadline cannot move, for example because of a legal date.
Examples
The deadline for the tender documents is Friday at 5 p.m., so we need the final figures by Thursday.
We missed the deadline by two days because the supplier delivered late.
Usage note
Say “meet a deadline”, not “catch a deadline”. Turkish “yetiştirmek” is translated with meet.
Common phrases
meet a deadline · miss a deadline · tight deadline · extend the deadline · hard deadline
The planned order and dates of the main activities and milestones of a project, often shown as a line or chart.
Where you use it
A general, everyday word for the project's schedule, common in presentations and client conversations. Timelines can be tight, realistic or ambitious, and they can slip or be revised.
Examples
The client asked if we could shorten the timeline by a month.
Here is the high-level timeline: design in March, build in April and May, launch in June.
A single piece of work that one person or a small group can complete, usually with an owner, a start and end date and a link to a bigger deliverable.
Where you use it
Used in planning tools such as Jira, Asana or MS Project. Tasks are created, assigned, estimated, updated and closed. Large tasks are broken down into subtasks.
Examples
I've assigned the data migration task to Burak; it should take about three days.
Please update your tasks in the tool before the stand-up.
Common phrases
assign a task · task owner · complete a task · break down a task · task list
A link between two tasks or deliverables where one cannot start or finish until the other has started or finished.
Where you use it
Important in scheduling and in risk reviews. Dependencies can be internal (inside the project) or external (on another team, supplier or project). People identify, map, manage and track dependencies.
Examples
We have a dependency on the security team: we can't go live until they approve the firewall changes.
Let's map all the external dependencies before we commit to a date.
A bar chart that shows project tasks as horizontal bars on a timeline, so you can see when each task starts and ends and how tasks depend on each other.
Where you use it
A standard planning tool, named after Henry Gantt, who made it popular in the early twentieth century. It is built in tools like MS Project or Excel and often shown in kickoff and steering meetings.
Examples
The Gantt chart shows that testing overlaps with the last two weeks of development.
Can you update the Gantt chart with the new delivery date from the supplier?
Usage note
Gantt is a proper name, so it starts with a capital letter and has double t.
Common phrases
update the Gantt chart · Gantt chart view · build a Gantt chart
The longest chain of dependent tasks in a project. It sets the shortest possible finish date, so any delay to a task on it delays the whole project.
Where you use it
Comes from the critical path method (CPM). Planners calculate it, and managers watch tasks “on the critical path” very closely. Tasks that are not on it have some float, or spare time.
Examples
The permit application is on the critical path, so a one-week delay there moves the opening by a week.
Painting isn't on the critical path, so it can wait a few days without affecting the handover.
Common phrases
on the critical path · critical path method · calculate the critical path · critical path activities
An informed guess of how long a task will take, how much effort it needs or how much it will cost, based on experience and the information available.
Where you use it
Also a verb: to estimate. Teams give, provide, revise and refine estimates. A rough estimate is made early; a detailed estimate comes later. In agile teams, estimates are often in story points.
Examples
Our first estimate was ten days, but after looking at the old code, the developers said fifteen.
Can you give me a rough estimate of the cost by tomorrow? It doesn't have to be exact.
Usage note
The noun ends like “it” (/ˈestɪmət/); the verb ends like “eight” (/ˈestɪmeɪt/).
Common phrases
rough estimate · give an estimate · cost estimate · revise the estimate · time estimate
The approved version of a project's scope, schedule or budget, saved so that real progress can be compared against it later.
Where you use it
Used in planning tools and formal reports. You set, approve, update or re-baseline a plan. People talk about the schedule baseline, cost baseline and scope baseline, and measure variance against them.
Examples
Compared with the baseline, we are three weeks late and 8% over budget.
After the sponsor approved the new scope, we set a new baseline for the schedule.
Common phrases
set a baseline · schedule baseline · cost baseline · re-baseline the plan · against the baseline
Later than planned; not progressing as fast as the schedule says it should.
Where you use it
Very common in status reports and meetings. Things can be slightly, badly or two weeks behind schedule. The opposites are on schedule and ahead of schedule.
Examples
The integration work is about ten days behind schedule because of missing test data.
We're behind schedule on the design, but we can catch up during the build phase.
Usage note
There is no article: say “behind schedule”, not “behind the schedule”. The same is true for “on schedule” and “ahead of schedule”.
Common phrases
fall behind schedule · weeks behind schedule · slightly behind schedule · ahead of schedule
Extra time added to a schedule, or extra money or capacity kept aside, to absorb delays and surprises without missing the final date.
Where you use it
An everyday word in planning. Planners add, build in, keep or use up a buffer. A time buffer is similar to schedule contingency; float is the technical word for spare time that a task naturally has in the network.
Examples
I've added a two-week buffer before the launch in case the testing finds serious bugs.
We've already used most of our buffer, so any new delay will move the go-live date.
Common phrases
add a buffer · build in a buffer · time buffer · use up the buffer
To shorten a schedule by doing tasks at the same time that were planned to be done one after the other. It saves time but increases the risk of rework.
Where you use it
A formal schedule compression technique, together with crashing (adding more resources). In general business English, fast-track also simply means to make something happen faster than usual: fast-track an approval.
Examples
To meet the opening date, we fast-tracked the interior work so it started before the roof was finished.
If we fast-track design and development, some screens may need to be rebuilt later.
Common phrases
fast-track the schedule · fast-track an approval · fast-tracking and crashing
Of a date, task or schedule: to move later than planned, usually little by little and often without anyone formally deciding it.
