Datasheet

What Is a Project?
5
How Projects Come About
The authors have over 40 years combined experience working on or managing projects. It
never ceases to amaze us how new projects come about. We’ve seen them announced at team
meetings, mentioned in the hallway, scribbled down on a lunch napkin, and turned over to us
in the restroom. The topper is the one that came about when one of our coworker’s bosses told
a newspaper reporter about a project his organization was undertaking. The trouble was our
coworker hadn’t heard a word about the project until he read the article in the Sunday paper.
You probably have a few stories of your own like these.
On a serious note, there are several reasons a project comes about. Understanding the reason
will help you clarify the goals and scope of the project. For example, if you know the project
came about due to a new law or mandatory regulation, you’ll know there are specific require-
ments that must be met and certain aspects of the project that cannot be compromised. The new
law may have strict specifications and those specifications must be incorporated as part of the
requirements for your project.
Organizations are always examining ways of creating business, staying competitive, gain-
ing efficiencies, and serving their customers in new and creative ways. Projects may result from
all of these needs. Business requirements, opportunities, or problems may also bring about a
new project. According to
A Guide to the PMBOK, most projects come about as a result of
one of the following six needs or demands. We’ll briefly examine each next.
Market demands Market demands often drive new project requests. Changes in the economy,
changes in consumer habits, and changes in supply and demand are all examples of market
demands that can bring about a new project. For example, spikes in utility prices or interruptions
in oil supplies and reserves may bring about projects to create alternative energy sources.
TABLE 1.1 Projects versus Ongoing Operations
Projects Ongoing Operations
Definite beginning and ending. No definitive beginning and ending.
Temporary. Ongoing.
Produces a unique product or service. Produces the same product or service over
and over.
Resources are dedicated to the project. Resources are dedicated to operations.
Ending is determined by specific criteria. Processes are repeated over and over.
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