Jeffrey GagneSystem Admin and future PMP| NoneGraniteville, Vt, United States
Is there a "dictionary" of sorts for those of us just getting into the profession? I have been keeping track of certain links and definitions, along with mentioned authors, from the webinars that I've watched. It's for my own reference but I was thinking that maybe someone has already done this? If not, I'd gladly write something up for future "newbies".
Thank you in advance for your input. Saving Changes...
There is a glossary in the PMBoK. From my personal experience taking on projects in a variety of domains however, looking up terms and acronyms myself has been extremely valuable in whatever new gig I've landed.
The process itself of looking something up and writing it down is extremely useful because it's involving both visual learning, the mental processing to put it into your own words, and the kinesthetic process of writing it down. That's one reason taking notes can be very valuable. Even if you never read the notes, it improves memory.
While I would certainly not try to talk you out of building your own glossary, I would recommend people develop theirs just like you are suggesting doing yourself. Saving Changes...
Sergio Luis ConteHelping to create solutions for everyone| Worldwide based OrganizationsBuenos Aires, Argentina
I was really expecting some sort of Douglas Adams reference in this topic.
42 Saving Changes...
Greg GithensAuthor, "How to Think Strategically." Executive & Leadership Coach| Catalyst & Cadre LLCLakewood Ranch, Fl, United States
Yes, there is great value in having common understandings. I believe that one of the great benefits of professionalization is that common understanding.
But, despite sanctioned glossaries from PMI and others, there is still considerable ambiguity.
Examples: scope has at least 2 official meanings (in PMI there is product scope and project scope) and probably more than that for unofficial meanings.
Ask any 5 people what governance means, and you'll get 5 different answers, each of them being variants of "here's what it means where I work."
And you'll find some incredibly mediocre understandings. Portfolio management, requirements, and strategic planning (in the PMI definitions) come to mind. Saving Changes...
The most recent version of the PMBOK Book version 6 which includes the Agile Practical Guide has an extensive list of most commonly used terms and acronyms that are part of the a Project Managers "Speak". It also includes a detailed description of each term and it relevance into PMBOK methodology. Saving Changes...
Information is not knowledge,
Knowledge is not wisdom,
Wisdom is not truth,
Truth is not beauty,
Beauty is not love,
Love is not music
and Music is THE BEST
