Project terms,
explained in plain language.
We explain, in a sentence or two, the terms that come up often in public-sector and enterprise IT projects, from AI adoption to system implementation, operations, and contracting. Each term links to a related page.
Look up a term.
AI & data
Terms you often hear when considering AI.
Enterprise knowledge search (RAG)
A method that first finds internal documents related to a question, then has AI write an answer based on what it found. It can be set up to show the source documents alongside the answer.
Related page Enterprise knowledge search (RAG)Large language model (LLM)
An AI model trained on large amounts of text to understand and generate language. It is used for text-based work such as summarizing, drafting, and answering questions.
Related page AI solutionsPrompt
The instructions and reference material given to an AI model along with a task. Even with the same model, the results vary depending on how the prompt is written.
Related page What happens if the AI produces a wrong result?AI agent
An AI setup that, given a goal, breaks the work into steps and calls permitted business tools to carry it through. The functions it can use and the points where a person approves are set in advance.
Related page Document & workflow automationPilot (PoC)
A validation stage, also called a proof of concept (PoC), that tests what an approach can and can’t do on a small task with limited data before a full build. Based on the results, you decide whether to scale up, refine, or stop.
Related page First AI project: start with a small pilotVideo analytics
Technology that picks out information such as people, objects, and movement in camera video and turns it into data you can use in your work.
Related page Video AI & data analyticsDe-identification
Processing that removes or replaces the parts of personal information that could identify a specific person, so no one can tell whose information it is. It is usually considered before data is used for analysis or AI validation.
Related page Do we need to use real business data to validate AI?Key performance indicator (KPI)
A key metric chosen to judge how close you are to a goal. Even for metrics with the same name, the calculation method and reference date must be defined before the numbers can be trusted and compared.
Related page Dashboards: define the metrics before the screensDashboard
A screen that brings several metrics and status information together in one place. It is organized around the decisions its viewers make, so they can move from a summary down to the details.
Related page Business solutions
System implementation
Terms that define scope when building or changing a system.
System interconnection
Connecting different systems so they can exchange data. The common approaches are APIs, which exchange data as each request comes in, and batch processing, which collects data and processes it all at once at set times.
Related page System integrationData migration
Moving the data built up in an existing system to a new system. What to move and what to exclude, the rules for converting formats, and the criteria for checking the data after the move are set together.
Related page System modernization: connecting the work beyond the screenCloud migration
Moving a system that ran on servers you manage yourself to a cloud environment from an outside provider, and running it there. Because security standards, costs, and operating practices all change along with it, the systems to move and the order of the move are reviewed in stages.
Related page Industries · Public & citizen servicesResponsive web
An approach in which a single website changes its layout to fit computer, tablet, and phone screens. There is no need to build a separate site for each device.
Related page Digital platformsAPI
A defined connection point that lets programs exchange data. Which data is exchanged, in what format, and with what permissions is agreed in advance.
Related page Can you integrate with our existing business systems or external services?Batch processing
A way of collecting data and processing it all at once at set times, instead of exchanging it as it comes in. It is often used to connect with older systems or to move large volumes of data.
Related page System integration
Operations & quality
Terms for discussing quality and operations around launch.
Web accessibility
Standards that let people with disabilities and older adults use a website without difficulty. Checks include whether you can move around with a keyboard alone, whether screen readers can read the content, and whether text has enough contrast with its background.
Related page Screens for everyone: accessibility starts at planningWeb vulnerability assessment
Finding and fixing security weaknesses in a website that outside attackers could exploit. It looks at areas such as input handling, permission checks, and whether personal information is exposed.
Related page How do you approach security?Maintenance
Responding to incidents and continuing routine checks and small fixes after launch so the system keeps running reliably.
Related page How do we agree on maintenance after launch?Enhancement
Taking a live system a step further by adding new features or improving its structure. It is usually scoped and agreed on separately from maintenance.
Related page Operations & enhancementHandover
Organizing documents, accounts and permissions, operating procedures, and known constraints, and passing them from the team that built a system to the staff who will run it.
Related page Project process · HandoverAlt text
A written description of what an image conveys. Screen readers read this description aloud, so people who can’t see the image get the same information.
Related page Screens for everyone: accessibility starts at planningScreen reader
Assistive technology that reads the text and structure of a screen aloud. People with visual impairments use it to browse websites, and it is also used to check accessibility by listening to a page directly.
Related page Screens for everyone: accessibility starts at planningIncident severity level
Levels that classify service incidents by their impact on business operations. Setting the first response, recovery target, and reporting method for each level in advance speeds up decisions when time is short.
Related page Commitments for after launch: defining the operations scope
Projects & contracting
Terms used in procurement, contracts, and project stages.
Requirements definition
The stage where you document and agree on what the system will and won’t do, based on the work and its users. It becomes the basis for later design and acceptance.
Related page Project process · DiscoveryDeliverables
The results created and handed over during a project. They include not only source code but also documents such as design documents, test results, and operating guides.
Related page What deliverables will we receive from a project?Acceptance
The procedure in which the party that commissioned the work checks that the finished deliverables meet the agreed requirements and criteria, and accepts them.
Related page Project process · Build & verificationRequest for proposal (RFP)
A document in which a contracting agency or company sets out a project’s purpose, scope, requirements, and evaluation criteria and asks for proposals. In public-sector projects, it is often published together with the bid notice.
Related page Pre-consultation checklistService level agreement (SLA)
A document that sets out commitments for an operating service, such as response times, recovery targets, and check intervals. It is often agreed along with the scope when a maintenance contract is signed.
Related page How do we agree on maintenance after launch?Warranty fixes
Fixing defects at no cost for a set period after a build is complete. Confirming the scope and end date in advance makes it easier to move on to maintenance afterward.
Related page Commitments for after launch: defining the operations scope
Feel free to ask about any term that needs more explanation.
Tell us about the project you’re considering, and we’ll work with you to outline the next steps for a consultation.