TS ISO 21506

TS ISO 21506 is a vocabulary standard for project, programme and portfolio management. It provides a common language for terms used across these disciplines, helping organisations interpret role names, governance concepts and management terminology consistently across sectors and organisational sizes.

How the three management layers relate

In general technical terms, a project is a temporary endeavour aimed at creating a specific output; a programme coordinates multiple related initiatives; and a portfolio manages a selected set of work in line with strategic objectives. Distinguishing these layers matters because decisions, accountability and prioritisation operate differently at each level. A vocabulary document such as this one does not prescribe a management method; it clarifies the meaning of the words used when describing one.

Why a shared vocabulary matters in practice

According to the scope of this document, the terms are applicable to any type of organisation, public or private, and to any project, programme or portfolio regardless of complexity, size or duration. That broad applicability makes the standard useful as a reference for governance documents, training material, reporting templates and cross-functional communication. In practice, consistent terminology reduces ambiguity when teams discuss objectives, dependencies, benefits, risks and delivery responsibilities.

• Common terminology for project, programme and portfolio management
• Applicable to public and private organisations of any size or sector
• Relevant to initiatives of any complexity, scale or duration
• A vocabulary standard rather than a requirements standard