What is a project?
Reference from PMBOK :-Organizations perform work. Work generally invovles either operations or projects, although the two may overlap. Operations and projects share many characteristics; for example, they are:-
-Performed by people.
-Constrained by limited resources.
-Planned, executed, and controlled.
Projects are often implemented as a means of achieving an organization's strategic plan. Operations and projects differ primarily in that operations are ongoing and repetitive while projects are temporary endeavor undertaken to create a unique product or service. Temporary means that every project has a definite beginning and a definite end. Unique means that the product or services is different in some distinguishing way from all other products or services. For many organizations, projects are a means to respond to those requests that cannot be addressed within the organization's normal operational limits.
Projects are undertaken at all levels of the organization. They may involve a single person or mkany thousands. Their duration rages from a few weeks to more than five years. Projects may involve a single unit of one organization or may cross organizational boundaries, as in joint ventures and partnering. Projects are critical to the realization of the performing organization's business strategy because projects are a means by which strategy is implemented. Examples of projects include:
Developing a new product or service
Effecting a change in structure, staffing, or style of an organization
Designing a new transportation vehicle
Developing or acquiring a new or modified information system
Constructing a building or facility
Building a water system for a community in a developing country
Running a campaign for political office
Implementing a new business procedure or process
Emc defination :-
A project is defined as "a set of interrelated activites, with an agreed start and finish time, that is undertaken by an organisation in order to meet defined objectives within the constraints of time, cost and resoures at specified quality requirements".
Pmbok summary : - "a project is a temporary endeavour undertaken to create a unique product or service"
The difference between a project undertaking and a non-project undertaking is that "a project ceased to exist when its declared objectives have been attained, while non-project undertakings adopt a new set of objectives and continue to work"
Temporary means that every project has a definite beginning and a definite end. The end is reached when the project's objectives have been achieved. Most projects are performed by a team created for the sole purpose of performing the project, and the team is disbanded and members reassigned when the project is completed.
Unique means that the product or services is differnet in some distinguishing way formall similar products or services. Projects involve doing something which has not been done before and which is, therefore, unique. Because the product of each project is unique, the characteristics that distinguish the product or sercice must be progressively elaborated. Progressively means "proceeding in steps; continuing steadily by increments. Elaborated means"worked out with care and detail; developed thoroughly".
posted by integrations.space @ 9/06/2005 11:55:00 PM
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