Five Characteristics of a Project
Projects differ, but they have some commonalities. Table 1.1 presents some characteristics of a project.
Table 1.1 Project Characteristics
Change |
Projects are a way to introduce change. Example: A new sales website will change how clients purchase items. |
Temporary |
There is always a specific start and end to a project, and it should cease once the mandatory products are created. Ongoing maintenance of a product occurs after the project and is not considered part of the project. Example: The production of a software to manage sales. |
Cross- Functional |
A project engages people from different seniority and business departments that work together for the period of the project. Example: To develop sales software, people from marketing and sales departments should work closely with the IT department. |
Unique |
Every project is unique. Example: Building a fiftieth school is different from building the forty-ninth one. The location is different, the design is different, and there are different categories of students. |
Uncertainty |
Parts of the project are unique, which brings uncertainty. The project manager is not 100% sure how this is going to work out. Example: The owners might keep changing their minds about the components and functionalities of the sales software. |