What is a Project?
– Definition and Key
Characteristics
MyMG Team
July 9, 2010
The definition and key characteristics of a project
Right understanding of the definition and key characteristics of project is of significant
importance. Any project is not just a way to make or do something but it’s an opportunity to
achieve some desired result by implementing a systematic management approach (for example,
producing a product or sharing knowledge).
An individual or organization involved in projects needs to understand how to solve complexity
of problems through project management. In this article we’ll define the term “project”, describe
the key characteristics of a project, and explain how to distinguish a project from an activity.
What is a Project? – The Definition
Project is a great opportunity for organizations and individuals to achieve their business and non-
business objectives more efficiently through implementing change. Projects help us make desired
changes in an organized manner and with reduced probability of failure.
Projects differ from other types of work (e.g. process, task, procedure). Meanwhile, in the
broadest sense a project is defined as a specific, finite activity that produces an observable
and measurable result under certain preset requirements.
It is an attempt to implement desired change to an environment in a controlled way. By using
projects we can plan and do our activities, for example: build a garage, run a marketing
campaign, develop a website, organize a party, go on vacation, graduate a university with
honors, or whatever else we may wish to do.
A Project is a temporary, unique and progressive attempt or endeavor made to produce some
kind of a tangible or intangible result (a unique product, service, benefit, competitive advantage,
etc.). It usually includes a series of interrelated tasks that are planned for execution over a fixed
period of time and within certain requirements and limitations such as cost, quality, performance,
others.
Key Characteristics
As follows from the given definition, any project can be characterized by these characteristics:
Temporary. This key characteristic means that every project has a finite start and a finite
end. The start is the time when the project is initiated and its concept is developed. The
end is reached when all objectives of the project have been met (or unmet if it’s obvious
that the project cannot be completed – then it’s terminated).
Unique Deliverable(s). Any project aims to produce some deliverable(s) which can be a
product, service, or some another result. Deliverables should address a problem or need
analyzed before project start.
Progressive Elaboration. With the progress of a project, continuous investigation and
improvement become available, and all this allows producing more accurate and
comprehensive plans. This key characteristic means that the successive iterations of
planning processes result in developing more effective solutions to progress and develop
projects.
In addition to the listed characteristics, a conventional project is:
Purposeful as it has a rational and measurable purchase
Logical as it has a certain life-cycle
Structured as it has interdependencies between its tasks and activities
Conflict as it tries to solve a problem that creates some kind of conflict
Limited by available resources
Risk as it involves an element of risk
Some examples of a project are:
Developing a new product or service
Constructing a building or facility
Renovating the kitchen
Designing a new transportation vehicle
Acquiring a new or modified data system
Organizing a meeting
Implementing a new business process
Work Breakdown
In organizations, a project is defined as a piece of work that is planned for implementation within
current business environment. This definition lets make a distinction between other pieces of
work, such as:
Program – a broad, long-term objective that is often decomposed into a series of projects
and sub-projects
Task – an identifiable and measurable activity that create a small unit of work for a
related project
Work package – division of a project task
Work unit – division of work packages
Projects along with programs, tasks, work packages and work units are the elements of work
breakdown structure or WBS. Often WBS is used to determine an activity-based hierarchy of
projects, with reference to their deliverables and objectives.
A program includes several or more larger projects. A larger project can be broken down into
smaller interrelated sub-projects. Each one can be divided into tasks which in term are
decomposed into interrelated activities or sub-tasks. A task includes a series of smaller goals
which are monitored against milestones.
Managing Projects
Project management is the art of planning, controlling and executing a project in a way that
ensures successful delivery of the desired outcome. It is widely used in organizations as a
complex of tools for delivering strategic goals and objectives.
The key advantages of using project management within a company’s business environment
can be described as:
Accelerating improvement and strengthening of the company’s management through
implementing the ideas of participatory management. Projects help involve employees in
decision making
Adopting systems engineering approach that helps deal with risks effectively
Accomplishing specific changes that are linked to the company’s strategies
Project Management Life Cycle
The Project Management Life Cycle has four phases: Initiation, Planning, Execution and
Closure. Each project life cycle phase is described below, along with the tasks needed to
complete it. You can click the links provided, to view more detailed information on the project
management life cycle.
Develop a Business Case
Undertake a Feasibility Study
Establish the Project Charter
Appoint the Project Team
Set up the Project Office
Perform Phase Review
Create a Project Plan
Create a Resource Plan
Create a Financial Plan
Create a Quality Plan
Create a Risk Plan
Create an Acceptance Plan
Create a Communications Plan
Create a Procurement Plan
Contract the Suppliers
Define the Tender Process
Issue a Statement of Work
Issue a Request for Information
Issue a Request for Proposal
Create Supplier Contract
Perform Phase Review
Build Deliverables
Monitor and Control
Perform Time Management
Perform Cost Management
Perform Quality Management
Perform Change Management
Perform Risk Management
Perform Issue Management
Perform Procurement Management
Perform Acceptance Management
Perform Communications Management
Perform Project Closure
Review Project Completion
The Project Management Template kit contains all of the tools and templates you need, to
complete the project management life cycle. It also contains a free Project Management Book to
help you manage projects. It takes you through the project lifecycle step-by-step, helping you to
deliver projects on time and within budget.
It's also unique, because it:
Applies to all project types and industries
Is used to manage projects of any size
Gives you the complete set of project templates
Explains every step in the project lifecycle in depth!
The Project Management Kit helps:
Project Managers to deliver projects
Consultants to manage client projects
Trainers to teach project management
Students to learn how to manage projects
Project Offices to monitor and control projects
Senior Managers to improve the success of projects.
Project Management Template Kit
The Project Management Kit provides more than 50 detailed templates for projects. They save
you time and effort, so you never have to start from scratch. Buy this complete kit of templates
today.
