Glossary

ActiveCollab Glossary

Every important term explained.

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1-3-5 Rule

Productivity method that prioritizes 1 big task, 3 medium tasks, and 5 small tasks daily to improve focus and efficiency.

a

Agile Marketing

Flexible, data-driven approach that applies agile principles to help teams adapt quickly, work iteratively, and deliver faster results.

ABCDE Method

Task prioritization system that ranks activities from highest to lowest importance to focus effort where it delivers the most value.

Asynchronous Communication

Information exchange with a time delay between sending and receiving, allowing responses on each participant’s schedule.

b

Backlog Refinement

Ongoing process of reviewing, clarifying, and prioritizing product backlog items to keep teams focused and sprints efficient.

Bus Factor

Metric of how many people are critical to a project’s success, revealing risks when knowledge is concentrated in too few individuals.

c

Cost-Benefit Analysis

Cost-benefit analysis is the process of weighing a project's costs against its expected benefits to evaluate its overall value and viability.

Cross-Functional Teams

Group of professionals from different departments who collaborate to achieve a shared project goal.

Collaboration

Process of actively working together, sharing ideas and resources to achieve a common goal more effectively.

e

Eat The Frog Method

Productivity technique that prioritizes tackling your hardest, most important task first to prevent procrastination and boost motivation.

Eisenhower Matrix

Method for prioritizing tasks by urgency and importance to focus on what matters most and reduce time spent on low-value work.

Employee Engagement

Level of commitment, motivation, and connection employees feel toward their work, colleagues, and organization.

f

Feasibility Study

A feasibility study is a detailed analysis that evaluates a project’s viability, risks, and benefits to determine if it’s worth pursuing.

i

Iterative Process

Cyclical approach to development that refines a product through repeated feedback and improvements.

Interdepartmental Communication

Flow of information and resources between departments to align goals, improve efficiency, and foster collaboration.

l

Lean Principles

Methods for reducing waste and improving efficiency to deliver more value with fewer resources.

m

MoSCoW Method

Prioritization system that ranks tasks or requirements as must have, should have, could have, or won’t have to guide efficient decision-making.

o

Organizational Culture

The set of shared values and behaviors that define how work gets done and how people interact within a company.

p

Project Planning

Structured process of defining goals, scope, timelines, resources, and strategy to guide a project from start to finish.

Project Lifecycle

Five-phase framework that guides a project from initiation to closure, ensuring structure, alignment, and successful delivery.

Project Management

Structured discipline of planning, executing, and controlling projects to deliver results on time, within scope, and on budget.

Project Management Software

Digital tool that helps teams plan, track, and manage projects for better collaboration and efficiency.

Pareto Principle

Idea that 80% of results come from 20% of effort, guiding smarter prioritization and resource use.

Project Delays

Schedule setbacks that push tasks or milestones beyond planned timelines, often increasing costs and risking project success.

Project Budget

Detailed financial plan that estimates, tracks, and controls all costs needed to complete a project successfully.

Product Backlog

Prioritized list of features, fixes, and tasks that guides development and evolves with customer and business needs.

Pomodoro Technique

Time management method using 25-minute focus sessions with short breaks to boost productivity and reduce fatigue.

Pickle Jar Theory

Time management method that prioritizes important tasks first, using a jar metaphor to illustrate how to fit work into a limited day.

Pull Communication

A recipient-initiated method of accessing information that has been made available but not directly delivered.

Project Requirements

Specific features, goals, and conditions a project must fulfill to be considered complete and successful.

Project Roadmap

A high-level visual plan that outlines a project’s major phases, milestones, and goals over time.

Push Communication

Proactive delivery of information from sender to recipient, typically aimed at a broad audience to ensure key messages are received without requiring a request.

Problem Framing

Process of defining a challenge from both business and customer perspectives to identify its core causes and guide effective solutions.

Project Baseline

Benchmark document used to track a project’s progress against its original scope, schedule, and budget.

Project Initiation Phase

Stage where a project’s purpose, value, and feasibility are defined to gain stakeholder approval and funding.

Project Kickoff Meeting

Initial gathering where the team and stakeholders align on a project’s purpose, scope, and goals before work begins.

Project Schedule

A detailed, chronological plan of tasks, resources, and deadlines that guides teams to deliver projects on time and within scope.

Project Closure

Final project phase that wraps up deliverables, documents outcomes, and captures lessons learned to ensure finality and future improvements.

s

Synchronous Communication

Real-time interaction between people, enabling immediate information exchange and faster decision-making.

Slack Time

Allowable delay in a task that won’t impact project deadlines or dependent tasks.

t

Team Dynamics

Patterns of interaction, communication, and collaboration that shape how effectively a team works toward shared goals.

Team Player

Someone who collaborates, communicates, and contributes reliably to help their team achieve shared goals.

Team Values

Shared principles that guide behavior, foster unity, and create a positive, productive work environment.

Team Cohesion

Ability of a team to work together toward common goals while maintaining trust, solidarity, and strong interpersonal bonds.

Time Tracking

Process of recording and analyzing how time is spent on tasks or projects to improve productivity, accountability, and cost management.

Time Tracking Software

Digital tool that records and analyzes work hours to improve productivity, billing accuracy, and project management.

Task Batching

Productivity method that groups similar tasks together to reduce context switching, boost focus, and save time.

Timeboxing

Time management method that sets fixed calendar blocks to complete tasks, improving focus, productivity, and deadline control.

Time Management

Process of organizing and prioritizing tasks to use time efficiently and achieve desired outcomes.

Time Blocking

Practice of scheduling fixed time slots for specific tasks to improve focus, productivity, and organization.

Teamwork

Collaborative effort toward a shared goal, built on mutual support, communication, and complementary skills to achieve greater results together.

w

Workflow Automation

Use of software to streamline repetitive tasks, saving time and boosting efficiency with minimal human input.

Workload Management

Strategic allocation of tasks to ensure team members are neither overworked nor underutilized, promoting efficiency, well-being, and consistent results.

Workflow Process

Defined series of steps used to complete a task or deliverable in an organized and efficient way.