Randall AndersonOwner| Great Ocean SoftwareWinters, Ca, United States
When referring to the various parts of a project (think activity, issue, risk, requirement, etc.) which generalized term do you prefer: component, element, item? Or another term? Saving Changes...
Senior Projects Manager | Field & Marten AssociatesNew Westminster, British Columbia, Canada
Randall, it depends on what you are referring to. Some parts we call them components, others we call them items, elements, phases, gates and so on but when it comes to activity, and requirement, we refer to them as is but issues, we refer to a single issue as an item.
...
1 reply by Randall Anderson
Aug 09, 2024 2:10 PM
Randall Anderson
...
Thanks, Rami.
A more specific scenario would be a Powerpoint slide, where I have a dozen bubbles on the slide with one of those words (risk, issue, activity, etc.) in each bubble. Words like "phase" and "gate" could be included and would have their own bubble. Now I want to collectively refer to the bubbles with a statement like "These are some of the project (things) that project managers deal with on a daily basis."
But instead of "project things," I want to say "project elements," "project components," or "project items," for example. PM literature is all over the map. I've seen them referred to in these different ways, plus others. I'm just trying to land on a word with the least confusion. Hope that makes sense. Thanks for any input.
Saving Changes...
Randall AndersonOwner| Great Ocean SoftwareWinters, Ca, United States
Aug 09, 2024 1:31 PM
Replying to Rami Kaibni
...
Randall, it depends on what you are referring to. Some parts we call them components, others we call them items, elements, phases, gates and so on but when it comes to activity, and requirement, we refer to them as is but issues, we refer to a single issue as an item.
Thanks, Rami.
A more specific scenario would be a Powerpoint slide, where I have a dozen bubbles on the slide with one of those words (risk, issue, activity, etc.) in each bubble. Words like "phase" and "gate" could be included and would have their own bubble. Now I want to collectively refer to the bubbles with a statement like "These are some of the project (things) that project managers deal with on a daily basis."
But instead of "project things," I want to say "project elements," "project components," or "project items," for example. PM literature is all over the map. I've seen them referred to in these different ways, plus others. I'm just trying to land on a word with the least confusion. Hope that makes sense. Thanks for any input.
Randall,
When I look at a the parts of a project overall, I think of terms that are on a continuum like phase. You don't walk through a looking glass and transition from one maturity level to the next.
When I consider terms like component, element, requirement, etc. I think about "deliverable" as a generic term for discrete items I want to check off a list. That shifts the meaning from an overall objective, to executable tasks.
Keith
...
1 reply by Randall Anderson
Aug 09, 2024 7:20 PM
Randall Anderson
...
Thanks, Keith. Please see my reply to Remi above. Sorry, I should have included that detail in my original post. Let me know if you have any suggestions on the terminology. It's probably picking nits, but I would like to choose a word I can stick with. I have this need quite often.
BTW, one of our sons lives in Renton. Nice area.
Saving Changes...
Sergio Luis ConteHelping to create solutions for everyone| Worldwide based OrganizationsBuenos Aires, Argentina
My recommendation is taking a look to PMI´s Glossary or Terms. Saving Changes...
Randall AndersonOwner| Great Ocean SoftwareWinters, Ca, United States
Aug 09, 2024 2:11 PM
Replying to Keith Novak
...
Randall,
When I look at a the parts of a project overall, I think of terms that are on a continuum like phase. You don't walk through a looking glass and transition from one maturity level to the next.
When I consider terms like component, element, requirement, etc. I think about "deliverable" as a generic term for discrete items I want to check off a list. That shifts the meaning from an overall objective, to executable tasks.
Keith
Thanks, Keith. Please see my reply to Remi above. Sorry, I should have included that detail in my original post. Let me know if you have any suggestions on the terminology. It's probably picking nits, but I would like to choose a word I can stick with. I have this need quite often.
Randall, I completely understand now. I spend a lot of time word-smithing when I know I'm going to be using a term repeatedly.
I personally would probably stick with element. Kiron's suggestion is more descriptive, but say it 10X quickly or type it repeatedly and you'll probably want more brevity.
In my opinion, the most important thing to expressing the concept is consistency. My brain tends to get ahead of my mouth when I'm trying to explain concepts, so I practice out loud knowing it might sound perfect in my head but then I trip over my words trying to say it. If you're saying something repeatedly out loud and the back part of your brain thinks it is awkward, try another term.
Use what works for you, and don't necessarily use one term for everything. Considering the word element as a scientific classification, I think of the periodic table. H, He, Li, Be, etc. are all very specific names for things at the very lowest level, but you can also divide them up as metals, rare earth elements, gases, etc. too. Those secondary terms collect several elements into well defined groups. Since the most formal sciences have different ways of organizing things by their properties, concepts like maturity level (phase) don't necessarily need the same descriptor as very specific things such as requirements.
(I do enjoy this part of the world too. I've lived many places, and the PNW nestled between the ocean and the mountains is one of my favorites.) Keith
...
1 reply by Randall Anderson
Aug 10, 2024 7:01 PM
Randall Anderson
...
Thanks, Keith. I think "elements" has won for my purpose. It will be used in tutorial videos, documentation, presentations and such.
Saving Changes...
Randall AndersonOwner| Great Ocean SoftwareWinters, Ca, United States
Aug 10, 2024 9:19 AM
Replying to Kiron Bondale
...
Randall -
These are all project information elements.
Kiron
Thanks, Kiron. I think I am settling on "elements." I went back and found an old tutorial video where I had used that term for this purpose. Saving Changes...
Randall AndersonOwner| Great Ocean SoftwareWinters, Ca, United States
Aug 10, 2024 12:21 PM
Replying to Keith Novak
...
Randall, I completely understand now. I spend a lot of time word-smithing when I know I'm going to be using a term repeatedly.
I personally would probably stick with element. Kiron's suggestion is more descriptive, but say it 10X quickly or type it repeatedly and you'll probably want more brevity.
In my opinion, the most important thing to expressing the concept is consistency. My brain tends to get ahead of my mouth when I'm trying to explain concepts, so I practice out loud knowing it might sound perfect in my head but then I trip over my words trying to say it. If you're saying something repeatedly out loud and the back part of your brain thinks it is awkward, try another term.
Use what works for you, and don't necessarily use one term for everything. Considering the word element as a scientific classification, I think of the periodic table. H, He, Li, Be, etc. are all very specific names for things at the very lowest level, but you can also divide them up as metals, rare earth elements, gases, etc. too. Those secondary terms collect several elements into well defined groups. Since the most formal sciences have different ways of organizing things by their properties, concepts like maturity level (phase) don't necessarily need the same descriptor as very specific things such as requirements.
(I do enjoy this part of the world too. I've lived many places, and the PNW nestled between the ocean and the mountains is one of my favorites.) Keith
Thanks, Keith. I think "elements" has won for my purpose. It will be used in tutorial videos, documentation, presentations and such. Saving Changes...
Community Champion
