Collection of definitions and links to more information on Product Management, Project Management, and related processes. Includes a definition of SCUM, Agile Software Development, Waterfall Development Method, and more.
| Term | Definition | Source or Additional Info |
|---|---|---|
| Agile Software Development | Collection of processes based on the “principles and values” in the Agile Manifesto; Overall, calls for iteritative development and improvements (as opposed to Waterfall Development Method), personal communication, short feedback loops, and focuses on delivering quality products.
Related: The Deming Cycle for improving quality over time |
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| Decision Log | A record of decisions made on a project or product enhancement; Includes what decision was made, who was consulted, when the decision was made, where in the cycle the decision was made, how the decision was made including what factors were taken in to account, and why a decision had to be made — was it a critical juncture, a pivot, or just a choice? | |
| Deming Cycle; Plan Do Check Act (PDCA) | Additional names: Deming Circle;Deming Wheel; Plan Do Check Act Adjust (PDCA); Plan Do Study Act (PDSA); Shewhart Cycle
Process for continuous improvement, meaning incremental improvements over time; Process is applicable to products, services, and processes. |
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| Dynamic Systems Development Method (DSDM) | One type of agile development methodology. Based on Rapid Application Development, DSDM is a method that requires an analysis phase of the project that includes a feasibility study and prototyping. | |
| Lean Software Development (LSD) | One type of agile development methodology. Based on Toyota’s Lean Production Method. | |
| Personas | Profiles of fictional characters that Product Managers create to represent the diverse uses of the product; A unique profile is created for each typified user, for example, Core product users; |Managers/ Approvers; Accounting | |
| Product | “A good, idea, method, information, object or service created as a result of a process and serves a need or satisfies a want. It has a combination of tangible and intangible attributes (benefits, features, functions, uses) that a seller offers a buyer for purchase.” | http://www.businessdictionary.com/definition/product.html |
| Product Life Cycle (PLC) | The process of producing and selling a product, including ideation, creation, introduction, maturation, and retirement. | |
| Product Life-Cycle Management (PLM) | See also Product Life Cycle (PLC); Phases are 1-Conceive, 2-Design, 3-Realize, and 4-Service.
Most Product Managers do their work in Phase 4-Service, enhancing an existing product, product suite, or platform to keep it relevant in the market/ to the customers, and competitive. |
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Product_lifecycle |
| Project | A planned undertaking | Project Management |
| Project Development Life Cycle (PDLC) | A collection of processes required to deliver a project, including planning (Inception, Elaboration), building (Construction), and delivering (Transition and Project Close Out) the project.
The specific processes of the PDLC will likely be unique to the industry, company, and even project type; The PMP process groups are universal across projects, companies, and industries. |
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| Project Management Process (PMP) | “Practice of initiating, planning, executing, controlling, and closing the work of a team to achive specific goals and meet specific success criteria at the specicified time.”
Project Management approaches differ; Generally there are two approaches, one with 4 stages or phases, and one with 5. |
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Project_management |
| Scaled Agile Framework (SAFe) | One type of agile development methodology. SAFe uses Lean and Agile principles to scale development across enterprises. It is designed for companies with multiple development teams. | |
| Scrum or SCRUM | Scrum is a brief, face to face meeting, specifically a huddle, such as a rugby scrum
Scrum is an agile development method. As part of an agile scrum framework, the development team (product owner, scrum master, and developers) have a daily meeting, typically a 15 minute “stand-up” meeting, so-called because the team stands throughout the meeting. |
Scrum.org: What is Scrum? |
| Service Level Agreement (SLA) | An commitment between service provider and client. | https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Service-level_agreement |
| Subject Matter Expert (SME) | A person with deep understanding (expertice) of a product, service, or process, that acts as a knowledge resource.
While not an agile scrum role, consulting with a SME is frequently required in order to fully document requirements. Consulting with a SME is definitely required prior to creating documentation/training materials. |
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| Waterfall Development Method | Linear development approach through phases of ideation, initiation, analysis, design, construction, testing, deployment, and method. The processes are the same in Agile Software Development but, unlike Agile, Waterfall is sequential and not iterative.
The Waterfall Model is most relevant when design changes are less likely to occur, such as in manufacturing of physical products. All design is delivered well prior to construction phase, and generally delivered once, rather than the rapidly repeating cycles (sprints) of the Agile Model. |
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Waterfall_model |
Technically Writing 