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Advisory Group: An advisory group is a collection of individuals who bring unique knowledge and skills, which complement the knowledge and skills of the design team, project organisation and management, in order to more effectively govern the organisation. Source: adapted from freedictionary.com and Wikipedia

Aim: An aim is the thing that you hope to achieve by doing something – a certain and specific goal. Source: Macmillan Dictionary / The Business Dictionary

Anthropological methods: Anthropological methods take their departure in the science of anthropology; the scientific study of the origin, the behavior, and the physical, social, and cultural development of humans. Source: www.thefreedictionary.com

Audit: The general definition of an audit is a planned and documented activity performed by qualified personnel to determine by investigation, examination, or evaluation of objective evidence, the adequacy and compliance with established procedures, or applicable documents, and the effectiveness of implementation. Source: Wikipedia

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Blue-sky thinking: Blue-sky thinking means a process aimed at generating creative ideas that are not limited by current thinking or beliefs. Source: dictionary.com

Brainstorming: Brainstorming is a group or individual creativity technique by which efforts are made to find a conclusion for a specific problem by gathering a list of ideas spontaneously contributed by its member(s). Source: Wikipedia

Brand: A brand is a product, service, or concept that is publicly distinguished from other products, services, or concepts so that it can be easily communicated and usually marketed. A brand name is the name of the distinctive product, service, or concept. Branding is the process of creating and disseminating the brand name. Branding can be applied to the entire corporate identity as well as to individual product and service names. Source: www.whatis.com

Brief: A brief is a set of instructions given to a person about a job or task. A design brief lays out the background for as well as the requirements, requests and restrictions related to deliver a design solution. Source: adapted from Oxford dictionaries 

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Case Study: A case study is a process or record of research into the development of a particular person, group, or situation over a period of time. A design case study describes how a particular challenge has been addressed through design process and methodology. Source: adapted from Oxford dictionaries

Challenge: A challenge is a situation where a being or organization is faced with something that needs great mental or physical effort in order to be done successfully and therefore tests the person’s or organisation’s ability. Source: Cambridge Dictionaries online

Co-creation: Co-creation is a collaborative value creation strategy in which value is not created inside the organisation providing a product or service and only then exchanged with passive customers or users, but in which value is co-created by the organisation and active consumers or users. This strategy has in particular proven its validity in the development of public services. Source: adapted from www.mbabrief.com

Committed (budgets): A committed budget is a budget, which has been set aside and earmarked for a specific purpose.

Communication Strategy: A communication strategy is a plan for communicating information related to a specific issue, event, situation, or audience. It serves as the blueprint for communicating with the public, stakeholders, or even colleagues. A communication strategy should outline the objective/goals of the communication, identify stakeholders, define key messages, pinpoint potential communication methods and vehicles for communicating information for a specific purpose, and specify the mechanisms that will be used to obtain feedback on the strategy. Source: www.epa.gov

Communications plan: A communications plan is a more focused, brief plan that guides the communications for a particular project, event or initiative. A communications plan follows the basic structure of a full communications strategy but presents less analytical detail, and generally more specific information on implementation planning, such as including a workplan. Source: www.resultsmap.com

Completion point: Completion point is a point in time where a certain project has been completed in accordance with the terms, conditions, and specifications contained in the brief document. Source: adapted from The Business Dictionary

Compliance: Compliance means to act or be in accordance with wishes, requests, demands, requirements, conditions, etc. Source: dictionary.com

Concept: A concept is defined as a plan or intention, a fundamental category of existence. Source: Wikipedia

Context: The context of something is the situation in which something happens: the group of conditions that exist where and when something happens. Source: Merriam-Webster

Contingency: A contingency plan is a plan devised for an outcome other than in the usual (expected) plan. It is often used for risk management when an exceptional risk that, though unlikely, would have catastrophic consequences. Contingency plans are often devised by governments or businesses. Source: Wikipedia

