Читать книгу Microsoft Project Fundamentals - Teresa S. Stover - Страница 17

A project is a unique activity that has a distinct starting point and a distinct finishing point. Here are some examples of projects:

 Remodeling an office

 Developing a new training program

 Launching an awareness campaign

 Hosting a conference and trade show

 Designing a new product

Each of these examples are unique—the specific office being remodeled, the topic of the training program or awareness campaign, the locale and speakers involved in the conference, or the specific qualities that go into designing a new product.

None of these projects are ongoing, meaning that they each have a start and an end date. Although some projects like designing a new product or building a high rise might take several years, they proceed through different phases through those years until the project's completion.

In contrast, ongoing activities that are repeated and that don't have distinct start and finish dates are considered operations. Some examples of operations are as follows:

 Maintaining information on a website

 Running payroll twice each month

 Sending weekly e-news to customers and prospects

 Preparing packets for the monthly board of directors meeting

 Posting daily items on social media

These are routine activities that take place on an ongoing basis as part of the regular business of an organization.

Projects can become operations, or operations can be a result of finished projects. For example, after the project of developing a new training program is complete, delivering a set of classes each month can become part of the organization's regular operations.

Projects can repeat in certain ways but still not be considered an operation. For example, your organization might follow a certain project template for product development that includes research, prototyping, testing, manufacturing, marketing, and launch. Its uniqueness lies in the difference in the product under development.

Whether small, medium, or large, projects are often characterized by the following:

 A scope of work defining the project boundaries and standards

 Part- or full-time team members who are assigned to the project

 Equipment and materials earmarked for the project, if applicable

 A budget dedicated to the project

 At least one expected deliverable or outcome at the project end