Where you use it
Very common in status meetings. Dates, milestones and deliveries slip by a week or slip to next month. It is also a noun: schedule slip, a slip of two weeks.
Examples
The delivery date has slipped again; the supplier now says the end of May.
If the design review slips by more than a week, the launch will slip too.
Common phrases
slip by a week · the date slipped · schedule slip · let the deadline slip
To move a meeting, deadline or event to a later time. In another common sense, it means to resist or argue against a request or decision.
Where you use it
Both meanings are frequent in project work: “We had to push back the launch” (delay) and “The client pushed back on the price” (resisted). The noun is pushback: “We got some pushback from the sales team.”
Examples
Can we push back the review meeting to Thursday? The test results won't be ready until Wednesday.
The team pushed back on the new deadline because it didn't include time for testing.
Usage note
The opposite of push back (make later) is bring forward in British English and move up in American English. “Move the meeting forward” is ambiguous, so many people avoid it.
Common phrases
push back the deadline · push back the launch · push back on · get pushback
The total amount of money approved for a project, usually broken down into costs such as staff, equipment, suppliers and a reserve for surprises.
Where you use it
You prepare, approve, allocate, track and stay within a budget. Projects can be on budget, over budget or under budget. It is also a verb: to budget for something means to plan money for it.
Examples
The board approved a budget of 2.4 million lira for the warehouse project.
We didn't budget for extra licences, so this needs approval from the sponsor.
Common phrases
approve the budget · stay within budget · budget for · project budget · budget cut
Costing more than the amount of money that was planned and approved.
Where you use it
Used in status reports, steering meetings and lessons-learned sessions. A project can be slightly or 15% over budget, and it can go or run over budget. The opposites are on budget, within budget and under budget.
Examples
The renovation is already 12% over budget, mainly because material prices went up.
If we add these features, we will go over budget unless we remove something else.
Usage note
No article: “over budget”, not “over the budget”, when it describes a project. “On time and on budget” is a fixed phrase for a successful project.
Common phrases
go over budget · run over budget · slightly over budget · under budget · on time and on budget
Extra money or time added to a project plan to cover known risks and unexpected problems.
Where you use it
Often written as a percentage of the budget. Teams add, include, use or release contingency. A contingency plan is a different thing: a backup plan to follow if a specific risk happens.
Examples
We've included a 10% contingency in the budget because of the uncertain ground conditions.
Half of the schedule contingency has already been used, and we're only in month three.
Common phrases
contingency budget · contingency reserve · contingency plan · build in contingency
The amount by which the actual cost of a project or task is higher than its approved budget.
Where you use it
A formal term used in reports, audits and news about large public projects. Projects have, suffer or face cost overruns, and people try to prevent or explain them. Similar: budget overrun, schedule overrun.
Examples
Most of the cost overrun came from overtime in the last two months.
The audit report lists a cost overrun of 1.2 million euros on the new terminal.
A prediction of how much a project will cost in the end or when it will finish, based on progress and spending so far.
Where you use it
Updated regularly and compared with the budget and baseline. Also a verb: we forecast a two-week delay. Project managers speak of the forecast cost, forecast completion date and the estimate at completion (EAC).
Examples
Our current forecast is 540,000 lira, which is still within the approved budget.
Finance asked us to update the forecast every month, not only at the end of each quarter.
Usage note
As a verb, the past tense is usually forecast (they forecast a delay last week); forecasted is also used, especially in American English.
Common phrases
update the forecast · cost forecast · forecast completion date · against forecast
The planned budget value of the work actually completed so far. Comparing it with planned value and actual cost shows whether a project is ahead or behind and under or over budget.
Where you use it
Part of earned value management (EVM), used on large and formal projects. It is shortened to EV and used with PV (planned value) and AC (actual cost) to calculate indices such as CPI (EV divided by AC) and SPI (EV divided by PV).
Examples
The earned value is lower than the planned value, which means we are behind schedule.
The client's contract requires a monthly earned value report with CPI and SPI.
Common phrases
earned value management · earned value analysis · earned value report
The process of buying the goods and services a project needs from outside suppliers, including choosing them, agreeing prices and managing contracts.
Where you use it
Also the name of the department that does it: “check with Procurement”. Procurement often involves an RFP (request for proposal), a tender and a contract. Long procurement times are a common cause of delays.
Examples
Procurement of the servers takes about eight weeks, so we need to order them this month.
The procurement team is preparing the tender for the cleaning services contract.
Common phrases
procurement process · procurement team · public procurement · procurement lead time
The speed at which a project spends its budget, usually measured per month or per week, often used to predict when the money will run out.
Where you use it
Used in budget reviews, consulting and start-ups. A burn rate can be high, low or increasing. Comparing the burn rate with the work completed shows whether spending is in line with progress.
Examples
At the current burn rate, the budget will run out two months before the end of the project.
Our burn rate went up when the external consultants joined in March.
Common phrases
monthly burn rate · current burn rate · reduce the burn rate · high burn rate
Any person or group that is affected by a project or can influence it, such as the client, users, managers, suppliers or the project team itself.
Where you use it
Used in planning documents, meetings and reports. Project managers identify, map, inform and engage stakeholders. Key stakeholders are the most important ones, usually people with decision power or a strong interest.
Examples
Before we finalise the design, we need feedback from all the key stakeholders.
The finance team is an important stakeholder because the new system changes their month-end process.
Usage note
A stakeholder is not the same as a shareholder (hissedar). Shareholders own shares; stakeholders simply have an interest in the project.
