Projects

The work performed in an organization often involves projects. Projects are often used to implement an organization's business strategy. And they are undertaken at all levels of the organization.

A project is a group of activities performed in a logical sequence to meet one or more basic objectives:
• to create change
• to implement strategic plans
• to fulfill contractual agreements
• to solve specified problems

The word project can be used to refer to many different things. It can be the period of transition during which a change takes place. Or it can be the designing and construction of a building or facility.

A project can be the launch of a new product or service. Running a campaign for political office and implementing a new business procedure are examples of projects.

A project is temporary - it has a date of commencement and a date of completion. The end is reached when the project's objectives have been achieved. Or when it becomes clear that the project's objectives cannot be met, and the project is terminated. Projects are unique and nonrepetitive. The product or service resulting from each project is somehow different from all similar products or services.

There are many variations on the themes of project phases, depending on the project's scope of work. For instance, a typical civil engineering project could consist of the following phases:
• planning
• manufacture
• site construction
• handover

A software application project could consist of the following phases:
• Planning
• Analysis
• Design
• Develoment
• Testing
• Implementation
• Support

Resources will be needed for any project and may come from many areas within / outside the organization, and may include:
• labor and management personnel
• equipment
• materials
• facilities
• finances

Projects are performed by people. A project usually has a single point of responsibility - the project manager.

The team roles and relationships among the people involved in the project need to be developed, defined, and established. These relationships are not static, but are susceptible to change.