WHAT IS A PROJECT?
We use the term project frequently in our daily conversations. A husband, for example, tells his wife, “My main project for this weekend is to straighten out the garage.” Going hunting, building pyramids, fixing faucets, and preparing for a picnic share certain features that make them projects:
- They are goal oriented.
- They involve the coordinated undertaking of interrelated activities.
- They are of finite duration, with beginnings and ends.
- They are all, to a degree, unique.
In general, these four characteristics distinguish projects from other undertakings. Each of these characteristics has important implications, so we should examine them closely.
Goal Orientation
Projects are directed at achieving specific results—that ...
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