Project definition

Dave Litten is a leading Project Management Trainer and established Prince2 Guru. He gave me an excellent definition of what makes a Project:

So What Is A Project?

Let’s start with what it isn’t: Your ‘normal’ job might be managing or running a department, carrying out a set of services, managing a team, creating products, etc.This is broadly called ‘operations management’. You come into work each day and perform your normal work duties. Now these can change and be different each day. Imagine for a moment that you are on a help desk of some sort. Each day would be different depending upon what ‘help’ you are asked for. Your daily job itself is permanent.

Now a Project is different. It is a one time event, it is unique, it has an agreed set of objectives, and it has a distinct beginning and end. At its simplest, even making a cup of coffee has all the hallmarks of a project. Project Management is all about managing change.