Project Management Acronyms
Project management has more acronyms than almost any other professional field. This reference covers every acronym you are likely to encounter in PM job descriptions, certifications, and day-to-day practice.
Common Questions About Project Management Acronyms
What are the most important PM acronyms to know?
The acronyms that appear most frequently in PM job descriptions, certification exams, and day-to-day practice are: PMP, PMO, WBS, RACI, SOW, CPM, EVM (with its sub-metrics EV, AC, PV, CPI, SPI), and for Agile practitioners, DOD and PERT. Mastering these covers the vast majority of acronyms you will encounter in standard PM environments.
Do I need to know EVM acronyms for the PMP exam?
Yes. Earned Value Management is a tested knowledge area on the PMP exam, and its associated acronyms (EV, AC, PV, BAC, EAC, ETC, VAC, CPI, SPI, CV, SV, TCPI) appear frequently. You need to know not just what each acronym stands for but how to calculate each metric and interpret what the resulting number means for the project.