(For meaning and definition of the project, click the link)
The main characteristics and features of projects are listed below:
- Specific objectives
- Life span
- Conflict management
- Temporary organization
- Constraints
- Flexibility
- Unique
- Resource management
- Specific beneficiaries
- Team work
- Least possibility of corruptions
- Contracting system
- Life cycle
- Planning and controlling
The aforesaid characteristics of the projects can be briefly explained as follows :
1. Specific objectives :
Each and every project are definite with its predetermined objectives. It focuses upon the end results. The objective could be profit oriented or service oriented, long term or short term, profit maximization or wealth maximization and so on. So, all the projects must have specific objectives to be accomplished.
2. Life span :
All projects has definite life span, which may be short or long, depending upon the nature and scope of project. Therefore projects cannot continue endlessly.
3. Conflict management :
All the project consists of team members. The team members are formed by the people of different education background, experiences and demographics. Therefore, conflicts in opinion are bound to incur. Conflicts are hindrances of the project. In projects goals are achieved by proper management of conflicts and remove the stress of the team members. Several opportunities and threats can surround the project. Therefore proper project planning must be made. Unplanned projects leads to stress.
4. Temporary organization :
As we know that all the projects has fixed life span. So, its existence is seen only during operating process. Therefore projects are temporary organizations. After the completion of the specified objectives, projects are terminated.
5. Constraints :
Projects operates in the dynamic and contemporary environments. So, the environmental forces brings both opportunities as well as threats. As project has time schedule and deadline for all the activities with cost limit and quality performances. These are the constraints of the project. However, Projects constraints can be handled through effective project management.
6. Flexibility :
A projects influences the environments and also gets influenced by the environmental forces. These forces could be internal as well as external. Internal forces comprises of customer, competitors, suppliers, stakeholders and employees. Similarly external forces comprises of political, legal, economical, social, cultural and technological factors. Therefore, a project is very flexible.it provides sufficient room for adaptation to the environmental forces at different stages of product life cycle.
7. Unique :
Every project is unique in some elements. All the projects consists of customized as well as non-repetitive activities. All projects targets and operates under their own geographic location. So projects are said to be unique.
8. Resource management :
A project uses several resources. These resources could be physical (land, building and so on) resources, financial (money) resources, human (skilled, semi-skilled and unskilled) resources and technological (like computer, plants and equipment) resources. So, in order to maximize profit and to eliminate waste, the resources are to be properly managed. These resources are coordinated by the project.
9. Specific beneficiaries :
A project has specific group of beneficiaries. Simply, beneficiaries are the final and targeted users or groups or clients upon which the output of the projects rests. So, a projects must clearly identify and fulfill the requirements of such specific beneficiaries.
10. Team work :
A project is a single entity. It is handled by project manager. The project manager is supported by project team from various disciplines and experiences. (For common barriers to project team click on the link )
Therefore, a participatory approach among multi-functional team members are to be followed to make the project efficient and complete. (For the guidelines to overcome the barriers in project team developments, click on the link )
11. Least possibility of corruption :
A project mobilizes different kind of resources which may be physical resources, financial resources, human resources and technological resources. budgets are predetermined for each resources. So there is least possibility of corruption.
12. Contracting system :
Most projects are contracts based. Contracts may be: Turnkey contract, lump sum contract, cost plus contract, piece work contract, labor contract and sub contract. Thus, proper contract planning and management is the key to achieve projects objectives effectively.
13. Life cycle :
All projects has a life cycle. There are four stages of life cycle of project. It consist of: formulation phase, planning phase, implementation phase and termination phase. Actually, formulation phase and planning phase of the project has slow start, implementation phase gains quick momentum and termination phase has slow finish.
14. Planning and controlling :
A project requires effective planning and control system. Planning and controlling serve as a ‘yardstick’ to measure the performance of the project. Actual performance is compared with planned schedule and deviations are found. So that corrective actions could be taken to control in case deviation is found. Therefore, project needs proper project planning in order to achieve its predetermined objectives.
Picture Credit: kirankumarbommana.files.wordpress.com
Each and every project are definite with its predetermined objectives. It focuses upon the end results. The objective could be profit oriented or service oriented, long term or short term, profit maximization or wealth maximization and so on. So, all the projects must have specific objectives to be accomplished.
2. Life span :
All projects has definite life span, which may be short or long, depending upon the nature and scope of project. Therefore projects cannot continue endlessly.
3. Conflict management :
All the project consists of team members. The team members are formed by the people of different education background, experiences and demographics. Therefore, conflicts in opinion are bound to incur. Conflicts are hindrances of the project. In projects goals are achieved by proper management of conflicts and remove the stress of the team members. Several opportunities and threats can surround the project. Therefore proper project planning must be made. Unplanned projects leads to stress.
4. Temporary organization :
As we know that all the projects has fixed life span. So, its existence is seen only during operating process. Therefore projects are temporary organizations. After the completion of the specified objectives, projects are terminated.
5. Constraints :
Projects operates in the dynamic and contemporary environments. So, the environmental forces brings both opportunities as well as threats. As project has time schedule and deadline for all the activities with cost limit and quality performances. These are the constraints of the project. However, Projects constraints can be handled through effective project management.
6. Flexibility :
A projects influences the environments and also gets influenced by the environmental forces. These forces could be internal as well as external. Internal forces comprises of customer, competitors, suppliers, stakeholders and employees. Similarly external forces comprises of political, legal, economical, social, cultural and technological factors. Therefore, a project is very flexible.it provides sufficient room for adaptation to the environmental forces at different stages of product life cycle.
7. Unique :
Every project is unique in some elements. All the projects consists of customized as well as non-repetitive activities. All projects targets and operates under their own geographic location. So projects are said to be unique.
8. Resource management :
A project uses several resources. These resources could be physical (land, building and so on) resources, financial (money) resources, human (skilled, semi-skilled and unskilled) resources and technological (like computer, plants and equipment) resources. So, in order to maximize profit and to eliminate waste, the resources are to be properly managed. These resources are coordinated by the project.
9. Specific beneficiaries :
A project has specific group of beneficiaries. Simply, beneficiaries are the final and targeted users or groups or clients upon which the output of the projects rests. So, a projects must clearly identify and fulfill the requirements of such specific beneficiaries.
10. Team work :
A project is a single entity. It is handled by project manager. The project manager is supported by project team from various disciplines and experiences. (For common barriers to project team click on the link )
Therefore, a participatory approach among multi-functional team members are to be followed to make the project efficient and complete. (For the guidelines to overcome the barriers in project team developments, click on the link )
11. Least possibility of corruption :
A project mobilizes different kind of resources which may be physical resources, financial resources, human resources and technological resources. budgets are predetermined for each resources. So there is least possibility of corruption.
12. Contracting system :
Most projects are contracts based. Contracts may be: Turnkey contract, lump sum contract, cost plus contract, piece work contract, labor contract and sub contract. Thus, proper contract planning and management is the key to achieve projects objectives effectively.
13. Life cycle :
All projects has a life cycle. There are four stages of life cycle of project. It consist of: formulation phase, planning phase, implementation phase and termination phase. Actually, formulation phase and planning phase of the project has slow start, implementation phase gains quick momentum and termination phase has slow finish.
14. Planning and controlling :
A project requires effective planning and control system. Planning and controlling serve as a ‘yardstick’ to measure the performance of the project. Actual performance is compared with planned schedule and deviations are found. So that corrective actions could be taken to control in case deviation is found. Therefore, project needs proper project planning in order to achieve its predetermined objectives.
Picture Credit: kirankumarbommana.files.wordpress.com
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