Project and Process

When some activity is an ongoing activity i.e., repetitive, then that activity is a process. We encounter processes in regular production run in an organization.

In a bearing manufacturing company, the heat treatment done to enhance the hardness and other properties like tempering and annealing is a process. It’s repeated again and again with every lot.
In a service provider organization like in a bank the processing of loans through a set of operations is a process.

In above two examples, the activities are repetitive in nature and cannot be considered as projects, but what if we were to set up a new heat treatment plant or line.



And if a new facility is to be developed for a bank or for expansion of the existing facility, what then? Will they be considered as process? Nope, here the activities are not regular repetitive activities or ongoing activities.

We have here the Projects. The projects are not the repetitive on going processes; rather they set out to produce a unique product or service that hasn’t been produced before. They have a limited time frame and temporary in nature. They have a start (with definite targets) and have a finish (once the targets are achieved).

Once the targets/objectives set in the plan are achieved, the project is said to be over.

If we are creating something new— a new software application or a new training program or if we want to improve something like redesigning a process or a product or changing the way a service is delivered or to improve the quality of the system like implementing a six sigma methodology and lean system or ISO implementation — they are the projects.

Projects are managed using project management techniques, we will learn more about them later.

What’s in a project?

A group of tasks with set objectives and the definable time period. A project has a life cycle, with a start and finish. It is a one – time program.

A project has a scope; a budget is allocated for the completion of the project, and uses various resources. We need to control and manage the following elements:

• Work scope.

• Time.

• Resources.

• Costs.

• Quality.

• Communication.

• Risk.

• Contracts and Procurement.

The project management skills and techniques are in demand; if the projects are not managed properly the project costs can escalate to a demonic amount.