Enterprise resource planning (ERP)

Terms related to business, including definitions about project management and words and phrases about human resources, finance and vertical industries.

resource allocation - Resource allocation is the process of assigning and managing assets in a manner that supports an organization's strategic planning goals.
Results-Only Work Environment (ROWE) - A Results-Only Work Environment (ROWE) is one in which the most important criteria for evaluating employee performance is the completion of satisfactory work on time.
revenue cycle management (RCM) - Revenue cycle management (RCM) is the financial process, utilizing medical billing software, that healthcare facilities use to track patient care episodes from registration and appointment scheduling to the final payment of a balance to ensure proper identification, collection and management of revenues from patient services.
revenue operations (RevOps) - Revenue operations (RevOps) is the strategic integration of sales, marketing and service departments to provide a better end-to-end view to administration and management, while leaving day-to-day processes within the departments.
reverse logistics - Reverse logistics is the set of activities that is conducted after the sale of a product to recapture value and end the product's lifecycle.
risk assessment framework (RAF) - A risk assessment framework (RAF) is a strategy for prioritizing and sharing information about the security risks to an information technology (IT) infrastructure.
risk avoidance - Risk avoidance is the elimination of hazards, activities and exposures that can negatively affect an organization and its assets.
role mining - Role mining is the process of analyzing user-to-resource mapping data to determine or modify user permissions for role-based access control (RBAC) in an enterprise.
sales and operations planning (S&OP) - Sales and operations planning (S&OP) is a process for better matching a manufacturer's supply with demand by having the sales department collaborate with operations to create a single production plan.
sales lead - A sales lead is a potential sales contact, individual or organization that expresses an interest in your goods or services.
Salesforce - Salesforce, Inc.
Salesforce Community Cloud (Community Cloud) - Community Cloud is a social platform from Salesforce.
Salesforce Customer 360 - Salesforce Customer 360 is a collection of tools that connect Salesforce apps and create a unified customer ID to build a single view of the customer.
Salesforce Trailhead - Salesforce Trailhead is a series of online tutorials that coach beginner and intermediate developers who need to learn how to code for the Salesforce platform.
SAP MII (SAP Manufacturing Integration and Intelligence) - SAP MII (SAP Manufacturing Integration and Intelligence) is an SAP application for synchronizing manufacturing operations with back-office business processes and standardized data.
SAP SuccessFactors - SAP SuccessFactors is a leading suite of cloud-based talent management and human capital management (HCM) software.
Sarbanes-Oxley Act (SOX) Section 404 - Sarbanes-Oxley Act (SOX) Section 404 mandates that all publicly traded companies must establish internal controls and procedures for financial reporting and must document, test, and maintain those controls and procedures to ensure their effectiveness.
Scrum - Scrum is a framework for project management that emphasizes teamwork, accountability and iterative progress toward a well-defined goal.
Scrum master - A Scrum master is a facilitator for an Agile development team.
service assurance (SA) - Service assurance (SA) is a procedure or set of procedures intended to optimize performance and provide management guidance in communications networks, media services and end-user applications.
service lifecycle management (SLM) - Service lifecycle management (SLM) describes the strategy and software for managing the maintenance and repair of products and maximizing the profit opportunities from these activities.
service supply chain - The service supply chain is the part of the supply chain dedicated to providing service on products.
seven wastes - The seven wastes are categories of unproductive manufacturing practices identified by Taiichi Ohno, the father of the Toyota Production System (TPS).
share of wallet (SOW) or wallet share - Share of wallet (SOW) is a marketing metric used to calculate the percentage of a customer's spending for a type of product or service that goes to a particular company.
shared services - Shared services is a delivery model organizations use to consolidate similar business functions into a single unit that supports the entire organization.
SIPOC (suppliers, inputs, process, outputs, customers) diagram - A SIPOC (suppliers, inputs, process, outputs, customers) diagram is a visual tool for documenting a business process from beginning to end prior to implementation.
SMAC (social, mobile, analytics and cloud) - SMAC (social, mobile, analytics and cloud) is the concept that the convergence of four technologies is currently driving business innovation.
Small Disadvantaged Business (SDB) - A Small Disadvantaged Business (SDB) is a small business that is at least 51% owned and controlled by one or more socially and economically disadvantaged individuals.
smart manufacturing (SM) - Smart manufacturing (SM) is a technology-driven approach that utilizes Internet-connected machinery to monitor the production process.
SMB (small and medium-sized business or small and midsize business) - SMB is an abbreviation for a small and medium-sized business, sometimes called a small and midsize business.
social media policy - A social media policy is a corporate code of conduct that provides guidelines for employees who post content on the internet either as part of their job or as a private person.
social media recruitment (social media recruiting) - Social media recruitment, or social media recruiting, is the process of using social media platforms to identify, engage and vet people the organization may want to hire.
soft copy - A soft copy (sometimes spelled 'softcopy') is an electronic copy (or e-copy) of some type of data, such as a file viewed on a computer's display or transmitted as an email attachment.
solution provider - A solution provider is a vendor, service provider or value-added reseller (VAR) that comprehensively handles the project needs of their client from concept to installation through support.
solution selling - Solution selling refers to the philosophy or practice of uncovering a customer's pain points and then providing products and services that address the underlying business problem.
