Unit 3

Word

Definition

Example

accurate forecast

a very precise description of what is likely to happen in the future, based on information that is available now

We need an accurate forecast of the time needed to complete it

brainstorming

when a group of people meet in order to try to develop ideas and think of ways of solving problems

Phase one in most projects begins with brainstorming

budget constraint

represents all the combinations of goods and services that a consumer may purchase given current prices within his or her given income

There are no budget constraints at this brainstorming stage

capacity

someone's ability to do something

Let's look at ways to increase our capacity

case

an example of a particular situation or of something happening

Is that really the case?

catering

the activity of providing and serving food and drinks at parties, meetings etc for money

I've already received offers from various catering companies

collaboration

when you work together with another person or group to achieve something, especially in science or art

The Tech-Tariff project is a collaboration between two different companies

come along

to be developing or making progress

How's the product development coming along?

convinced

feeling certain that something is true

I'm afraid I'm not convinced at all

entirely

completely and in every possible way

I'm not entirely convinced by this argument

fall behind schedule

to fail to finish work on time

The whole project will be delayed if you fall behind schedule

forward

towards a place or position that is in front of you

Are you sure that's the best way forward?

go ahead with something

to start to do something, especially after planning it or asking permission to do it

I suggest we just go ahead with the plan

go out of control

if something is out of control, no-one has any power over it

Costs have gone out of control on this project

go over budget

costing or being more than the amount alloted or budgeted

One of our teams has gone over budget significantly

handset

a handheld controller for a piece of electronic equipment, such as a television or video recorder

We've hit a problem with the handset battery life

hit a problem

suddenly confront or come up against a problem

We've hit a problem that the designers are looking at now

ideal

the best or most suitable that something could possibly be

That's not an ideal solution

launch

to start something, usually something big or important

The aim is to launch a hi-tech phone with new advanced features

make a mess of something

to do something badly

The manufacturers have really made a mess of things

make a plan

an orderly or step-by-step conception or proposal for accomplishing an objective

Let's make a plan of how this will work

make the launch date

to appoint the date of a launch

They didn't make the launch date as advertised

meet the deadline

finish something by a deadline

They're not happy we can't meet the deadline

merchandise

goods that are being sold

Our team will bring the merchandise to the venue

miss the deadline

fail to finish something by a deadline

Do everything you can in order not to miss the deadline

miss the launch date

not to accomplish the tasks till the appointed date of start

I'm afraid it looks like we're going to miss the launch date

overspend

to spend more money than you can afford

All these problems led to a slight overspend

point

a single fact, idea, or opinion that is part of an argument or discussion

I take your point, but is that really necessary?

proposal

a plan or suggestion which is made formally to an official person or group, or the act of making it

Changing back to the old suppliers would be my proposal

realistic budget

a budget that is actually possible rather than what you would like to happen

It's just not possible as it simply isn't a realistic budget

run into problems

to face problems

It's easy to run into problems with so many people involved

run smoothly

to do something in a steady way, without stopping and starting again

Things are running smoothly so far

side

one of the two areas that are on the left or the right of an imaginary line, or on the left or the right of a border, wall, river etc

How does your side of things look?

site

a place where something important or interesting happened

The clearing of the site took place quickly and easily

status

the official legal position or condition of a person, group, country etc

What's the current status of the project?

stay on track

to be likely to achieve the result you want

Let's assume the construction phase stays on track

stay the course

to finish something in spite of difficulties

It's important that you stay the course and don't give up

stay within budget

not spending more money than had been planned for

That's good that we'll stay within budget this time

tariff

a list of fixed prices charged by a hotel or restaurant, for example for the cost of meals or rooms

MMT-Tec's new tariff includes free videophoning and multimedia message services

upfront planning

means you can predict everything in advance

It'll require years of upfront planning

worth a try

deserving of an attempt

I guess it's worth a try as we don't have any other options