A project is a temporary endeavor undertaken to create a unique product, service, or result. It is a set of interdependent tasks that have a common goal and must be completed within a defined timeline to accomplish a specific set of goals. Projects can be carried out individually or collaboratively and may involve research or design. A project can be managed by a single person or hundreds, depending on its complexity.
Projects have the following characteristics:
- A clear start and end date: A project cannot go on forever and needs to have a clear beginning, a definite end, and an overview of what happens in between.
- A project creates something new: Every project is unique, producing something that did not previously exist. A project is a one-time, once-off activity, never to be repeated exactly the same way again.
- A project has boundaries: A project operates within certain constraints of time, money, quality, and functionality.
Projects require resources such as labor, materials, and equipment, and are completed by a group of people known as the project team, which is led by a project manager who oversees the planning, scheduling, tracking, and successful completion of projects. Projects may be temporary social systems, possibly staffed by teams within or across organizations to accomplish particular tasks under time constraints.
