Accelerating change around the world today now seems to be a fact of life and more and more organizations are adopting project management to implement those changes. That is because project management, properly applied, is effective and efficient in directing change in all fields ranging from building, to engineering, to information technology, to corporate administrative changes. Consequently, it is now being used in all types of businesses from construction to manufacturing to government departments to non-profit organizations, even in service industries like health, banking and the law.

In project work there are two essential ingredients: people and the effective exchange of ideas. Without people nothing gets done and without communication no one knows what to do. It's that simple. Yet, the nature of a project is that it has not been done before so that communication is its lifeblood. And because more and more people are getting involved, especially those who are new to the field, it is increasingly important that they understand each other. Well, they think they understand each other, but that's not always the case. In fact the importance of clear and concise communication is often overlooked giving rise to errors and mistakes and resulting in extensive and unnecessary rework. That's why a common glossary of project management terms is so important.

Think of communication like engine oil. Engine oil must be applied to an engine or it will not start. Or, if it does, it will quickly falter and grind to a halt. Moreover, the oil must be continuously recycled and regularly replaced with new oil, as the old becomes no longer usable. But what about the oil's quality? If there is too little or it is too thin, it is not effective. If there is too much or it is too thick, everything gets gummed up. Project communication is very similar, yet how much attention do we pay to it? Especially in our new world of Internet-connected teams, where people might never even meet face-to-face and there is no "non-verbal signals" component. Here, error-free communication is even more important. Hence there is the need for clear and concise project management terminology.

I am delighted that p.m.Office team has chosen the Wideman Comparative Glossary of Project Management Terms for translation into Russian. This compendium of terms does not rely on just one set of meanings based on a single viewpoint. Instead, it presents various interpretations often with different "flavors", but all from respected sources. I think it would be understandable if the differences of opinion were mostly over the most recent terms to emerge, but that is not the case. Some of the terms where there is the least agreement are those that are the longest standing.

For example, it is generally agreed that a work breakdown structure, one of the most powerful tools in project management, is hierarchical. However, what it consists of, how it should be expressed and how it should be used is still a matter of heated debate. Similarly, there is a lot of confusion over the term "scope", including "project scope", "product scope" and "scope of work" and hence what is project scope management. Even project management itself gets confused with technology management. But above all, the Glossary describes some two-dozen definitions of "project". Surely, this is the very foundation of the project management discipline itself, and we ought to know better?

This translation is a valuable contribution to project management in Russia. Users of this Glossary will find clear definitions of the terms listed and, in the case of multiple definitions of a single term, be able to select the definition that best serves their project needs. But this Glossary also has other uses. Even a casual browsing through its pages will bring to light interesting and valuable information about the practice of project management generally. This is just as true for the project manager with considerable experience as it is for the reader just starting out on a new career as a project team member. So I congratulate Mr. Alexey Bazhenov, Mr. Alexey Arefiev and his support team for their vision, objectives and hard work in the difficult task of making this glossary available in Russian.

Best wishes for success in all your projects!

Fellow, Project Management Institute
http://maxwideman.com
Vancouver, Canada
2006

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