PM Keywords (less heard ones)

Rolling Wave Planning: You plan for only a few weeks (this is different from SCRUM where you plan only for a sprint). Once one week work is complete you add one week to your schedule.

Responsibility Assignment Matrix (RAM) – Show who does what (x=person, y=phase). The most important feature of the RAM is the participatory development process involving all stakeholders. Show who is participant, who is accountable, who handles reviews, who provides input and who must sign off on specific work packages or project phases.

Motivational Theory: Content & Process Theories

Content: “What” energizes, directs behavior –

1. Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs Theory (Physiological, Safety, Social/Belonging, Esteem, Self-Actualization)

2. Hertzberg’s Motivator/Hygiene Theories (Motivator: Self-Actualization, Esteem ; Hygiene: Social, Safety, Physiological)

Process: “How” personal factors influence behavior

1. McGregor’s Theory X and Theory Y (X: Assumes people lack ambition, dislike responsibility, are inherently self-centered and are not very bright; motivate by reward and punishment. Y: Assumes people become lazy w/o recognition, will accept responsibility, can become self-motivated and exercise self-control; motivate by removing obstacles and providing self-directed environment.)

2. Ouchi’s Theory Z/Japanese Theory ( focus on team, company; usually lifetime employment, collective decisionmaking )

Monte Carlo Analysis - computer simulation of project outcomes using PERT estimates; result represented in S curve. Provides the ability to compute the probability of completing a project on a specific day. Can also be used to assess feasibility of schedule under adverse conditions (eg when a schedule constraint is identified)

Heuristics - rules of thumb

Ishikawa: Made popular Pareto Chart, Cause-and-Effect Diagram and Control Chart.

Taguchi Method: Is used to estimate the loss associated with controlling or failing to control process variability. If you select good design parameters, you can produce products that are forgiving and tolerant. The tool helps determine the value or break-even point of improving a process to reduce variability.

Delphi Technique:A forecasting technique used to gather information; it relies on gathering expert opinions. usually goes three rounds; Gain consensus of expert opinions.

Kaizen: Continuous Improvement.


Gold Plating: Giving the customer more than was required, it has no value.

Kaizen (Continous Improvement): Japanese term. Kai (alter) Zen (make better or improve). Small improvements in products or processes to reduce costs and ensure consistency of performance of products or services.

Statistical Independence: The probability of one event occurring does not affect the probability of another event occurring (e.g. rolling a dice in subsequent rolls)

Marginal Analysis: The concept of optimal quality level is reached at the point where the incremental revenue from the product improvement equals the incremental cost to secure it.

Halo Effect: The tendency to rate high or low on all factors due to the impression of a high or low rating on a specific factor. This can mean, "You are a great programmer. Therefore, we will make you a Project Manager and also expect you to be great".