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1. |
What is a project?
A project is:
- "An activity of limited duration
- The purpose of which is to create some sort of outcome
- That has generally not been done before, and
- The achievement of which signals completion of the activity".
There are a lot of other more formal, but less descriptive, ones, so this gives
us the best impression. |
2. |
Where do projects come from?
- Someone, somewhere has a vision of how things might be changed.
So projects are about "change". |
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3. |
Project activities are then typically launched to develop the idea, that is,
- To take advantage of an opportunity,
- To satisfy a need or
- To solve a problem.
This is done by creating a new product or service.
And the outcome is typically known as a "deliverable".
Not all activities are projects, of course.
Things that you do regularly, as a matter of course, are not projects.
However, some things that you wish to do, you can deliberately make into a
project, and that requires additional effort. |
4. |
For example, getting breakfast every morning does not need to be a project
That's because you know exactly what to do – you've done it so many times before! |
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5. |
But getting your youngsters to get breakfast for the first time on a camping
trip could well be a project!
If you decide to make this breakfast getting exercise a project, then you
may not realize it but what you are doing is project management! |
6. |
In short,
Project management is a management technique
- For getting things done faster
- And the things done right, more cost-effectively.
Bear in mind, however, that managing the project is not the same
thing as managing the technology embedded in the project. |
