Handouts for module 5 of project management course

1. Project Management Terms
Capacity Building
To increase the operating efficiency of a government or non-government institution, a
community based organisation, a community or an individual through training (increasing
knowledge), changed operating procedures, restructuring, etc.
Community Development
A process of developing or building up communities of men and women to enable
empowerment, self-sufficiency and control over their environment. Community
development differs from community consultation in that it achieves deeper knowledge,
empathy, active participation and an increase in overall community confidence in its
capacity to take decisions. Community consultation refers to a more unequal process
where one party dictates the terms on which information will be transferred and responses
obtained.
Effect
Refers to the outcomes of a development activity and/or project at the purpose level.
Purpose, effect and outcome are the same.
Empowerment
Increasing the capacity of individuals, communities or institutions to become more self-reliant.
Evaluation
Is the assessment of how well a project/activity achieved its objectives. Ongoing evaluation
(during project implementation) is referred to as 'review' and is linked closely with
monitoring.
GAD
Gender and Development - an analytical approach which considers both women’s and
men’s roles and responsibilities within the community and their relationship to each other in
order to ensure that women’s concerns and needs are addressed in design and
implementation of activities.
Gender Analysis
The process of considering the impact that a development program or project may have on
women / girls and men / boys, and on the economic and social relationships between them.
Impact
Any effect caused by a proposed activity on the environment including human health and
safety, flora, fauna, soil, air, water, climate, landscape and historical monuments or other
physical structures or the interaction among these factors; it also includes effects on
cultural heritage or socio-economic conditions resulting from alternatives to those factors.
Indicator
Is the unit of measurement (or pointers) that is used to monitor or evaluate the
achievement of project objectives over time. Indicators can include specification of
quantifiable targets and measures of quality.
M&E
Monitoring and Evaluation.
Management Plan
The systematic collection of information and development of specific strategies and actions
that will bring about a desired outcome.

2. Metric
A unit of measure;
part of a system of parameters (a set of ways) for quantitatively and periodically measuring
or assessing a process, event, or institution, along with the procedures to carry out
measurements and interpret them.
Milestone
In project implementation is an event which is selected to signify that certain project
activities have been completed. Milestones are usually used as trigger points for AusAID to
make payments to contractors and may represent an amalgamation of management
outputs as opposed to project outputs.
MIS
Management Information System.
Monitoring
Is concerned with assessing the implementation progress of a project or activity and
identifying action to correct problems where they occur. It includes the processes of
collecting, analysing, recording, reporting and using management information about the
physical and financial progress of a project. The focus is on the activity and output levels of
the Logical Framework hierarchy of objectives. Input monitoring may also be required in
some circumstances. Monitoring is a core management responsibility during
implementation.
Objective
Refers to what the project aims to achieve at each level of the Logframe from the output up
to the goal level. One can therefore refer to goal, purpose, component or output level
objectives.
Outcome
Is used to describe what the project or activity is expected to achieve at the component and
purpose level objectives.
Output
Refers to the products and services which are directly produced by an agency (or project)
and delivered to external users. In the context of the Logframe hierarchy, outputs are the
tangible result of applying inputs and undertaking activities.
Participation
Empowering people to mobilise their own capacities, be social actors, rather than passive
subjects, manage the resources, make decisions, and control the activities that affect their
lives.
Qualitative Measure
A measure of a situation or project progress that uses facts, types of things or opinions
e.g. a report has been completed, group is rural or urban, people feel happier
Can be informal – results of conversation and observation.
Quantitative Measure
A measure of a situation or project progress that uses number data
e.g. # of deaths, % of people surveyed, decrease in no. reported.
Resource
A biological, mineral or other material component, whether natural or not, of the
environment, including a permanent or temporary combination or association of
components.
Stakeholder
A person or group interested in, affected by or involved in an issue.