Contributors: A contributor is someone who takes part in something or makes a – most often voluntary – contribution. Source: adapted from vocabulary.com

Copyright: Copyright is a legal term used to describe the rights that creators have over their literary and artistic works. Works covered by copyright range from books, music, paintings, sculpture and films, to computer programs, databases, advertisements, maps and technical drawings. Source: WIPO

Credentials pitch: A credentials pitch is essentially an agency’s CV. It is a statement of facts and the meeting should demonstrate benefits and results which are specific to the brief. In a credentials pitch agencies talk about their capabilities based on previous work, focusing on what they can do for you. Source: British Council

Creative pitch: A creative pitch or paid pitch is a presentation from an agency in which they preent work they have done for you before you have officially appointed them. You can set multiple agencies the same task to see which agency’s work and way of thinking you like the most, to inform your decision. However, you shouldn’t ask an agency to produce work for free. The typical pitch amount for a medium-sized project is £250 for each agency you ask (based on UK figures). This is a gesture towards time and materials against the agency’s costs. The amount of work they produce will vary and is up to the individual agency. If you have specific requirements to see a number of visual applications or a more complex job, the pitch fee should increase accordingly. Source: adapted from British Council

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Data Protection: Information privacy, data privacy or data protection, is the relationship between collection and dissemination of data, technology, the public expectation of privacy, and the legal and political issues surrounding them. Source: Wikipedia

Data security: Data security means protecting a database from destructive forces and the unwanted actions of unauthorized users. Source: Wikipedia

Deadlines: A deadline is the time by which something must be finished or submitted. Source: dictionary.com

Debrief: A debrief is a series of questions about a completed mission or undertaking, which often corresponds to and is used to measure the outcome up against the original brief document.

Design Agency: An agency is a business or organization providing a particular service on behalf of another business, person, or group. A design agency is an agency, which has specialized in offering design services. Source: adapted from Oxford dictionaries

Design for all: The term Design for All (DfA) is used to describe a design philosophy targeting the use of products, services and systems by as many people as possible without the need for adaptation. Design for All is design for human diversity, social inclusion and equality. Source: Wikipedia

Design management: Design management is a business discipline that uses project management, design, strategy, and supply chain techniques to control a creative process, support a culture of creativity, and build a structure and organisation for design. The objective of design management is to develop and maintain an environment in which an organisation can achieve its strategic and mission goals through design, and by establishing and managing an efficient and effective system. Design management is a comprehensive activity at all levels of business (operational to strategic), from the beginning until completion of a project. Simply put, design management is the business side of design. Design management encompasses the ongoing processes, organisational decisions, and strategies that enable innovation and create effectively-designed products, services, communications, environments, and brands that enhance our quality of life and provide organisational success. The discipline of design management overlaps with marketing management, operations management, and strategic management. Source: adapted from Wikipedia and the Design Management Institute.

Design registrations: Almost any industrial or handicraft item can be eligible for design protection, which can be obtained by registering the design. In terms of registration, design means the appearance of the whole or a part of a product resulting from the features of, in particular, the lines, contours, colours, shape, texture and/or materials of the product itself and/or its ornamentation. Source: OHIM

Design specialities:The term “design” covers a wide range of disciplines, each offering its own specialist skills and services. These are some of the more common design disciplines: architecture, engineering, exhibition and display, fashion & textiles, graphics/visual communications, interiors, multimedia, packaging, product/industrial and service design. Source: adapted from Design for business East (UK)

Desktop publishing software: Desktop publishing software is a tool for graphic designers and non-designers to create visual communications (brochures, business cards, greeting cards, Web pages, posters, etc.) for professional or desktop printing as well as for online or on-screen electronic publishing. Source: about.com

Disseminating Information: Disseminating information means that information is sent out and made available to an audience, without any expectations of reply or feedback. Source: adapted from Wikipedia

Diversity: The concept of diversity means understanding that each individual is unique, and recognising individual differences along the dimensions of race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, socio-economic status, age, physical abilities, religious beliefs, political beliefs, or other ideologies. Source: Gladstone university

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Early termination: If the project comes to an end before an actual solution to has been developed or before the developed solution has been implemented, the term early termination is often used.

