Plain-language definitions for terms in this category.
Sprint
A fixed, short time period, usually one to four weeks, in which a Scrum team completes a set body of work.
Burndown chart
A chart showing remaining work in a sprint or project against time, used to track progress toward a deadline.
RACI
A chart that assigns Responsible, Accountable, Consulted and Informed roles for each task or decision.
Scope creep
Uncontrolled growth in a project's scope after it starts, without corresponding adjustments to time, cost or resources.
Change control
The process for reviewing, approving and documenting changes to a project's scope, schedule or budget.
Six Sigma
A data-driven methodology for eliminating defects and reducing variation in a process, aiming for near-perfect quality output.
DMAIC
The five-phase Six Sigma improvement cycle: Define, Measure, Analyze, Improve and Control.
Lean
A methodology focused on maximizing customer value while minimizing waste in a process.
Business process management (BPM)
A discipline for modeling, analyzing and continuously improving an organization's end-to-end business processes.
Value stream mapping
A Lean technique that visualizes the steps, information and material flow needed to deliver a product or service, to spot waste.
Kaizen
A Lean philosophy of continuous, incremental improvement carried out by everyone in an organization.
Kanban
A visual workflow method that limits work in progress and pulls tasks through stages as capacity allows.
Retrospective
A recurring meeting where a team reflects on a completed sprint or phase to identify what to keep, stop or improve.
Definition of done
The agreed set of criteria a piece of work must meet before a team considers it complete.