Microsoft Project Terms Explained

Project Terms Explained

Term	Explanation
Gantt Chart	The default view in Microsoft Project – where the task sheet is shown on the left hand side and a graphical representation of the data displayed against a timescale on the right.
Critical Path	The sequence of tasks, that if they are delayed or take longer than planned will impact on the end date of the project.
Baseline	The original plan data as it was when the project sponsor agrees to the project going ahead. This includes task dates, costs and work. Comparisons are then made to this data once the project actually starts.
Tracking	Monitoring the work, duration and costs of the project once it has actually started. If no tracking is done then comparisons cannot be made against the baseline.
Milestone	A deliverable point within the project plan, when something is achieved or completed.
Constraint	Schedules the task (or milestone) with a particular date in mind.
Deadline	Schedules the task (or milestone) with a graphical indicator on the Gantt Chart.
Task	Single steps that that have to be completed to carry out the project
Resource	A person, equipment or facility that needs to be assigned to the tasks
Summary Task	A phase of the project (normally) made up of several tasks that are connected in some way.
Stake holder	The person with the say so of the project going ahead.

Sponsor
View	A way of seeing the plan in a particular way.
Table	Controls the combination of columns being viewed.  It depends at what  stage you   are at, or what information you wish to see as to which table you choose to view.
Filter	Lets you control which tasks are being displayed, rather than dealing with the whole project plan all the time.