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.
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.

Project management terms

  • 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 unitof 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.