by Amanda Dcosta

Created on: January 30, 2010   Last Updated: February 12, 2011

A project is an undertaking to convert a dream, a vision or a need to reality.   Such a dream could have arisen out of personal, business, industrial, government or social reasons.  The basics of defining for project management can be done once a clear picture of what a project is or what project management is. 

A) Depending on what it is to achieve, a project varies, one from another.   It could be:

- Very large or very small Simple or complex undertaking

- May be undertaken by anyone irrespective of level in an organization

- Actual project will vary from plan depending on nature and amount of work

- May involve a single person or many people

- May extend from one day to many years

- May span from just one department to many departments in an organization, or from many organizations to many locations

B)  Project Management Definitions:

Noted below are different approaches to defining project management basics:

- According to the Webster’s Dictionary, a Project may be defined as a proposal of something to be done; a scheme; plan; an organized undertaking; a special unit of work; an extensive public undertaking etc.  

- According to Buchanan and Body, Projects many be -
Unique ventures that have a beginning and an end and are conducted by people to meet established goals within parameters of cost, schedule and quality.

- Project Management Institute, USA’s Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge defines a project as a temporary endeavor undertaken to create a unique product or service.

- A Project, according to Cleland and King is, A complex effort to achieve specific objectives within schedule and budget targets, which generally cut across organizational lines and are normally not repetitive within the organization.

C)  All projects have some common characteristics irrespective of their size or sector. Key features of projects:

- Temporary:  All projects have a beginning and an end which is definite and well outlined.  They are undertaken to achieve specific objectives and end when these goals are met.

- Unique: A project will never be identical to another project, irrespective of size  or similarities between projects.

- Predefined Goals / Objectives: This could cover social, economic or financial outlines.

- Budgets and schedules: Each project will have a pre-fixed budget to be completed in and a timeframe for completing it

- Quality Performance Measures: The performance expected to be followed in the project is decided in beginning

- Uses Resources and Manpower: Both, manpower and resources are limited in a project.

- Face known and unknown risks: Uncertainties in the project many interfere with or jeopardize the project completion.

- Have a project life cycle: Projects go through different phases from the time they are planned and initiated to the time they are completed.

D) Projects fulfil diverse needs:

i) A project can be taken up for such diverse reasons as:

- Organizing a simple lunch or arranging a wedding,

- Developing new products and services,

- Infrastructure development,

- Constructing a building,

- Implementing a new business procedure,

- R&D,

- Designing new software,

- A poverty alleviation campaign by the government/NGO,

- To put man on the moon, etc.

ii) Projects can also be classified in different ways such as:

- By the industry or sector in which it falls

- By the size of the project

- By the total cost involved for the project etc.

iii) For example, a project can be undertaken to provide new products or services for:

- The organizations own internal need

- For an outside client

- For one's own personal requirements, etc.  

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