Glossary

Terms beginning with S

senior responsible owner

The individual accountable to the sponsoring body for a programme or project meeting its objectives, delivering the required outcomes and realising the required benefits.

Note: the senior responsible owner owns the business case and is accountable for governance.

Note: the sponsoring body could be a group or individual.

Note: the senior responsible owner of a government major project is ultimately accountable to Parliament.

service

Action of an organisation to meet an ongoing demand or need to deliver an outcome for users.

Note: a service is a complete solution that brings together technology and non-technology elements to enable users to achieve a defined outcome.

simulation

Use of a similar or equivalent system to imitate a real system, so that it behaves like or appears to be the real system.

Note: simulation is primarily used in design.

Note: the equivalent systems are usually, but not always, digital.

Note: modelling is an alternative term used.

solution

The services, products and infrastructure which are intended to fulfil the requirements for an aspect of government policy or the organisation’s objectives.

Note: the solution can include people, products, services, information, processes, and natural and societal elements.

solution hierarchy

The progressive breakdown of a solution into its constituent elements.

Note: also referred to as a system hierarchy.

Note: this is usually the equivalent of a product breakdown structure used in planning.

solution integration

The progressive assembling of a solution’s components into the whole system.

Note: also referred to as ‘system integration’ and ‘service integration’ depending on context.

sponsoring body

The driving force behind a programme, which provides the investment decision and top-level endorsement for the rationale and objectives of the programme.

stage (project delivery)

In the context of project delivery, a stage is a subdivision of a project life cycle.

stakeholder

Individual, group or organisation that can affect or be affected by, or perceive itself to be affected by a decision, initiative or activity.

Note: examples of stakeholders include: citizens, customers, regulators, suppliers and employees and sponsoring bodies.

Note: examples of a decision, initiative or activity include those relating to business as usual activities, portfolio, programmes and projects.

Note: also referred to as an interested party.

standard

A standard is an agreed document that provides requirements, specifications, guidelines or characteristics that can be used consistently to ensure that materials, products, processes and services are fit for their purpose.