A senior manager who owns the business reason for a project, secures its funding, makes the big decisions and supports the project manager when problems need higher authority.
Where you use it
Every serious project should have one. The sponsor approves the business case, budget and major changes and often chairs the steering committee. People also just say “the sponsor”.
Examples
The project sponsor agreed to move the launch to May if we can keep the full scope.
Without an active project sponsor, decisions in this project take weeks.
Common phrases
executive sponsor · project sponsor approval · brief the sponsor · act as project sponsor
The ongoing work of involving stakeholders in a project: understanding their needs and concerns, communicating with them and keeping their support.
Where you use it
A key area in PMI's standards and in large projects. People plan, improve and measure stakeholder engagement, and often prepare a stakeholder engagement plan. It goes beyond sending information; it means two-way communication.
Examples
Poor stakeholder engagement in the early stages is why the store managers resisted the new system.
Our stakeholder engagement plan includes monthly workshops with the regional teams.
A document that sets out who needs what information about the project, when and how often they get it, through which channel and who is responsible for sending it.
Where you use it
Prepared in the planning phase and linked to the stakeholder analysis. It covers things like weekly status reports, steering meetings and newsletters. People create, follow and update the communication plan.
Examples
The communication plan says the board gets a one-page summary every month.
We forgot the call centre in the communication plan, and they heard about the change from customers.
Common phrases
project communication plan · follow the communication plan · update the communication plan
To contact someone again or take further action to check progress, get an answer or make sure something agreed actually happens.
Where you use it
One of the most common phrases in project emails. You follow up on a task or question, and follow up with a person. The noun and adjective are written follow-up: a follow-up email, a follow-up meeting.
Examples
I'll follow up with the supplier this afternoon and let you know the new delivery date.
Just following up on my email from Monday: could you confirm the budget figures?
Usage note
Verb: follow up (two words). Noun and adjective: follow-up (with a hyphen).
Common phrases
follow up on · follow up with · follow-up email · follow-up meeting
To make sure that clients, sponsors or users have a realistic idea of what will be delivered, when and at what quality, so they are not disappointed later.
Where you use it
A key soft skill for project managers, often mentioned in interviews and feedback. People manage the client's or stakeholders' expectations, usually by communicating early and honestly about limits and risks.
Examples
We need to manage expectations: the first release will only have the basic features.
She's very good at managing expectations, so clients are rarely surprised by bad news.
Real agreement with and support for a plan or decision from the people it affects, so that they are willing to help make it work.
Where you use it
Common in change and stakeholder management. You get, gain, secure or lack buy-in from managers, users or the team. Getting buy-in early is often described as key to project success.
Examples
Without buy-in from the store managers, the new stock system won't be used properly.
We ran workshops with the nurses early on to get their buy-in for the new rota tool.
Usage note
Buy-in has nothing to do with buying. Turkish speakers sometimes read it as a purchase; in project work it means support and commitment.
Common phrases
get buy-in · gain buy-in · buy-in from · lack of buy-in · senior management buy-in
An uncertain event that has not happened yet but could affect the project's time, cost, quality or scope if it does.
Where you use it
Project managers identify, assess, log, mitigate and monitor risks. Each risk is usually given a probability, an impact and an owner, and kept in a risk register. Some risks are positive and are called opportunities.
Examples
There's a risk that the new server won't arrive before the go-live date.
I've added the supplier's financial problems to the risk register as a high risk.
Usage note
A risk is in the future; once it happens, it becomes an issue.
Common phrases
identify a risk · raise a risk · high risk · risk owner · risk assessment
A problem that is already happening and affects the project, so someone needs to take action to solve it.
Where you use it
Used in status meetings, issue logs and reports. You raise, log, track, resolve or escalate an issue. It sounds more neutral and professional than “problem”, which is why it is so common in reports.
Examples
We have an issue with the test environment: it's been down since yesterday morning.
If the issue isn't resolved by Wednesday, I'll escalate it to the steering committee.
Common phrases
raise an issue · resolve an issue · issue log · open issues · escalate an issue
A document or table that lists a project's risks, with details such as their likelihood, impact, owner and the actions planned to deal with them.
Where you use it
Kept up to date by the project manager and reviewed in regular meetings. Risks are added to, updated in and closed in the risk register. Some teams keep it inside a wider RAID log.
Examples
Please add the currency risk to the risk register and assign it to the finance lead.
We review the top five items in the risk register at every steering meeting.
Common phrases
update the risk register · add to the risk register · review the risk register · risk register template
To take action that makes a risk less likely to happen, or makes its effect smaller if it does happen.
Where you use it
A formal word used in risk registers, reports and meetings. You mitigate a risk or its impact. The noun is mitigation: mitigation plan, mitigation actions. Other risk responses include avoid, transfer and accept.
Examples
To mitigate the risk of a late delivery, we ordered the steel from two suppliers.
What's the mitigation plan if the key developer leaves before go-live?
Usage note
Do not confuse mitigate with militate (to have a strong effect against something). Native speakers sometimes mix them up too.
Common phrases
mitigate a risk · mitigate the impact · mitigation plan · mitigating action
To pass a problem, risk or decision to someone with more authority because it cannot be solved at the current level.
Where you use it
Very common in project emails and meetings. You escalate an issue to the sponsor, the steering committee or senior management. The noun is escalation, and many projects have an escalation path or process.
Examples
The vendor still hasn't answered, so I'm going to escalate this to their account director.
Any issue that could delay the launch by more than a week must be escalated to the sponsor.
