What is a project?

By Eddie Merla, PMP ® 

A project is defined as a temporary effort (has a start and an end) resulting in the creation of a unique product, service or result.  A project is usually defined by predetermined constraints such as schedule, budget, and scope of the effort (or the scope of the product, service or result to be delivered).

Given this definition, does it matter if the project has a duration of only one day?  Or a budget of only one dollar?  The answer is no.

Consider the following questions:

• Is the effort temporary?
• Does it have a beginning?
• Does it have a definite end?
• Does it produce a unique product, service or result?
• Does the product, service or result have a finite nature?  It doesn't matter - the temporary nature test does not apply to the product, service or result of the project).
• Is it performed in a corporate environment?  (It does not have to be performed in a corporate environment to qualify as a project).
• Is the effort performed for profit?  (It doesn't matter - non-profit efforts and volunteer efforts meeting the criteria are still considered projects).
• What if the effort produces similar products?  (The process of producing widgets is not a project.  The effort to create a production line to produce widgets is a project.  The effort to create a tract home in a housing area is a project because each tract home, although similar, is unique due to different owners, features or location).
• Is it a routine operation, service or process?  Generally operational work differs from project work because it is ongoing and repetitive versus temporary and unique.

Project work or operational work?

1.         Writing a book.

2.         Preparing the book for publication.

3.         Printing books.

4.         Building a house.

5.         Building a tract home.

6.         Managing a human resource department.

7.         Providing maintenance support for a custom designed home entertainment system.

8.         Routine maintenance on a washing machine.

9.         Making a sales call.

10.      Creating a sales campaign.

Answers:

1.         Project

2.         Project

3.         Operational work.

4.         Project

5.         Project

6.         Operational work

7.         Operational work

8.         Operational work

9.         Operational work

10.      Project

Study Tips for This Lesson

1. Know the definition of a project.

2. Know the difference between project work and operational work.

3. Know how to differentiate between the project and the result of the project.

4. You should also know how projects become projects to begin with (i.e. customer requests, market demand, a product issue, competitive pressure, regulatory requirement, etc.).

© 2010 Eddie Merla, PMP®

Article provided by:

Duende Project Management Services, a provider of Project Management Training and PMP® preparation products.  http://www.pmstudyproducts.com