Effectiveness: Effectiveness reflects the degree to which objectives are achieved and the extent to which targeted problems are solved. In contrast to efficiency, effectiveness is determined without reference to costs and, whereas efficiency means “doing the thing right,” effectiveness means “doing the right thing.” Source: www.businessdirectory.com

EHDM: EHDM is the abbreviation for the European House of Design Management. EHDM is a three-year collaborative project running from 2012 to 2015, co-funded by the European Commission. It is one of six pilot projects funded by the First Action Plan of the European Design Innovation Initiative. The aim of the project is to transfer the methodologies currently used by leading companies in the private sector to the public sector, by adapting existing systems to the requirements and objectives of public organisations.

Elevator pitch: An elevator pitch, elevator speech, or elevator statement is a short summary used to quickly and simply define a person, profession, product, service, organization or event and its value proposition. The name “elevator pitch” reflects the idea that it should be possible to deliver the summary in the time span of an elevator ride, or approximately thirty seconds to two minutes. Source: Wikipedia

End users: An end user is a person who uses a product or service. A product or service may be purchased by several intermediaries (not users), between the manufacturer or service provider and the end user, or be directly purchased by the end user. Source: adapted from Wikipedia

Ergonomics: Ergonomics (or human factors) is the scientific discipline concerned with the understanding of interactions among humans and other elements of a system, and the profession that applies theory, principles, data and methods to design in order to optimize human well-being and overall system performance. Source: The International Ergonomics Association

Ethnographic skills: Ethnography is research designed to explore cultural phenomena. The ethnographic method is used across a range of different disciplines – and increasingly so in design practice – often by anthropologists but also occasionally by sociologists or design practitioners who have adopted the ethnographic method. Source: adapted from Wikipedia

Exit interviews: An exit interview is a survey conducted with an individual who is separating from an organization or relationship. Most commonly, this occurs between an employee and an organization, a student and an educational institution, or a member and an association, but it can also be useful at the end of a specific transaction – e.g. at the end of a consultation or the receipt of a service. Source: adapted from Wikipedia

European House of Design Management: The European House of Design Management is a three-year collaborative project running from 2012 to 2015, co-funded by the European Commission. It is one of six pilot projects funded by the First Action Plan of the European Design Innovation Initiative. The aim of the project is to transfer the methodologies currently used by leading companies in the private sector to the public sector, by adapting existing systems to the requirements and objectives of public organisations.

Extrapolations: To extrapolate means to extend the application of (a method or conclusion) to an unknown situation by assuming that existing trends will continue or similar methods will be applicable. Source: Oxford Dictionaries
 

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Facilitate: Facilitate means to make something easier or more likely to happen. Source: vocabulary.com

Facilitator: A facilitator is someone who helps a group of people understand their common objectives and assists them to plan to achieve them without taking a particular position in the discussion. Some facilitator tools will try to assist the group in achieving a consensus on any disagreements that pre-exist or emerge in the meeting so that it has a strong basis for future action. Source: Wikipedia

Flipcharts: A flip chart is a stationery item consisting of a pad of large paper sheets. It is typically fixed to the upper edge of a whiteboard, typically supported on a tripod or four-legged easel. Such charts are commonly used for presentations. Source: Wikipedia

Focus Group: A focus group is a form of qualitative research in which a group of people is asked about their perceptions, opinions, beliefs, and attitudes towards a product, service, concept, advertisement, idea, or packaging. Questions are asked in an interactive group setting where participants are free to talk with other group members. Source: Wikipedia

Font: In typography, a font (also known as typeface) is a particular size, weight and style of a typeface. In particular, the use of “vector” or “outline” fonts means that different sizes of a typeface can be dynamically generated from one design. Each style may still be in a separate “font file”—for instance, the typeface “Bulmer” may include the fonts “Bulmer roman”, “Bulmer italic”, “Bulmer bold” and “Bulmer extended”—but the term “font” might be applied either to one of these alone or to the whole typeface. Source: Wikipedia

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Hard evidence: Hard evidence is real and significant proof, which can be documented. Source: www.dictionarist

House style: All suppliers of creative services have a “house style” – an often easily recognizable visual language, tone of voice or attitude, which will also be identifiable in their deliveries.

