Glossary

This glossary has been compiled from a number of sources including APM, Prince2, MSP.

Assurance
The process of providing evidence to stakeholders in order to provide confidence that an initiative (project, programme or activity) will achieve its objectives and realise its benefits.

Baseline
The starting point (in terms of cost, scope and schedule), providing reference levels against which activity can be measured, monitored and controlled.

Benefit
The quantifiable and measurable improvement resulting from an outcome that is perceived as positive by one or more stakeholders.

Blueprint
An envisioned future state defining how things will work or operate in the future. Often described through process, systems, organisation and technology.

Business Case
The business case records the justification for starting or continuing an initiative. It describes the benefits, costs and impact, plus a calculation of the financial case.

Change Request
A change to a project’s baseline scope, cost, time or quality objectives.

Dependencies
The relationship between activities in one initiative with activities in another initiative. Dependencies can be internal or external.

Escalation
The process by which issues are drawn to the attention of a higher level of management.

Gateway
A ‘checkpoint’ that is reached at the end of each phase of the lifecycle. Used to confirm that the business case is still viable and that there is confidence in progressing to the next phase. Progress can be evaluated by means of a gateway review.

Initiative
A term used within this guide to cover any project, programme or change activity.

Lifecycle
The inter-related phases of an initiative, providing a structure for the progression of work.

Objectives
Used to describe the direction or purpose rather than the end state.

Outcome
The changed circumstances or behaviour resulting from activities undertaken to effect the change.

Output
The tangible or intangible deliverable typically produced by an initiative.

Phase
A major stage of a lifecycle e.g. Establish the Need.

Reflective Analysis
The review and reflection of activity undertaken to identify lessons learned and ensure continuous improvement.

Resource
Resources are required to carry out tasks. They are typically people, equipment, facilities and funding.

Roadmap
A high-level overview of an initiative’s goals and deliverables presented on a timeline.

Stakeholder
Any individual, group or organisation (internal or external) that can affect or be affected by an initiative.

Theme
A topic that needs to be considered across all phases of the Delivering Results Lifecycle.

Tolerance
An acceptable variation above or below defined parameters (e.g. time, cost, quality) which does not require approval from the overseeing body.