Usage note
In general English, escalate also means “to become worse or more serious”, as in “the conflict escalated”.
Common phrases
escalate an issue · escalate to the sponsor · escalation path · need to escalate
Something the team accepts as true for planning purposes without full proof, for example that a supplier will deliver on time or that users will be available for testing.
Where you use it
Listed in the project charter, plans, estimates and the RAID log. Assumptions should be written down, checked and validated, because a wrong assumption quickly becomes a risk or an issue.
Examples
Our estimate is based on the assumption that the old data is clean. If it isn't, migration will take longer.
Let's list the key assumptions in the proposal so the client can see what the price depends on.
Common phrases
key assumptions · make an assumption · validate an assumption · planning assumption
A single document or table where a project tracks its Risks, Assumptions, Issues and Dependencies, each with an owner and a status.
Where you use it
Popular in UK and consulting environments. RAID is said as one word, like “raid”. Some teams use the letters for Actions and Decisions instead. The RAID log is reviewed in weekly project meetings.
Examples
I've added the hosting contract to the RAID log as a dependency.
Before the steering meeting, please update the status of your items in the RAID log.
Common phrases
update the RAID log · RAID log review · add to the RAID log
A temporary way of getting the work done despite a problem, without actually fixing the cause of the problem.
Where you use it
Common in IT and operations. You find, use, agree on or document a workaround until a permanent fix is ready. The verb form is work around (two words): we can work around this problem.
Examples
Until the bug is fixed, the workaround is to export the report to Excel and filter it there.
The users accepted the workaround, but they won't use it for more than a month.
Common phrases
find a workaround · temporary workaround · manual workaround · use a workaround
Something that completely stops a person or team from continuing their work until it is removed, such as a missing approval, access or decision.
Where you use it
Very common in daily stand-ups and agile teams: “Any blockers?” People raise, remove, clear or escalate blockers. The adjective is blocked: “I'm blocked on the API”. In Scrum books, the formal word is impediment.
Examples
My only blocker is access to the production database; I've asked IT twice.
This approval has become a blocker for three teams, so let's escalate it today.
Common phrases
raise a blocker · remove a blocker · any blockers · be blocked on
Describes a way of managing work in short cycles, delivering small usable parts often and changing the plan based on regular feedback.
Where you use it
Used as an adjective (agile team, agile approach) and as a noun with a capital letter for the whole philosophy (“We moved to Agile last year”). It goes back to the Agile Manifesto of 2001. Scrum and Kanban are common agile frameworks.
Examples
Our mobile team works in an agile way, with two-week sprints and a demo at the end of each one.
Agile doesn't mean there is no plan; it means the plan is reviewed often.
Usage note
American English says /ˈædʒəl/ (A-jul), British English /ˈædʒaɪl/ (A-jile). Do not read it like Turkish “acil”.
Common phrases
agile approach · agile team · agile transformation · work in an agile way · agile coach
A popular agile framework in which a small team delivers work in fixed cycles called sprints, with set roles such as product owner and scrum master and regular events like planning and reviews.
Where you use it
Usually written with a capital S when it means the framework. The official description is the Scrum Guide. People talk about Scrum teams, Scrum events and Scrum roles, and say a team “uses Scrum” or “does Scrum”.
Examples
We use Scrum for the app, but the infrastructure team prefers Kanban.
In Scrum, the product owner decides the order of the work in the backlog.
Usage note
The word comes from rugby, where a scrum is a tight group of players pushing together.
Common phrases
Scrum team · Scrum framework · Scrum events · use Scrum · Scrum Guide
A short, fixed period, often two weeks and never longer than a month, in which a Scrum team completes an agreed set of work.
Where you use it
The heartbeat of Scrum. Each sprint starts with sprint planning and ends with a sprint review and a retrospective. People say “in this sprint”, “next sprint”, and talk about the sprint goal.
Examples
We can't fit the reporting feature into this sprint, so let's plan it for the next one.
The goal of Sprint 6 is to let users reset their password without calling support.
Common phrases
sprint goal · sprint review · two-week sprint · in this sprint · end of the sprint
In Scrum, the person responsible for getting the most value from the product, mainly by managing and ordering the product backlog and representing the needs of users and the business.
Where you use it
One of the three Scrum accountabilities, with the scrum master and the developers. Often shortened to PO. The product owner writes or approves user stories, sets priorities and accepts the work at the sprint review.
Examples
The product owner moved the payment feature to the top of the backlog after the client meeting.
Ask the product owner whether this bug is more important than the new search filter.
Usage note
A product owner is not the same as a project sponsor or a product manager, although one person may sometimes play more than one role.
Common phrases
act as product owner · product owner approval · check with the product owner
In Scrum, the person who helps the team and the organisation understand and use Scrum well, runs or supports the events and helps remove obstacles that slow the team down.
Where you use it
Often written Scrum Master with capitals. The role coaches and serves the team rather than giving orders, so it is described as a servant leader. Scrum masters facilitate daily stand-ups and retrospectives.
Examples
Our scrum master is talking to the network team so they unblock our test server today.
The scrum master suggested a shorter retrospective format because the team was tired of the old one.
Usage note
A scrum master is not the team's project manager or boss. In many companies, though, one person has both jobs.
Common phrases
act as scrum master · certified scrum master · scrum master role
An ordered list of all the work that might be done on a product, such as features, fixes and improvements, with the most important items at the top.
Where you use it
In Scrum there is a product backlog and, for each sprint, a sprint backlog. Items are added to, prioritised in, refined in and pulled from the backlog. The regular clean-up session is called backlog refinement or grooming.