SPI model - The SPI model is an abbreviation of the most common cloud computing service models: software as a service (SaaS), platform as a service (PaaS) and infrastructure as a service (IaaS).
stacked ranking (stack ranking) - Stacked ranking (stack ranking) is an employee evaluation method that slots a certain percentage of employees into each of several levels of performance.
stakeholder - A stakeholder is a person, group or organization with a vested interest, or stake, in the decision-making and activities of a business, organization or project.
standardization - Standardization is the process of developing, promoting and possibly mandating standards-based and compatible technologies and processes within an industry.
startup culture - A startup culture is a workplace environment that values creative problem-solving, open communication and a flat hierarchy.
statement of work (SOW) - A statement of work (SOW), in project management, is a document in which a contracting officer or chief procurement officer (CPO) specifies the objectives and deliverables for a particular project or service contract.
steering committee - A steering committee comprises a group of high-ranking IT professionals who provide guidance and strategic direction to an organization or organizational segment.
strategic management - Strategic management is the ongoing planning, monitoring, analysis and assessment of all necessities an organization needs to meet its goals and objectives.
strategic planning - Strategic planning is a process in which an organization's leaders define their vision for the future and identify their organization's goals and objectives.
strategic sourcing - Strategic sourcing is an approach to supply chain management that formalizes the way information is gathered and used.
subscription management - Subscription management is the process of overseeing and controlling all aspects of products and services sold repeatedly through a weekly, monthly, quarterly or yearly subscription-based pricing model.
succession planning - Succession planning is the strategic process of identifying and developing internal candidates to fill key organizational roles to ensure business continuity and leadership in the face of role transitions, departures, or unforeseen events.
sunsetting - Sunsetting is the intentional phasing out or termination of something, and in business, the term is used often regarding brands, partnerships, agreements, policies, and hardware and software.
supplier relationship management (SRM) - Supplier relationship management (SRM) is a systematic approach to evaluating and partnering with vendors that supply goods, materials and services to an organization, determining each supplier's contribution to success, and developing strategies to improve their performance.
supply chain - A supply chain is the network of all the individuals, organizations, resources, activities and technology involved in the creation and sale of a product.
supply chain analytics - Supply chain analytics refers to the processes organizations use to gain insight and extract value from the large amounts of data associated with the procurement, processing and distribution of goods.
supply chain finance - Supply chain finance is a set of technology-enabled business and financial processes that provides flexible payment options for a buyer and one of their suppliers at lower financing costs.
supply chain management (SCM) - Supply chain management (SCM) is the optimization of a product's creation and flow from raw material sourcing to production, logistics and delivery to the final customer.
supply chain planning (SCP) - Supply chain planning (SCP) is the process of anticipating the demand for products and planning their materials and components, production, marketing, distribution and sale.
supply chain risk management (SCRM) - Supply chain risk management (SCRM) is the coordinated efforts of an organization to help identify, monitor, detect and mitigate threats to supply chain continuity and profitability.
supply chain security - Supply chain security is the part of supply chain management that focuses on the risk management of external suppliers, vendors, logistics and transportation.
supply chain transformation - Supply chain transformation is the addition and integration of technology to improve supply chain performance, optimize costs and mitigate risks.
SWIFT FIN message - SWIFT FIN is a message type (MT) that transmits financial information from one financial institution to another.
synectics - Synectics is a method of problem-solving that focuses on cultivating creative thinking, often among small groups of individuals with diverse experience and skills.
talent pipeline - A talent pipeline is a pool of candidates who are ready to fill a position.
targeted ad (targeted advertising) - A targeted ad, or targeted advertising, is a method of displaying advertisements to a specific group of people based on their demographics, behavior, interests, or other criteria.
Theory of Constraints (TOC) - The Theory of Constraints (TOC) is a philosophy of management and continuous improvement originally developed by Dr.
tier 1 vendor - A tier 1 vendor is one of the largest and most well known in its field -- often enjoying national or international recognition and acceptance.
time series chart - A time series chart, also called a times series graph or time series plot, is a data visualization tool that illustrates data points at successive intervals of time.
time to value (TtV) - Time to value (TtV) is a business term that describes the period of time between a request for a specific value and the initial delivery of the value requested.
timeline - A timeline is a visual representation of a chronological sequence of events along a drawn line that helps a viewer understand time relationships.
TIN (Taxpayer Identification Number) - A Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN), in the United States, is a unique nine-digit number for identifying an individual, business or other entity in tax returns and additional documents filed with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).
