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Control gate

Specific point in time during the project life cycle (for example, beginning or end of a major phase, expenditure of a specific amount of money, specific results of a set of tests, and so on) at which key project stakeholders convene to assess performance to date, validate key project assumptions, analyse current and future market conditions, and discuss other factors to determine whether the project should-
[1] be terminated,
[2] proceed according to its original plan, or
[3] proceed based on a revised plan
Also called phase exit, stage gate, kill point, or phase-end review.

Theory Z Management

Approach to managing people described by Arthur and Ouchi. Based on the philosophy that people need goals and objectives, motivation, standards, the right to make mistakes, and the right to participate in goal setting. More specifically, describes a Japanese system of management characterised by the employee's heavy involvement in management, which has been shown to result in higher productivity levels when compared to U.S. or western counterparts. Successful implementation requires a comprehensive system of organisational and sociological rewards. Its developers assert that it can be used in any situation with equal success. Also called participative management style.

Six Sigma

Quality concept and aim developed by Motorola, Inc. and defined as a measure of goodness-the capability of a process to produce perfect work.

Six sigma refers to the number of standard deviations from the average setting of a process to the tolerance limit, which in statistical terms translates to 3.4 defects per million opportunities for error.

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