We explain what a project is and the types of projects that exist. Also, its elements and the steps to follow to make one.
What is a project?
A project is a set of coordinated activities that are carried out to achieve specific results. All projects require prior planning and usually have limitations for their execution, such as a specific budget, a deadline or a series of available resources.
The projects They are usually planned in writing detailing the theoretical, material and human elements that will be needed to develop a product or service or achieve a result. This text can be formal, for example, if it is to be disseminated in a company. However, in other cases, it can be informal, since in certain areas it is equivalent to an outline, a previous script or a first draft.
The characteristics of a project vary depending on its nature and the field in which it is carried out. For example, some may emphasize providing a new service, while others are focused on launching a more competent product on the market or making a scientific discovery. In the case of an academic project, some may emphasize its bibliographic sources, while others will emphasize its methodology or its impact once completed.
The success of a project depends on all stages being carried out well. To do this, it is necessary that there be a person who directs the execution of the project and who verifies that all tasks are carried out in a timely manner. In this way, the necessary modifications can be introduced to achieve a better result and thus specify all the goals.
See also: Project management
Project types
Projects can be classified according to their scope of action as follows:
- Productive or private projects. They are those whose most important goal is to obtain greater profits. They usually have general objectives, such as improving the quality of a service, launching a new product or making the manufacturing of something more efficient. They are common in business and industrial settings or in private ventures.
- Public or social projects. They are those who seek to have an important impact on society or the population. They can occur at a local, regional, national or even global level. They are generally run by state institutions, NGOs or large transnational companies.
- Community projects. They are those who aspire to improve specific aspects of a specific community, usually small, whether urban or rural, through the satisfaction of their needs and the resolution of their problems.
- Life projects. They are those that focus on the goals that an individual wants to achieve on a personal, family, professional, work level, among others.
- Research projects. They are those whose objective is to make scientific discoveries and/or produce new knowledge. They also refer to documents that are presented to carry out research or academic work.
See also: Scope and limitations of a project
Elements of a project
Projects usually consist of the following elements:
- Purpose and objectives. The problem that you want to solve and/or the concrete, general and specific goals that you want to achieve are explained.
- Product or service. In productive or private projects, a detailed description of the final product to be obtained is made.
- Time. It indicates how much time there is to complete the project.
- Space. It indicates where the project will be carried out.
- Resources. It indicates what elements are available to carry out the project, for example, how many professionals will participate in it.
- Restrictions. All limitations that the project may have are mentioned. These limitations can be monetary, temporal, spatial, inputs, among others.
- Activity schedule. The steps to follow to meet the objectives are explained. These steps are arranged chronologically and detail how long each one will take.
- Budget. The estimated cost for carrying out the project is indicated. It is usually detailed how the money will be used in each phase of the project.
- Expected results. The results that are desired to be obtained by carrying out the project are mentioned.
Steps of a project
The projects are made up of four stages or phases:
- Diagnosis. It indicates what the general objective is, the goals to be achieved or the problem to be solved. In addition, an attempt is made to define how the project will be carried out globally.
- Design or planning. The options, tactics and strategies that can lead to success, that is, to meeting the overall objective, are discussed. The project, its relevance and its specific needs are evaluated. In addition, it indicates what activities will be carried out, how much time they will take, their costs, who will carry them out, among others.
- Execution. Design or planning activities are put into practice. In addition, how they are being carried out must be monitored as the project progresses.
- Assessment. It is confirmed that the general objective has been achieved on time, that is, that the project has been carried out successfully.
References
- Garriga, A. (2019). Practical guide to project management. Albert Garriga Rodríguez.
- Harvard Business Review. (2017). HBR Guides. Project management. I reverted Management.
- Islas Hernández, L. and Salazar Viveros, NL (sf). Project management. CIDECAME. http://cidecam.uaeh.edu.mx/
- Otero Iglesias, J., Barrios Osuna, I. and Artiles Visbal, L. (2004). Reflections on the definition of Project. Higher Medical Education, 18(2).
