Activities | Project steps that consume resources and/or time.
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Activity-on-arrow (AOA) | Network diagram convention in which arrows designate activities.
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Activity-on-node (AON) | Network diagram convention in which nodes designate activities.
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Beta distribution | Used to describe the inherent variability in activity time estimates.
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CPM | Critical path method, for planning and coordinating large projects.
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Crash | Shortening activity durations.
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Critical activities | Activities on the critical path.
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Critical path | The longest path; determines expected project duration.
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Deterministic | Time estimates that are fairly certain.
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Events | The starting and finishing of activities, designated by nodes in the AOA convention.
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Independence | Assumption that path duration times are independent of each other; requiring that activity times be independent, and that each activity is on only one path.
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Most likely time | The most probable length of time that will be required.
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Network (precedence) diagram | Diagram of project activities that shows sequential relationships by use of arrows and nodes.
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Optimistic time | The length of time required under optimal conditions.
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Path | A sequence of activities that leads from the starting node to the finishing node.
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PERT | Program evaluation and review technique, for planning and coordinating large projects.
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Pessimistic time | The length of time required under the worst conditions.
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precedence diagram | Diagram of project activities that shows sequential relationships by use of arrows and nodes.
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probabilistic | Estimates of times that allow for variation.
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project champion | A person who promotes and supports a project.
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projects | Unique, one-time operations designed to accomplish a specific set of objectives in a limited time frame.
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slack | Allowable slippage for a path; the difference between the length of a path and the length of the critical path.
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virtual project teams | Some or all of the team members are geographically separated.
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work breakdown structure (WBS) | A hierarchical listing of what must be done during a project.
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