What Is a Project?

Definition, Types &

Examples
by William Malsam | Jun 29, 2023

What is a project, exactly? We talk a lot about specific facets of project

management, but it’s sometimes valuable to start at the root and dig into
the basics.

To fully understand high-level project management concepts, it’s important

to know the simple answers. When you can call on this knowledge, more
complicated concepts are easier to master. Whether you’re the project
manager or a stakeholder, give your next project definition with these
project management tips in mind.

Project Definition

A project is a set of tasks that must be completed within a defined timeline

to accomplish a specific set of goals. These tasks are completed by a
group of people known as the project team, which is led by a project
manager, who oversees the planning, scheduling, tracking and successful
completion of projects.
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Besides the project team, projects require resources such as labor,

materials and equipment. Organizations and individuals manage projects
with a wide range of objectives. These can take many forms, from
constructing a building to planning an event and even completing a certain
duty. Retailers, for example, may pursue projects that improve the way they
track order fulfillment. Construction teams complete projects any time they
plan and build something—and so on!
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What Are the Characteristics of a Project?

There are certain features or characteristics that are unique to projects and
differentiate them from the daily operations or other types of activities of an
organization. Here are the main characteristics of a project.
1. Any Project Needs a Project Manager and a Project
Team

One of the most important characteristics of a project is that it’s a team

effort. While the structure of project teams might change from one
organization to another, projects usually involve a project manager and a
team of individuals with the necessary skills to execute the tasks that are
needed.

2. Every Project Needs a Project Plan

Project team members need clear directions from the project manager and
other project leaders so that they can execute the work that’s expected
from them. These directions come in the form of a project plan. However, a
project plan is more than just a set of instructions for the project team. It’s a
comprehensive document that describes every aspect of a project, such as
the project goals, project schedule and project budget among other
important details.

3. All Projects Go Through the Same Project Lifecycle

The project life cycle refers to the five phases all projects must progress
through, from start to finish. The five phases of a project lifecycle serve as
the most basic outline that gives a project definition. These five phases are
initiation, planning, execution, monitoring and closure.

4. All Projects Share the Same Project Constraints

All projects no matter their size or complexity are subject to three main
constraints: time, scope and cost. This simply means that projects must be
completed within a defined timeline, achieve a defined set of tasks and
goals and be delivered under a certain budget.

These project constraints are known as the triple constraint or the project
management triangle and are one of the most important project features to
know about.

5. Every Project Needs Resources

A resource is anything necessary to complete a project, such as for

example, labor, raw materials, machinery and equipment. For example, in
construction, raw materials such as wood, glass or paint are
essential project resources. That said, other resources — like time, labor
and equipment — are just as important.

A project manager must be able to identify all of the project resources in

order to create a resource plan and manage the resources accordingly.
When resources are left unaccounted for, it is easy to mismanage them.

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Types of Projects

Projects can take many shapes and forms, which makes classifying them
into types a very difficult task that requires different approaches. Here are
some of the types of projects grouped by funding source, industry
and project management methodology.

Types of Projects By Funding Source

One simple way to categorize projects is to look at their source of capital.

 Private projects: Projects that are financed by

businesses or private organizations.

 Public projects: Projects which are funded by

Government agencies.

 Mixed projects: Projects that are financed by a public-

private partnership.
Types of Projects By Industry

Projects can be executed by large or small organizations from any industry.

However, some industries are more project-intensive than others. Here are
some of the most common types of projects by industry.

 Construction projects: The main goal of

any construction project is to make a building that can
be used for different purposes such as infrastructure,
residential or commercial use.

 Manufacturing projects: Manufacturing projects

consist of manufacturing physical products to generate
profits for a company.

 IT projects: Information technology projects consist in

establishing an IT framework for the processing of data
at a company-wide scale.

 Software development projects: The main goal of a

software development project is to create a software
product for a client.
  Business projects: The term business project could
refer to creating a new business, creating a new
business unit for an existing company or simply
launching a new business initiative.
Types of Projects By Project Management Methodology

Besides the types of projects mentioned above, projects can also be

classified by the project management methodology that’s used to plan,
schedule and execute them.

 Waterfall projects: Waterfall is the most traditional

project management methodology, where the project
plan is defined before the project begins and each major
project phase must be completed in sequence.

 Agile projects: Agile projects are planned and

executed in short iterations known as sprints, where
project teams plan their activities as they execute the
project.

Project Examples

Now that we’ve reviewed the main characteristics of a project and the
various project types that exist, let’s review some common project
examples to better illustrate what a project is.

Construction Project Examples

 Construction infrastructure projects: Building a

bridge, a road, a mass transportation system or a water
treatment facility.

 Residential construction projects: Building a house, a

residential building or an apartment complex.
  Commercial construction projects: Building a
shopping mall, a parking lot or a hotel.

