PDCA CPC key terms

A hierarchical decomposition of the total scope of work into progressively smaller deliverable-oriented components, used as the foundation for estimating, scheduling, cost control, and assigning responsibility on a project.

The approved project scope statement, WBS, and WBS dictionary taken together, forming the reference against which scope performance and change requests are measured and controlled.

A structured assessment of design documents during pre-construction to identify buildability problems, sequencing conflicts, and cost or schedule risks before construction begins.

Planning, estimating, scheduling, and design-assist activities performed by a contractor before field work starts, often under a separate agreement or as part of a negotiated contract.

A structured, function-based review that seeks equivalent or better performance at lower cost by examining materials, systems, and methods without reducing the owner's required scope or quality.

An agreement paying the contractor a fixed rate per measured unit of work actually performed, with total value determined by field quantities rather than a lump sum.

A fixed-price agreement in which the contractor performs the defined scope for a stated total price, bearing the risk of quantity and productivity variances within that scope.

A project delivery method in which a single entity holds responsibility for both design and construction under one contract with the owner, creating a single point of accountability.

A delivery method in which the owner contracts separately with a designer, then awards construction to the lowest responsive bidder based on completed plans and specifications.

A delivery method in which the construction manager commits to a guaranteed maximum price and holds trade contracts, while participating in design and providing pre-construction input.

A contractual cost ceiling above which the contractor absorbs overruns, usually paired with a shared savings provision and defined allowances and contingencies.

A written, signed modification to the contract documents that adjusts scope, price, schedule, or other terms, issued after the original agreement is executed.

An undocumented direction or action by the owner or its representative that effectively alters the contractor's work or cost, giving rise to an equitable adjustment even without a formal change order.

Physical conditions at the site that differ materially from those indicated in the contract documents or from conditions ordinarily encountered, typically triggering notice and adjustment procedures.

A formal written question from the contractor seeking clarification or interpretation of the contract documents, answered by the design professional and logged to preserve the project record.

A written modification to the bidding or contract documents issued before bid opening or contract execution, becoming part of the documents and binding on all bidders.

A surety instrument submitted with a bid that guarantees the bidder will execute the contract and furnish required bonds if awarded, forfeiting a stated percentage otherwise.

A surety guarantee that the contractor will complete the work according to the contract terms, giving the owner a remedy if the contractor defaults.

A surety guarantee protecting the owner and unpaid subcontractors and suppliers by ensuring labor and material claims are paid on the bonded project.

A statutory claim against real property filed by parties who supplied labor, services, or materials, potentially encumbering title until the claim is resolved or released.

A document in which a claimant gives up lien rights, either conditionally or unconditionally and for progress or final payment, typically exchanged for payment received.

A percentage of each payment withheld by the owner until defined milestones or completion, providing leverage to ensure satisfactory performance and closeout.

A line-item breakdown allocating the contract sum across work items, used to evaluate progress payments and to support cost-loaded scheduling and earned value analysis.

A budget reserve set aside for identified but uncertain risks and anticipated changes, distinct from escalation and management reserve, and released as risk exposure resolves.

A performance measurement technique comparing planned value, earned value, and actual cost to derive schedule and cost variances and forecast final project outcomes.

A network scheduling technique identifying the longest duration path through dependent activities, which determines the shortest possible project duration and drives float calculations.

The amount of time an activity can be delayed without delaying the project completion date, calculated as the difference between late and early finish dates.

The approved, time-phased plan against which actual progress and schedule variance are measured, changed only through formal revision control.

A short-interval, typically two-to-six-week rolling plan that breaks down upcoming work into detailed activities, assigns crews, and coordinates constraints before execution.

A collaborative production planning method relying on weekly commitments, percent plan complete measurement, and root-cause analysis of missed tasks to improve reliability.

The process of identifying and documenting logical relationships and dependencies among schedule activities, forming the network used for duration and float analysis.

The stage at which the work is sufficiently complete for its intended use, triggering warranty start, retainage release, and the punch list process.

A documented list of incomplete or deficient items identified during inspection that the contractor must correct before final completion and acceptance.

QA covers planned process-oriented activities that prevent defects, while QC covers inspection and testing that detect nonconforming work; together they form the project quality system.

A document defining the inspections, tests, acceptance criteria, hold points, and records required for specific work items, often reviewed and witnessed by the owner or authority.

A systematic review of a task that identifies hazards for each work step and specifies controls, often paired with a pre-task safety briefing before work begins.

A ranked approach to reducing risk, from most to least effective: elimination, substitution, engineering controls, administrative controls, and personal protective equipment.

Wearable gear such as hard hats, eye protection, and fall arrest harnesses that shields a worker from hazards, used as the last line of defense after other controls.

A brief, documented safety meeting held with the crew before or during a shift to communicate specific hazards, controls, and expectations for the day's tasks.

An unethical practice of disclosing one subcontractor's price to competitors to obtain a lower number, undermining fair competition and trust in the bidding process.

A formal challenge to the award or evaluation of a bid, alleging violations of procurement rules, unfair evaluation, or improper communication with bidders.

The degree of skill and care that a reasonably prudent professional in the same discipline would exercise under similar circumstances, used to judge negligence claims.

An extension of earned value that measures schedule performance in time units by comparing earned value to planned value, yielding schedule variance in days.

Contract provisions defining how quantities are measured and how completed work is valued and certified for payment, essential in unit price arrangements.

The core contract document stating the parties, contract sum, dates, and incorporation of general and supplementary conditions, drawings, and specifications.

A record identifying project stakeholders, their interests, influence, and engagement needs, used to plan communication and manage expectations throughout the project.

A documented approach specifying who receives what information, in which format, and how often, along with escalation paths and feedback mechanisms.

A running record of knowledge gained during the project, capturing what worked, what failed, and recommendations to improve future planning and execution.