project management glossary

image

 Some form of representation of a person or thing. This includes hardcopy such as pictures and printed graphics, electronic imaging where these potential hardcopies are committed to electronic media, and notional images such as the impression portrayed by the culture and behavior of an organization.

immediate activity

 An activity that can be forced to start on its earliest feasible date by resource scheduling, even if that means overloading a resource.

impact analysis

 Assessing the pros and cons of pursuing a particular course of action.

 The mathematical examination of the nature of individual risks on the project, as well as potential structures of interdependent risks. It includes the quantification of their respective impact severity, probability and sensitivity to changes in related project variables including the project life cycle. To be complete, the analysis should also include an examination of the external "status quo" prior to project implementation as well as the project's internal intrinsic worth as a reference baseline. A determination should also be made as to whether all risks identified are within the scope of the project's risk response planning process.

 The process of assessing the ramifications of pursuing a particular course of action - typically a change to the existing system.