Manufacturing Project Examples

 Building a factory from scratch

 Manufacturing products for retail sale

 Manufacturing products for a B2B purchase order

 Improving an existing production line by acquiring new

machinery and training employees

Key Project Terms to Know

No matter the project, there are universal project terms that are used
regardless of project type, project size or any other factor. Know these
seven terms like the back of your hand and you’ll be a step ahead before
the project begins:

Project Scope

Project scope is a key aspect of the project planning stage. In many ways,
it is the starting point. Determining project scope requires the project
manager and their team to set goals and objectives, detail deliverables,
create tasks, establish important dates and more. Project scope defines
desired outcomes and all specific factors which will affect reaching them.
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Project Stakeholder

A stakeholder refers to anyone and everyone involved in a project. A

stakeholder can be involved at every stage of the project, or just in a
certain way. Stakeholder analysis helps categorize how investors, team
members, vendors, contractors and more can affect your project.

Project Deliverables

A deliverable refers to the specific outcome(s) a project creates.

Deliverables can be “tangible” or “intangible,” meaning they can be a
physical product or something conceptual. Typically, deliverables are the
need that inspired the project in the first place. If someone contracts a
builder to design and construct an office space, the office is a tangible
deliverable.
Project Milestones

Milestones are predetermined achievements that help track project

progress. Think of milestones as checkpoints. These checkpoints are
decided on before a project begins, so the project manager and team know
when they are on track to achieve deliverables. Without milestones, it’s
difficult to know if the project is on the road to success or needs to reroute.

Project Dependencies

Project dependencies refer to how resources must be shared and allocated

within a project. Many projects will use the same physical materials for
different purposes and across different stages. Understanding this
dependency is the only way to ensure there is enough resources to go
around. Similarly, all projects are broken down into tasks. When one task
cannot begin before another is completed, these tasks share a
dependency.

What It Means to Work on a Project

Whether it’s the project manager, a team member or any other project
stakeholder, they’re a member of the greater project team and their actions
directly affect other team members. Like any team, you “win” or “lose” as a
unit, so it’s incredibly important to communicate and listen to other team
members in order to coordinate efforts and succeed. Most project mishaps
and project failures are the direct results of poor communication or lack of
collaboration.

Why does this matter as long as the work is getting done? Working on a
project is about understanding the project as a whole just as much as it is
about doing the work. The only way to see this big picture is by listening to
the team and learning from one another.
What Is Project Management?

The process of project management starts with the conception of the

project and continues all the way through the project lifecycle. This requires
detailed knowledge of company resources and how to assign them in order
to complete tasks, duties, events and other projects.

A wide range of industries relies on project management methods and tools

to execute projects. A few examples of these industries are construction,
IT, engineering, marketing and advertising. Any team working together to
reach a shared objective is engaging in some form of project management.

What Does a Project Manager Do?

A project manager is more than just a manager, in the traditional sense.

This individual is the leader of the project team and oversees every aspect
of the project, from beginning to end. The project manager will typically
write the project plan, run team meetings, assign tasks and do quality
control tests to ensure everything is running smoothly. A project manager
can’t carry the entire project on their back, though. One of their key duties,
in fact, is knowing how to entrust various responsibilities to team members.

With the help of their team, project managers will create project schedules
and budgets. They will also create project reports throughout the project
lifecycle.

As you can see, their responsibilities are widespread, but that doesn’t
mean spreading too thin. Ideally, a project manager creates the foundation
of the project—like the foundation of a house. They then appoint other
individuals to finish out each room.
Project Definition: Best Practices for Project
Management

Regardless of the project, the size of the team, or anything else, there are
practices that exponentially increase the chances of success. As vital as it
is to hit goals and achieve deliverables, it’s just as important to create a
positive culture within the project. These five tips may seem simple, but
they make a big difference:

Set Regular Team Check-ins

It’s easy to meet with the team “as needed,” but once a project begins it
gets harder to find time in everyone’s schedule. Instead, schedule
regular meetings before a project even starts. These meetings serve as
check-ins where team members can give each other updates, voice
concerns, ask questions, make adjustments and do anything else they may
need. When these check-ins are already built into the schedule, no one is
waiting to meet until there’s a mishap or issue.

Delegate

Part of what gives a project definition is knowing how to delegate. Whether

it’s the project managers or a team member, they’ll more than likely need
help with a task at some point. Now, this doesn’t mean just passing along
the task to someone else. It means that every team member has equal
responsibilities. Instead, the best project managers know how to relinquish
some control and delegate to team members.

Know the Team

Everyone on the project management team should be familiar with each

other’s strengths, weaknesses and specialties. For example, if a team
member needs information from a different department, they should know
exactly who to ask. This familiarity cuts down on lost time. It is especially
important for a project manager to know their team extremely well.

When a project member knows these things, they can make decisions that
play to their team members’ strengths, not around their weaknesses.
Knowing the team is a huge aspect of creating a positive culture within a
project, as it celebrates everyone’s abilities.

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