What is a Project?

*Project is a temporary endeavor undertaken to create a unique product, service, or result. 

• Features of project: ◦ Temporary: Project has a definite beginning and a definite ending.  The duration may vary from one day to even a few years – but ultimately all projects must either meet their objectives or be terminated. Please note that even though the projects are temporary, the products or services created by them may far outlast the projects themselves. ◦ Unique product, service or result: All projects create something unique which has never been created before. A product or service may be unique to whatever category it belongs (e.g., a project to create a building has a unique design, location, resources, etc.). 

• Please visualize those situations at your work place and check whether what you are working on is in fact a project or some other engagement, taking into account the following guidelines that help you understand some of the characteristics of a project: ◦ Does it have features of operations that are repetitive, and required to sustain business? ◦ Does it relate to merely fixing something which is broken or making minor modifications or carrying on maintenance activities (e.g., making changes in a document or website, resolving minor issues, etc.)? These activities will not produce a unique product and are hence not projects. ◦ Does the work require you to follow project management practices (e.g., does it require you to use expert knowledge discussed in several PMBOK® Guide Knowledge Areas such as Integration Management, Time Management, Scope Management, Cost Management, etc.?)? Does it require a project plan to be created and Project Manager assigned? If answers to these questions are “No”, then you are not dealing with projects. Important: Please read PMBOK® Guide Fifth Edition (pages3 and4) which cites examples of projects and how they can be identified.