Examples
Good idea, but it's not urgent. Let's add it to the backlog and discuss it in refinement.
The backlog has more than 200 items, so we need to remove the ones nobody will ever build.
Usage note
Outside agile, a backlog means work that has piled up and is waiting, often with a negative meaning: “a backlog of orders”.
Common phrases
product backlog · sprint backlog · backlog refinement · add to the backlog · prioritise the backlog
A short, simple description of a feature from the point of view of the person who will use it, often written as: As a [user], I want [something] so that [benefit].
Where you use it
The most common way to write backlog items in agile teams. User stories are written, split, estimated and accepted. Each story usually has acceptance criteria and an estimate in story points.
Examples
Here's the user story: as a customer, I want to save my card details so that I can pay faster next time.
This user story is too big for one sprint, so let's split it into three smaller ones.
Common phrases
write a user story · split a user story · user story format · estimate a user story
A very short daily team meeting, often 15 minutes, where each person shares progress, plans for the day and anything blocking their work.
Where you use it
Called the Daily Scrum in the Scrum Guide, but most teams just say stand-up or daily. People often stand so the meeting stays short. Detailed problem solving is moved to a separate conversation after it.
Examples
At the daily stand-up, Can said the API changes were blocking his work.
Our daily stand-up is at 9:30, so please don't book other meetings at that time.
Usage note
Stand-up is also written standup. A “stand-up comedian” is something else entirely.
Common phrases
daily stand-up · stand-up meeting · join the stand-up · run the stand-up
A regular team meeting at the end of a sprint or project to discuss what went well, what did not and what to change in the next cycle.
Where you use it
One of the Scrum events, often shortened to retro in speech. Teams hold or run a retrospective and agree on a few improvement actions. The focus is on the process, not on blaming people.
Examples
In the retrospective, the team agreed to stop accepting new work in the middle of the sprint.
We hold a retrospective every two weeks, right after the sprint review.
Common phrases
sprint retrospective · hold a retrospective · retrospective actions · run a retro
A way of managing work by showing it on a board with columns such as To do, In progress and Done, and limiting how many items can be in progress at the same time.
Where you use it
Comes from a Japanese word for a visual card or signal, first used in Toyota's production system. Unlike Scrum, it has no fixed sprints; work flows continuously. Teams use a Kanban board and set WIP (work in progress) limits.
Examples
The support team uses Kanban because new tickets arrive every day and can't wait for the next sprint.
Move the card to the Done column on the kanban board when the client has approved it.
The amount of work an agile team usually completes in one sprint, often measured as the total story points of the finished items.
Where you use it
Used to plan how much work fits into future sprints and to forecast release dates. Teams track, measure and stabilise their velocity. It is meant for a team's own planning, not for comparing different teams.
Examples
Our average velocity is about 30 points, so 45 points in one sprint is not realistic.
Velocity dropped this sprint because two people were on holiday.
Common phrases
team velocity · average velocity · track velocity · velocity chart
A unit agile teams use to estimate the relative size of work, combining effort, complexity and uncertainty instead of counting hours.
Where you use it
Teams often use a scale like 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, and estimate together, for example with planning poker. People say a story “is five points” or “we estimated it at eight”. Points are compared within one team only.
Examples
The team gave the new login page 8 story points because of the security requirements.
Story points aren't hours, so please don't convert them into days for the client.
Common phrases
estimate in story points · story point estimate · planning poker · assign story points
The meeting at the start of each sprint where the Scrum team agrees on a sprint goal, chooses the backlog items it will deliver and plans how to do the work.
Where you use it
One of the official Scrum events. The product owner explains the priorities and the developers decide how much they can take on, often using their velocity. People say “in sprint planning” or “at sprint planning”.
Examples
In sprint planning, we agreed to focus on checkout bugs and leave the new design for later.
Sprint planning took three hours because the stories weren't refined in advance.
Common phrases
sprint planning meeting · in sprint planning · prepare for sprint planning
A shared checklist of quality conditions that every piece of work must meet before the team can call it finished, such as tested, reviewed and documented.
Where you use it
A Scrum term, often shortened to DoD. It applies to all items, unlike acceptance criteria, which are specific to one story. Work that does not meet the definition of done goes back to the backlog.
Examples
It works on my laptop, but it isn't done: our definition of done includes automated tests.
We updated the definition of done to include an accessibility check.
Common phrases
meet the definition of done · agree on a definition of done · team's definition of done
One short, repeated cycle of planning, building, testing and reviewing, after which the product is improved based on what was learned.
Where you use it
A general agile word; in Scrum, an iteration is called a sprint. The adjective iterative describes an approach that improves a product step by step: an iterative approach, iterative development.
Examples
We'll release a basic version first and add features in each iteration.
After three iterations, the users finally said the dashboard was easy to use.
Common phrases
next iteration · iterative approach · iteration length · in each iteration
A chart that shows how much work is left over time, usually in a sprint or release, so the team can see if it will finish everything by the end date.
Where you use it
Common in Scrum teams and agile tools such as Jira. The line should go down towards zero; a flat line means work is not being finished. A burnup chart shows completed work going up instead.
Examples
The burndown chart has been flat for four days, so something is clearly blocking the team.
I share the burndown chart at the end of each daily stand-up.
A traditional way of running projects in which work moves through fixed phases in order, such as requirements, design, build, test and handover, and each phase is finished before the next starts.
Where you use it
Often used as an adjective too: waterfall project, waterfall approach. It suits work with stable, well-known requirements, such as construction. It is usually mentioned in contrast with agile.
