Project definitions

To increase our understanding of what a project is, further elaboration of the definitions’ content can be useful.

Some project definitions:

• A temporary endeavour undertaken to create a unique product, service or result (PMI).

• A unique, temporary, multi-disciplinary and organized endeavour to realise agreed deliverables within predefined requirements and constraints (IPMA).

A project is unique and temporary. That means one of its kind, i.e. to do or/and obtain something that has not been achieved before.

An endeavour implies an attempt to achieve a goal (a deliverable, result, product or service) in an uncertain environment.

Managing constraints is to consider limitations in managing the project, such as time and cost limits, also taking care to limited resources, scope, and requirements stated by different stakeholders.

Multi-disciplinary and organized project implies that the work is structured according to different roles, functions, and responsibilities, and usually in multi-disciplinary teams.