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Idea generation workshop: Ideation or idea generation is the creative process of generating, developing, and communicating new ideas, where an idea is understood as a basic element of thought that can be either visual, concrete, or abstract. Ideation comprises all stages of a thought cycle, from innovation, to development, to actualisation. As such, it is an essential part of the design process, both in education and practice. An idea generation workshop is a group session where ideation takes place. Source: Wikipedia

Implementation phase: In the implementation phase, the production system or service is installed, initial user training is completed, user documentation is delivered, and the post implementation review meeting is held. When this phase is completed, the application or service can be delivered on a steady basis. Once the solution has proven steady, it is reviewed to ensure that we met all of the goals in the project plan for a satisfactory result. Source: Princeton.edu ( modified )

Implementation plan: An Implementation Plan refers to detailed listing of activities, costs, expected difficulties and schedules that are required to achieve the objectives of the strategic plans. It is based around the future-state map and should comprise the objectives, to-do lists and other devices that will help develop the process. Source: www.ask.com

Indicators: A performance indicator or key performance indicator (KPI) is a type of performance measurement. An organization may use indicators to evaluate its success, or to evaluate the success of a particular activity in which it is engaged. Sometimes success is defined in terms of making progress toward strategic goals,http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Performance_indicator – cite_note-2 but often success is simply the repeated, periodic achievement of some level of operational goal. Source: Wikipedia

Influencers: An influencer is an individual, who has the power to affect purchase decisions of others because of his or her (real or perceived) authority, knowledge, position, or relationship. Source: www.businessdictionary.com

Intellectual Property Rights (IP or IPR): Intellectual property is the legally recognized exclusive right to creations of the mind. Under intellectual property law, owners are granted certain exclusive rights to a variety of intangible assets, such as musical, literary, and artistic works; discoveries and inventions; and words, phrases, symbols, and designs. Common types of intellectual property rights include copyright, trademarks, patents, industrial design rights, trade dress, and in some jurisdictions trade secrets. Source: Wikipedia

Iteration: An iteration is the act of repeating a process with the aim of approaching a desired goal, target or result. Each repetition of the process is also called an “iteration”, and the results of one iteration are used as the starting point for the next iteration. Source: Wikipedia

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Key performance indicators or KPIs: A key performance indicator (KPI) is a type of performance measurement. An organization may use indicators to evaluate its success, or to evaluate the success of a particular activity in which it is engaged. Sometimes success is defined in terms of making progress toward strategic goals, but often success is simply the repeated, periodic achievement of some level of operational goal. Source: Wikipedia

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Launch: To launch means to introduce something to the public or to a market, to begin a new venture or phase or to enter enthusiastically into something. Source: www.thefreedictionary.com

Lifecycle: Life Cycle Thinking (LCT) is about going beyond the traditional focus and production site and manufacturing processes to include environmental, social and economic impacts of a product over its entire life cycle. The main goals of LCT are to reduce a products resource use and emissions to the environment as well as improve its socio-economic performance through its life cycle. This may facilitate links between the economic, social and environmental dimensions within an organization and through its entire value chain. Source: Life Cycle Initiative implementation plan

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Mandatory activities: Mandatory activities are those which are compulsory and required, to do something. It means containing a command or directory, which is an obligation on a person. Source: ask.com

Mapping: Mapping (e.g. stakeholders) is the process of identifying the individuals or groups that are likely to affect or be affected by a proposed action, and sorting them according to their impact on the action and the impact the action will have on them. Source: Wikipedia

