What is a project?

A series of activities and tasks that
 Have a specific objective to be completed within certain specifications;
 Have defined start and end dates;
 Have funding limits;
 Consume resources (i.e., money, people, & equipment)

Finally, we can say that:
A project is a series of activities and tasks that have
 SCOPE
 TIME
 RESOURCES

Project versus Operation:
 Organizations perform work - either
 Operations, or
 Projects
 Shared characteristics of projects and operations
 Performed by people
 Constrained by limited resources
 Planned, executed and controlled
 Operations are ongoing and repetitive
 Projects are temporary and unique
 “A project is a temporary endeavor undertaken to create a unique product or service.”
 temporary - definite beginning and end
 unique - different in some distinguishing characteristic