Definitions

While you can make CHAOTICA work how you like regardless of phrasing; for consistency it's a good idea to establish some common understanding.

Core

Job

A job is a discrete piece of work for a client. Typically tied to a package of work or system.

Example

The client want's their e-commerce system testing. 6 months later they come back and want their internal office network testing. These would be two separate discrete pieces of work and therefore two separate jobs.

Phase

A phase is a child of a Job and is generally tied one to one to a service.

Example

Using the above e-commerce job as an example; if the client wanted their website tested as well as the underlying network the servers are on, there would be two phases:

1. e-Commerce Portal with the Web Application Assessment service
2. e-Commerce Infrastructure with the Infrastructure Assessment service

Client

Someone you're doing work for!

Framework Agreement

This is a concept where you can tie multiple jobs together via the client for purposes of collation or reporting.

Example

Rather than a client contract you for a specific project; if they instead buy x days as an annual contract in one go. This contract can be entered in CHAOTICA as a Framework Agreement and can be used to keep track of days "spent" against that contract.

Onboarded

Some client's require their own onboarding process and will only allow people who have been accepted to carry out work.

Operations

Project

A project is a lightweight version of a Job that typically doesn't have a client associated. Normally this might be some internal project or reference.

Example

I have a project I would like to schedule on several people that isn't client-facing but aims to complete some internal task such as building out service documentation/checklists/methodologies.

Service

A service is a type of offering. Generally they would have distinct methodologies or skill sets. Ultimately though - it's a service you provide.

Example

A Web Application Assessment has a uniquely different methodology and skill set to an Infrastructure Assessment so the two are likely to be different services.

Skill

Something that makes you special :)

Qualification

A professional certification, accreditation, or credential held by team members. CHAOTICA tracks qualification status through a defined lifecycle (In Progress → Attempted → Awarded), monitors expiry dates, and optionally requires manager verification. See the Qualifications Guide for details.

Accreditation

Something you've been given (e.g. membership to something?)

Organisational Unit

This can be considered a team. It could be a region, capability group or something similar. Most permissions are applied at the organisation unit level so you can implement as much or little compartmentalisation as suitable. Jobs are assigned to a unit. People across different units can be scheduled on jobs from other units!

Example

A company has a team of consultants across different countries. Each team largely manage their own workload or "schedule" and has their own back-office staff. Therefore it would make sense for each country to have it's own unit.