Materialisation: Materialisation means to become fact; actually happen, to take shape or become tangible. Source: Collins Dictionary

Measure/measured: A measurement plan describes the goals which the project must track towards for successful completion and the measures and metrics to be used to determine whether the project is on track. Source: www.upedu.org

Measurement plan: A measurement plan describes the goals which the project must track towards for successful completion and the measures and metrics to be used to determine whether the project is on track. Source: www.upedu.org

Megatrends: Megatrends are the great forces in societal development that will very likely affect the future in all areas the next 10-15 years. Many companies and organizations use megatrends in their strategic work. Source: Copenhagen Institute for Future Studies

Milestone: Within the framework of project management, a milestone is an event that receives special attention. It is often put at the end of a stage to mark the completion of a work package or phase. Milestones can be put before the end of a phase so that corrective actions can be taken, if problems arise, and the deliverable can be completed on time. Source: Wikipedia

Mission: A mission is an expression of a core purpose and focus that normally remains unchanged over time. A mission statement serves as a filter to separate what is important from what is not, states an objective and communicates a sense of intended direction. In a project development context, it expresses the overall purpose of undertaking the project and which effects to achieve, while it does not proclaim how to achieve it. Source: adapted from www.businessdirectory.com

Mission wall: A mission wall is literally a wall-mounted chart of stakeholders, contributors and influencers, as well as critical factors, which may affect your mission. By mapping and clustering all relevant factors, you will achieve an overview of where additional knowledge needs to be sought and where to allocate extra attention and resources.

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Observation: Observations are valuable as an additional source of information. These should be undertaken by people who are trained to do so in a structured and objective manner.  Source: adapted from freedictionary.com and Wikipedia

Observation point: An observation point is a point from which one can survey the entire area, from which a view can be clearly seen or at which a certain phenomenon is being observed. Source: dictionarist.com

One-on-one interviews: A one-on-one interview is basically an interview or meeting between two people, one of whom asks the questions while the other answers. The One to One Interview is a conversation and both parties will end such conversation with an opinion. Source: ask.com

Open-source/collaborative software: Collaborative software or groupware is an application software designed to help people involved in a common task achieve goals. One of the earliest definitions of collaborative software is ‘intentional group processes plus software to support them. Source: Wikipedia

Operational document: An operational document is a document, which describes in detail the activities needed to support a strategy, and which is very often supported by a timeline.

Operational level: Working at an operational level means that you are the one who executes the work, instead of the person that works at the strategical level, who develops the strategy and defines the limitations.

Opportunities: Opportunities are appropriate or favorable times or occasions, situations or conditions favorable for attainment of a goal or good positions, chances or prospects as for advancement or success. Source: Dictionary.com

Outcome: Outcomes are the difference made by the outputs: better traffic flow, shorter travel times, and fewer accidents. Outcomes create meanings, relationships, and differences: a response to why a project is undertaken.

Outputs: Outputs are important products, services, profits, and revenues: the form and shape of what comes out of the undertakings. Source: adapted from Harvard Business Review

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Paid pitch: A paid pitch occurs when a number of designers are asked to compete for future business, or a project, based on providing a paid sample of their work. Payment may be at a set rate or as quoted by each designer. Source: Icograda.org

Patents: A patent iis a legal title that gives inventors the right, for a limited period (usually 20 years), to prevent others from making, using or selling their invention without their permission in the countries for which the patent has been granted. Patent applications must meet certain requirements for a patent to be granted. If these requirements are satisfied, the invention is said to be patentable. Source: European Patent Office.

Payment terms: Payment terms are the conditions under which a supplier completes a delivery. The payment terms cover when payment is expected, any conditions on that payment and any discounts the buyer will receive. Source: www.yourdictionary.com

Pilot: A pilot project is a small trial to test if an idea will be successful. Source: Longmann dictionary of contemporary English

Pitch (credentials):A credentials pitch occurs when a number of designers are asked to compete for future business, or a project, based on providing examples of work they have done for others, and which may document their credibility and credentials in terms of being the right supplier for any specific challenge. Source: Wikipedia

Pitch process: A pitch process is the process of soliciting possible creative suppliers by inviting them to take part in either a paid pitch or a credential pitch.