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Total Quality Management (TQM) - Total Quality Management (TQM) is a management framework based on the belief that an organization can build long-term success by having all its members -- from low-level workers to its highest-ranking executives -- focus on improving quality and, thus, delivering customer satisfaction.
Toyota Way - The Toyota Way is a comprehensive expression of the company's management philosophy, which is based on the two foundational pillars of Continuous Improvement, also known as kaizen, and Respect for People.
traceability - Traceability, in supply chain traceability, is the ability to identify, track and trace elements of a product or substance as it moves along the supply chain from raw goods to finished products.
transactional leadership - Transactional leadership, also known as managerial leadership, is a leadership style where leaders rely on rewards and punishments to achieve optimal job performance from their subordinates.
transparency - Transparency is the quality of being easily seen through, while transparency in a business or governance context refers to being open and honest.
transportation management system (TMS) - A transportation management system (TMS) is specialized software for planning, executing and optimizing the shipment of goods.
triple constraint - The triple constraint is a model that describes the three most significant restrictions on any project: scope, schedule and cost.
two pizza rule - The two pizza rule is a guideline for limiting the number of attendees at a meeting.
two-tier ERP - Two-tier ERP is a technology strategy taken by large, multinational enterprises that uses tier 1 ERP for financials and other core common processes at the corporate level and tier 2 ERP for divisions, subsidiaries and smaller locations of the company to address specific needs.
Unfreeze, Change, Refreeze (Kurt Lewin Change Management Model) - Unfreeze, Change, Refreeze or Kurt Lewin's Change Management Model is a model to understand and manage organizational change.
unique selling point (USP) - A unique selling point (USP), also called a unique selling proposition, is a marketing statement that differentiates a product or brand from its competitors.
universal basic income (UBI) - Universal basic income (UBI) is a model for providing all citizens of a country or other geographic area with a given sum of money, regardless of their income, resources or employment status.
upcharge - An upcharge is an additional fee that is added to a bill after a contract has already been negotiated.
value chain - A value chain is a concept describing the full chain of a business's activities in creating a product or service -- from initial receipt of materials through its delivery to market.
value driver - A value driver is an activity or capability that adds worth to a product, service or brand.
value stream management - Value stream management is an emerging business process intended to gauge the flow of value into business resources and activities, as well as the flow of value back into the business.
value stream mapping - Value stream mapping is a lean manufacturing tool that visualizes every repeatable step required to deliver a product or service to the customer.
vCIO (virtual CIO) - A vCIO, or virtual CIO, is a contractor or company that serves as an organization's chief information officer.
vendor management system (VMS) - A vendor management system (VMS) is an enterprise software platform that helps companies control the process of procuring and managing a flexible workforce.
vendor-managed inventory (VMI) - Vendor-managed inventory (VMI) is an inventory management technique in which the supplier of goods, usually the manufacturer, is responsible for optimizing the inventory a distributor holds.
video interview - A video interview is a job interview that takes place remotely and uses video technology as the communication medium.
virtual desktop - A virtual desktop is a computer operating system that does not run directly on the endpoint hardware from which a user accesses it.
vision statement - A vision statement is an organization's declaration of its mid-term and long-term goals, stating what they want to become in the future.
VMware Partner Network - The VMware Partner Network is a global channel partner program with benefits and support to provide VMware's virtualization and cloud technology.
VUCA (volatility, uncertainty, complexity and ambiguity) - VUCA is an acronym that stands for volatility, uncertainty, complexity and ambiguity -- qualities that make a situation or condition difficult to analyze, respond to or plan for.
warehouse management system (WMS) - A warehouse management system (WMS) consists of software and processes that allow organizations to control and administer warehouse operations from the time goods or materials enter a warehouse until they move out.
What are leadership skills? - Leadership skills are the strengths and abilities individuals demonstrate that help to oversee processes, guide initiatives and steer their employees toward the achievement of goals.
What are soft skills? - Soft skills are personal attributes that support situational awareness and enhance an individual's ability to get a job done.
What are systems of engagement? - Systems of engagement are decentralized IT components that incorporate technologies such as social media and the cloud to encourage and enable peer interaction.
What are virtual agents and how are they being used? - A virtual agent -- sometimes called an intelligent virtual agent (IVA) -- is a software program or cloud service that uses artificial intelligence (AI) technologies, such as machine learning (ML) and natural language processing (NLP) to provide automated services or guidance to humans.
What is 3PL (third-party logistics)? - A 3PL (third-party logistics) provider offers outsourced logistics services, which encompass anything that involves management of one or more facets of procurement and fulfillment activities.
What is a bill of materials (BOM)? - A bill of materials (BOM) is a comprehensive inventory of the raw materials, assemblies, subassemblies, parts and components, as well as the quantities of each, needed to manufacture a product.