Examples
The factory build follows a waterfall plan, because you can't pour the foundations after the walls.
In a waterfall project, a late change to the requirements can be very expensive.
Common phrases
waterfall approach · waterfall project · waterfall model · traditional waterfall
A defined system of processes, roles, documents and rules for running projects in a consistent way, such as PRINCE2 or an organisation's own method.
Where you use it
Common in job adverts, interviews and PMO documents. Organisations adopt, follow, tailor or combine methodologies. In everyday use it overlaps with framework and approach; Scrum describes itself as a framework.
Examples
Which project management methodology does your company use?
The PMO tailored the methodology so that small projects need fewer documents.
Common phrases
project management methodology · agile methodology · follow a methodology · tailor the methodology
A way of running a project that mixes traditional, plan-driven methods with agile practices, for example a fixed overall plan with sprints for the software work.
Where you use it
Very common in real organisations, especially when contracts, budgets or hardware need a fixed plan but parts of the work benefit from flexibility. People use, adopt or move to a hybrid approach or hybrid model.
Examples
We use a hybrid approach: the construction work follows a fixed schedule, and the app team works in sprints.
The bank chose a hybrid approach because the regulator needs fixed milestones.
Common phrases
hybrid approach · hybrid model · adopt a hybrid approach · hybrid project management
A formal checkpoint at the end of a project phase where decision-makers review the results and decide whether the project continues, changes direction or stops.
Where you use it
Common in product development, engineering and large corporate projects. Also called a stage gate or gate review. The decision is often described as go/no-go. Projects pass, prepare for or fail a gate.
Examples
At the next phase gate, the board will decide whether to fund the pilot production line.
We need the cost model and the test results ready for the phase gate review.
A structured, process-based project management method that started in the UK government and is now used in many countries. The name stands for PRojects IN Controlled Environments.
Where you use it
Popular in the UK, Europe and the public sector, and known for its principles, defined roles, management by stages and management by exception. People are PRINCE2 certified at Foundation or Practitioner level. Said “prince two”.
Examples
The ministry requires all large IT projects to be run with PRINCE2.
In PRINCE2, the project board makes the key decisions and the project manager runs the project day to day.
A short, regular report that tells stakeholders how a project is going: what has been done, what comes next, and the main risks, issues and decisions needed.
Where you use it
Usually sent weekly or monthly by the project manager. It often includes a RAG status for schedule, budget and scope. People write, send, share and present status reports; in speech, “status update” is also common.
Examples
This week's status report shows the project as amber because of the delay in testing.
Can you send me your updates by Thursday so I can finish the status report?
Usage note
Status is usually pronounced /ˈsteɪtəs/ (STAY-tus); /ˈstætəs/ is also heard in American English. Saying it like Turkish “statü” sounds wrong in English.
Common phrases
weekly status report · send a status report · status report template · status update
A simple traffic-light rating used in reports: red means serious problems, amber means some problems or risks, and green means everything is on track.
Where you use it
RAG stands for red, amber, green. It appears in status reports and dashboards, often separately for schedule, budget, scope and risks. People say a project “is amber” or “has gone red”. American teams may say red, yellow, green.
Examples
The RAG status for budget is green, but schedule is amber because of the late hardware.
If the RAG status goes red, the sponsor expects a recovery plan within a week.
Common phrases
RAG status · RAG rating · go red · amber status · RAG report
Progressing as planned and likely to reach the agreed goal, date or budget.
Where you use it
One of the most frequent phrases in status updates. Projects and tasks are on track, back on track or off track. You can also keep or get a project on track.
Examples
Overall, we're on track for the June launch, but testing is a bit tight.
With the extra developer, the project is back on track.
Common phrases
on track for · back on track · off track · keep the project on track
A group of senior managers and key stakeholders who give a project direction, make major decisions, approve big changes and help solve escalated problems.
Where you use it
Usually meets monthly or at key milestones, and is often chaired by the project sponsor. People present to, report to or escalate to the steering committee. Often shortened to SteerCo; in PRINCE2 a similar body is the project board.
Examples
The steering committee will decide next week whether to delay the launch or reduce the scope.
I need your figures by Monday for the steering committee pack.
Common phrases
steering committee meeting · present to the steering committee · steering committee pack · SteerCo
Short for project management office: a team or department that sets project standards, methods and templates, supports project managers and collects reports across many projects.
Where you use it
Said letter by letter: P-M-O. Can also mean programme or portfolio management office. People talk about the PMO's templates, PMO reporting and working “in the PMO”. Its role ranges from light support to strict control.
Examples
The PMO asked all project managers to use the new status report template from next month.
I started as a PMO analyst before I moved into project management.
Common phrases
PMO analyst · PMO reporting · set up a PMO · PMO standards
A specific task agreed during a meeting, with a person responsible for it and a date by which it must be done.
Where you use it
Written in meeting minutes and follow-up emails, and checked at the next meeting. People assign, take, own, close or chase action items. Often simply called actions: “I'll take that action.”
Examples
I'll send the minutes with the action items and owners by the end of the day.
There are still four open action items from last week's meeting.
Common phrases
assign an action item · open action items · action item owner · close an action item
A one-page visual summary of a project's or portfolio's key information, such as progress, budget, risks and KPIs, usually with charts and status colours.
Where you use it
Built in tools such as Power BI, Jira or Excel and used by managers who want a quick overview. People build, update, share and check a dashboard. A project dashboard often uses RAG colours.
Examples
The CFO checks the portfolio dashboard every Monday before the management meeting.