Portfolio: A professional portfolio is a collection of material put together in a meaningful way to demonstrate the practice and experience of a creative practitioner. Most A professional portfolio is a collection of material put together in a meaningful way practitioner moves through his/her career. The format of portfolios varies in the way items are gathered and presented either digitally or as a physical presentation.

Procure / Procurement: Procurement is the acquisition of goods, services or works from an external source. Source: Wikipedia

Project management tools: Project management software has the capacity to help plan, organize, and manage resource pools and develop resource estimates. Depending on the sophistication of the software, it can manage estimation and planning, scheduling, cost control and budget management, resource allocation, collaboration software, communication, decision-making, quality management and documentation or administration systems. Source: Wikipedia

Project plan: Project plan is a formal, approved document used to guide both project execution and project control. The primary uses of the project plan are to document planning assumptions and decisions, facilitate communication among stakeholders, and document approved scope, cost, and schedule baselines. A project plan may be summarized or detailed. Source: Project Management Body of Knowledge

Proof of relevance: Proof of relevance is built up by a series of actions that are done in a certain way or order; an established or accepted way of doing something. The process/procedure check is a review of the process to see if these actions have been undertaken in the intended and most efficient way. Source: Adapted from vocabulary.com

Proposal: A proposal is a written offer from a supplier to a prospective buyer. Proposals are often a key step in the complex sales process—i.e., whenever a buyer considers more than price in a purchase. A proposal puts the buyer’s requirements in a context that favors the supplier’s services, and educates the buyer about the capabilities of the supplier in satisfying their needs. A successful proposal results in a delivery, where both parties get what they want, a win-win situation. A proposal is a means to make sure that you know why something matters and how it is important. In a design management context, it means to document or substantiate that – and why – the chosen approach or solution is suitable to address the needs or challenge at hand. Source: Adapted from Wikipedia

Prototypes/prototyping: A prototype is an early sample, model or release of a product built to test a concept or process or to act as a thing to be replicated or learned from. Prototyping serves to provide specifications for a real, working system rather than a theoretical one. Source: Wikipedia

Public domain: The public domain is a communication method that provides access to the information however the receiver must proactively retrieve the information. Pull communication should be used when the communication is informational only. If the recipients don’t read it, it will not affect the project. Source: http://www.passionatepm.com

Pull communications: In a marketing “pull” communications system, the consumer requests the product and “pulls” it through the delivery channel. This means that you only have to provide the information and the user will find it without your help. Source: adapted from Wikipedia

Push communications: The Push communications is communication that is delivered by the sender to the recipients. While the communication can be confirmed to be sent, it does not necessarily mean it was received and understood. Push communication should be used when the recipients need the information but it does not require an immediate response and the communication is non-urgent or sensitive in nature. Source: http://www.passionatepm.com

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Qualitative: Qualitative research aims at gathering an in-depth understanding of human behavior and the reasons that govern such behavior. The qualitative method investigates the why and how of decision making, not just what, where, when. Hence, smaller but focused samples are more often used than large samples. Source: Wikipedia

Quantitative: Quantitative research aims at collecting any data that is in numerical form such as statistics, percentages, etc. In layman’s terms, this means that the quantitative researcher asks a specific, narrow question and collects a sample of numerical data from participants to answer the question. Source: Wikipedia

Questionnaire: A questionnaire is a form containing a set of questions, especially one addressed to a statistically significant number of subjects as a way of gathering information for a survey. Source: Thefreedictionary.com
 

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Rendering software: Rendering is the process of generating an image from a model (or models in what collectively could be called a scene file), by means of computer programs. As a product, a wide variety of renderers are available. Some are integrated into larger modeling and animation packages, some are stand-alone, some are free open-source projects. Source: Wikipedia (abstract)

Reporting (mechanism): A reporting mechanism is the process or system that an organization has decided to use to secure a particular level and quality of reporting from a project or any other undertaking.

Resources: A resource is a source or supply from which benefit is produced. Typically resources are materials, services, staff, or other assets that are transformed to produce benefit and in the process may be consumed or made unavailable. Source: Wikipedia

Return on Investment (ROI): Return On Investment (ROI) is a performance measure used to evaluate the efficiency of an investment or to compare the efficiency of a number of different investments. To calculate ROI, the benefit (return) of an investment is divided by the cost of the investment; the result is expressed as a percentage or a ratio. Source: www.investopedia.com

Rough order of magnitude (ROM): Rough order of magnitude (ROM) means an estimate of costs and time provided in the early stages of a project when its scope and requirements has not been fully defined. An ROM is used to reduce the uncertainty of cost outcomes for both parties when project details have yet to be identified. Source: www.investorwords.com

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Shortlist: A shortlist is a list of candidates for a job, prize, award, political position, etc., that has been reduced from a longer list of candidates (sometimes via intermediate lists known as “long lists”). The length of short lists varies according to the context. Source: Wikipedia

Sign-offs: A sign-off means to announce the end of something (as a message or broadcast) or to approve or acknowledge something by or as if by a signature. Source: Merriam-Webster

Soft or anecdotal evidence: Soft or anecdotal evidence is based on personal observation, case study reports, or random investigations rather than systematic scientific evaluation. Hard evidence always outweighs anecdotal evidence. Source: dictionary.com

Stakeholder: An organisation’s stakeholders encompass any group or individual who can affect or is affected by the achievement of the organisation’s objectives. Source: Strategic management: A stakeholder approach – R. Edward Freeman (1984)

Sticky notes: A Post-it note (or sticky note) is a small piece of paper with a re-adhesive strip of glue on its back, made for temporarily attaching notes to documents and other surfaces. A unique low-tack pressure-sensitive adhesive allows the notes to be easily attached, removed, and even re-posted elsewhere without leaving residue. Originally small yellow squares, Post-it notes and related products are now available in a wide range of colors, shapes, and sizes. Source: Wikipedia

Strategic level: Planning on a strategic level is an organisation’s process of defining its strategy, or direction, and making decisions on allocating its resources to pursue this strategy.In order to determine the future direction of the organization, it is necessary to understand its current position and the possible avenues through which it can pursue particular courses of action. Generally, strategic planning deals with at least one of three key questions. Source: adapted from Wikipedia

Strategy: A strategy is a method or plan chosen to bring about a desired future, such as achievement of a goal or solution to a problem. It also encompass the art and science of planning and marshalling resources for their most efficient and effective use. Source: www.businessdictionary.com

Success indicators: Key success Indicators are quantifiable measurements, agreed to beforehand, that reflect the critical success factors (of the company, department, project.) Source: www.about.com

Survey: A survey is a gathering of a sample of data or opinions considered to be representative of a whole. Source: Thefreedictionary.com

Synergies: Synergies are interactions of elements that when combined produce a total effect that is greater than the sum of the individual elements, contributions, etc. Source:Dictionary.com

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Tactical level: Planning on a tactical level is short range planning that emphasises the current operations of various parts of the organization. Source: www.managementinnovations.wordpress.com

Tactics/tactical: Tactics are the means by which a strategy is carried out; planned and ad hoc activities meant to deal with the demands of the moment, and to move from one milestone to another in pursuit of the overall goal(s). Source: www.businessdictionary.com

Target group: A target group is the group people that a policy or campaign is hoping to influence in some way. Source: Collins English Dictionary

Terms and conditions: Terms and conditions cover general and special arrangements, provisions, requirements, rules, specifications, and standards that form an integral part of an agreement or contract. Source: businessdictionary.com

Timelines: A timeline is a way of displaying a list of events in chronological order, sometimes described as a project artifact. It is typically a graphic design showing a long bar labelled with dates alongside itself and usually events labelled on points where they would have happened. Source: Wikipedia

Tone of voice: All suppliers of creative services have a “house style” – an often easily recognizable tone of voice, reflected in their visual language or attitude, and which will also be identifiable in their deliveries.