Can we add the open risks to the dashboard so the sponsor sees them without reading the full report?
Common phrases
project dashboard · build a dashboard · update the dashboard · portfolio dashboard
Short for key performance indicator: a measurable value that shows how well a project, team or organisation is doing against an important goal.
Where you use it
Said letter by letter: K-P-I; the plural is KPIs. In projects, KPIs can measure delivery (on-time milestones, budget variance) or results (user adoption, cost savings). People set, track, report on and meet KPIs.
Examples
One KPI for the project is that 90% of staff use the new system within three months of go-live.
We report our KPIs to the steering committee every month.
The person responsible for planning a project, organising the team and making sure the work is delivered on time, within budget and to the agreed scope.
Where you use it
A job title and a role. In emails and meetings it is often shortened to PM. A project manager reports to a sponsor or steering committee, leads the team, tracks progress and handles risks and issues.
Examples
Please send all change requests to the project manager, not directly to the developers.
As project manager, Elif runs the weekly status meeting and updates the risk register.
Usage note
In software companies PM can also mean product manager, a different role. Check which one people mean.
Common phrases
assign a project manager · senior project manager · act as project manager · report to the project manager
Anything a project needs to do its work, especially people, but also equipment, materials, money and time.
Where you use it
In project talk, “resources” very often simply means people. Managers plan, request, allocate, share and free up resources. A project can be under-resourced (not enough people) or well resourced.
Examples
We need one more tester; the current resources won't be enough for the regression tests.
Two developers were moved to another project, so we are now under-resourced.
Usage note
Calling people “resources” is normal in project English, but some people find it cold. In emails to the team, “people” or “team members” sounds warmer.
Common phrases
allocate resources · resource plan · free up resources · human resources · resource constraints
To decide that a certain amount of people, money or time will be used for a specific task, team or purpose.
Where you use it
A common planning verb. You allocate resources, budget, people or time to a task or project. The noun is allocation, as in resource allocation and budget allocation.
Examples
We've allocated two designers to the project for the first three months.
About 10% of the budget is allocated to training and change management.
Common phrases
allocate resources · allocate a budget · allocate time · resource allocation
The amount of work a person or team has to do in a certain period of time.
Where you use it
Used when planning and when talking about stress or capacity. A workload can be heavy, light, manageable or unrealistic. Managers balance, spread or reduce the workload across the team.
Examples
Zeynep's workload is too heavy this month, so let's move the report to Murat.
Before I accept the new task, can we look at my current workload together?
Common phrases
heavy workload · balance the workload · manage your workload · reduce the workload
A table that shows, for each task or decision, who is Responsible for doing it, who is Accountable for it, who must be Consulted and who must be kept Informed.
Where you use it
Created during planning to avoid confusion about roles. Each task should have exactly one Accountable person. RACI is usually said as one word, “RAY-see”, and people also call it a RACI chart.
Examples
According to the RACI matrix, IT is responsible for the migration, but the finance director is accountable.
Let's build a RACI matrix so everyone knows who approves the vendor contracts.
Usage note
Turkish speakers often mix up Responsible and Accountable. Responsible does the work; Accountable owns the result and gives final approval.
Common phrases
RACI matrix · RACI chart · build a RACI · update the RACI
The amount of work a person or team is able to do in a given period, considering working hours, holidays and other commitments.
Where you use it
Used in resource planning and sprint planning. A team can be at capacity (fully busy), over capacity or have spare capacity. People plan, check and free up capacity; “I don't have the capacity” is a polite way to say you are too busy.
Examples
The design team is at full capacity until the end of the month, so the new banners will have to wait.
With two people on leave, our capacity for this sprint is about 20% lower.
Common phrases
at full capacity · spare capacity · capacity planning · free up capacity
A team made up of people with different skills or from different departments, such as IT, finance, sales and operations, who work together on the same goal.
Where you use it
Common in project and agile environments, where one team should have all the skills it needs to deliver. People build, lead or work in a cross-functional team. Leading one usually means managing people who do not report to you.
Examples
The launch is run by a cross-functional team from marketing, IT, logistics and customer service.
Leading a cross-functional team taught me how to get support without formal authority.
Common phrases
lead a cross-functional team · cross-functional collaboration · build a cross-functional team
A person with deep knowledge of a particular area, such as tax law, a production line or an old IT system, whose advice the project needs.
Where you use it
Usually shortened to SME, said letter by letter (S-M-E) or sometimes as “smee”. SMEs are often part-time on a project: they are consulted, review requirements and help with testing.
Examples
We need a subject matter expert from the tax department to check these invoice rules.
Our subject matter experts can give the project only one day a week.
Usage note
In business news, SME can also mean small and medium-sized enterprises (KOBİ). The context makes the meaning clear.
Common phrases
subject matter expert · SME input · involve the SMEs · technical subject matter expert
An outside company that sells products or services to the project, such as software, equipment or specialist work.
Where you use it
Very common in IT projects, often as a synonym for supplier. Projects select, manage, evaluate and pay vendors. Related phrases: vendor management, third-party vendor, vendor lock-in (depending too much on one vendor).
Examples
The vendor has promised a fix for the reporting bug by next Thursday.
We compared three vendors before choosing the new warehouse system.
The useful knowledge a team gains from a project, both from what went well and from what went wrong, recorded so future projects can benefit.
Where you use it
Collected in a lessons-learned session or workshop, usually at the end of a phase or project, and stored in a lessons-learned log or report. Used as a plural noun and as an adjective before another noun.