Touchpoint (analysis): A Touchpoint (contact point, customer contact, Moment of Truth, point of contact) describes the interface of a product, service or brand with customers/users, non-customers, employees and other stakeholders, before, during and after a transaction. This may be applied in business-to-business as well as business-to-consumer environments.

Trade-offs: A trade-off is a situation that involves losing one quality or aspect of something in return for gaining another quality or aspect; if one thing increases, some other thing must decrease. Trade-offs can occur for many reasons, including simple physics. The idea of a trade-off often implies a decision to be made with full comprehension of both the upside and downside of a particular choice. Source: Wikipedia

Trademarks:Trademarks are signs used in trade to identify products. In the framework of intellectual property law, trade marks are very useful. A trade mark may consist of any signs capable of being represented graphically, particularly words, including personal names, designs, letters, numerals, the shape of goods or of their packaging, provided that such signs are capable of distinguishing the goods or services of one undertaking from those of other undertakings. Source: OHIM

Trends: Trends are general directions and tendencies in which a situation is changing or developing. Source: Adapted from Oxford Learne’s Dictionary

 

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Unintended barriers to operation: Unintended barriers to operation (sometimes unintended consequences, unanticipated consequences or unforeseen consequences) are outcomes or effects of the solution that are not the ones intended in the design or development process.

Universal Design: Universal Design (often inclusive design) refers to broad-spectrum ideas meant to produce buildings, products and environments that are inherently accessible to older people, people without disabilities and people with disabilities. Source: Wikipedia

User interface: User interface is the system by which people (users) interact with a machine. The goal of this interaction is effective operation and control of the machine on the user’s end, and feedback from the machine, which aids the operator in making operational decisions. The design considerations applicable when creating user interfaces are related to or involve such disciplines as ergonomics and psychology. Source: Wikipedia

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Validate/validation: To validate means to check or prove the validity or accuracy of, demonstrate or support the truth or value of or to affirm the validity or worth of a concept or solution. Source: adapted from www.oxforddictionaries.com

Validation workshops: To validate means to check or prove the validity or accuracy of, demonstrate or support the truth or value of or to affirm the validity or worth of a concept or solution.A validation workshop is a group session where the validity of a concept or solution takes place. Source: adapted from www.oxforddictionaries.com

Visual identity: Visual identity encompasses all visible elements of a brand or an organisation, such as colour, form, and shape, which encapsulate and convey the symbolic meanings that cannot be imparted through words alone. In a broader sense, it may also include elements such as building architecture, colour schemes, and dress code. Source: www.businessdirectory.com

Visualisation: Visualisation is to make an abstract idea visible by sketching, drawing or in any other way creating an image or representation of the idea, which makes it easier to discuss and to assess its validity. Source: adapted from www.oxforddictionaries.com

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Whiteboard: A whiteboard is a panel covered with white, glossy plastic for writing on with erasable markers. Source: Thefreedictionary.com

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2D or 3D printers: 2D printing is the process of printing on paper or any other surface. 3D printing or Additive manufacturing is a process of making a three-dimensional solid object of virtually any shape from a digital model. A 3D printer is a limited type of industrial robot that is capable of carrying out an additive process under computer control. The 3D printing technology is used for both prototyping and distributed manufacturing with applications in industrial design and architecture, amongst others. Source: Wikipedia

3D modelling, engineering, testing and visualisation tools: 3D modelling is defined as the process of developing a mathematical representation of any three-dimensional surface of object via specialized software. It’s usually displayed as a two-dimensional image through a process called 3D rendering or used in a computer simulation of physical phenomena. Source: Wikipedia