Examples
One of the lessons learned was that we should involve the legal team much earlier.
Let's book a lessons-learned session for the week after go-live.
Usage note
British English also uses “lessons learnt”, but “lessons learned” is the standard form in project management.
The formal transfer of a finished product, a system or a piece of work, along with the knowledge and documents needed, from the project team to the people who will use or support it.
Where you use it
Common near the end of projects, in construction and in IT operations. There is a handover meeting, a handover document and a handover date. The verb is hand over (two words): hand over the building, hand over to support.
Examples
The handover to the operations team is planned for the end of the month.
Please prepare a handover document before you go on leave.
Usage note
American English often says handoff instead of handover.
Formal approval from an authorised person that a deliverable, phase or document is complete and acceptable, so the project can move on.
Where you use it
Used all through a project, not only at the end. You need, get, give or wait for sign-off from the client or sponsor. The verb is sign off (two words), often with on in American English: sign off on the design.
Examples
We can't start development until we get sign-off on the final designs.
The client signed off the user acceptance tests on Friday, so we're ready for go-live.
Usage note
The noun has a hyphen (sign-off); the verb is two words (sign off). In general English, sign off can also mean ending a letter, email or broadcast.
Common phrases
get sign-off · final sign-off · sign off on · client sign-off · formal sign-off
The final phase of a project, when the work is formally completed: deliverables are accepted, contracts are closed, the team is released and documents and lessons are archived.
Where you use it
Often rushed or skipped when the team moves to new work, which is why methods insist on it. People talk about the closure phase, a project closure report and closure activities. The verb is close: close the project.
Examples
Project closure will take two weeks: final invoices, archiving and the lessons-learned workshop.
The project closure report must be approved by the sponsor before the budget code is closed.
Common phrases
project closure report · formal project closure · closure phase · close the project
A meeting or review held after a project or a serious problem has ended, to understand what happened, why, and what should be done differently next time.
Where you use it
Common in IT and tech companies, especially after outages or failed launches. Teams hold, run or write up a post-mortem. Many teams aim for a blameless post-mortem that focuses on systems, not on blaming individuals.
Examples
We'll do a post-mortem on Friday to understand why the release failed.
The post-mortem showed that nobody had tested the backup process.
Usage note
The word comes from medicine, where a post-mortem is an examination of a dead body. Some teams prefer “retrospective” or “post-project review” because it sounds more positive.
Common phrases
hold a post-mortem · blameless post-mortem · post-mortem report · project post-mortem
The moment when a new system, website or process starts to be used for real work by real users, after development and testing are complete.
Where you use it
A key milestone in IT and business-change projects. People talk about the go-live date, go-live weekend and go-live support. The verb is go live (no hyphen): the new system goes live on Monday.
Examples
The go-live is planned for the first weekend of April, when the stores are quieter.
The new payroll system went live last month without any major problems.
Usage note
Noun with a hyphen (the go-live), verb without (it will go live). Turkish speakers often say “canlıya almak”, which in English is “to put into production” or “to deploy”.
Common phrases
go-live date · go-live support · go live · after go-live
Ten questions from this glossary. Pick the right meaning for each term and see your score.
How to learn project management vocabulary
Learn terms in pairs that are easy to mix up: risk and issue, milestone and deadline, scope and requirement, project sponsor and product owner. In meetings, using the right one shows that you know how projects really work.
Read real project texts in English, such as status reports, project charters, meeting minutes, change requests and the Scrum Guide, and notice which verbs go with each term: raise a risk, hit a milestone, sign off a deliverable.
Build a small phrase bank for status updates: “We are on track”, “The design phase is two weeks behind schedule”, “This is now a blocker”, “I'll follow up with the vendor”. You will use these sentences in almost every meeting.
Practise the abbreviations out loud. WBS, PMO and KPI are said letter by letter, while RACI and RAID are usually said as one word; RAG can be heard both ways.
Pay attention to phrasal verbs such as push back, roll out, follow up and sign off. They are everywhere in project emails and are often where Turkish speakers lose the exact meaning.
Frequently asked questions
Do Turkish project teams use the English terms or the Turkish ones?
Both. In daily work many English words are used as they are inside Turkish sentences: deliverable, milestone, kickoff, sprint, backlog, deadline. Formal documents, training material and the Turkish editions of standards prefer Turkish equivalents such as kapsam, kilometre taşı, paydaş and iş kırılım yapısı. Knowing both helps you in meetings and in written reports.
What is the difference between a risk and an issue?
A risk is something that might happen in the future and would affect the project if it did. An issue is a problem that is already happening and needs action now. When a risk actually occurs, it becomes an issue, and teams usually move it from the risk register to the issue log.
What is the difference between agile and waterfall?
Waterfall plans the whole project at the start and moves through fixed phases one after another, such as requirements, design, build, test and handover. Agile delivers the work in short cycles, often called sprints or iterations, and adjusts the plan after each one based on feedback. Many organisations combine the two in a hybrid approach.
What is the difference between a project, a programme and a portfolio?
A project is temporary work with a clear start, end and result. A programme is a group of related projects managed together because they serve the same bigger goal. A portfolio is the full set of projects and programmes an organisation runs, chosen and prioritised to match its strategy. British English writes programme; American English writes program.
How do people talk about delays in English project meetings?
The most common phrases are behind schedule, the date has slipped and we need to push back the launch. To say things are fine, people say on track or on schedule. A RAG status (red, amber, green) is often used to show the same thing in a report. Notice that there is no article: behind schedule, not behind the schedule.
