In modern organizations, operations that are project-based have become key pillars in achieving specific organizational goals. The need to understand and differentiate the meaning of a project based on either education or business has led to several scholars coming up with diverse definitions.
Mahaney and Lederer (2011) define the term project as a scheme, program or a plan designed by a collaborative enterprise or a person with the aim of achieving set goals.
Axson (2011) simply defines a project as a series of drafted tasks to be performed, and which have their beginning and end well planned.
On the other hand, a project in a learning setting is mostly educational research which uses methodology to solve nontrivial problems and eventually come up with effective results.
Mahaney and Lederer (2011) assert that a project in any business entity is a well articulated procedure that seeks to attain specific objectives.
Project management can be well understood as a discipline that encompasses controlling resources, motivating workers, organizing and planning tasks with the aim of achieving goals.
In essence, from delivering, designing and creating new systems of information management to the construction of new buildings, every work effort which businesses carry out falls under projects. It is imperative to note that projects often influence organizational change.
Most business organizations have adopted the use of projects as primary methods of performing their tasks. This calls for managers intending to manage projects to carefully choose a method that is excellent and adequately tested.
Some of the common components of project management include change control, configuration management, project environment quality, risk management, controls, and planning.
The definition of a project varies bearing in mind that it is of great importance to any type of study. Opponents of the idea that a college project has similar characteristics to company project argue that it lacks collaborative learning.
This is due to insufficient performance caused by social loafing. Besides, it is the finished product and not social dynamics that is usually graded.
However, whether it is a college or a business project, the latter is a procedure aimed at creating a unique product, service or result.
As a matter of fact, college projects provide students with an opportunity to plan and develop a disciplined methodology to use in imagining probable outcomes that can solve problems.
They achieve the latter by posting imagined, plausible and informed alternatives in order to find solutions needed in a business setting.
Several changes have impacted the process of project management. They are indeed very agile and critical towards the success of a project. One such change is technology. Information technology has taken a fundamental position in modern business operations.
In any case, it has led into the simplification of tasks and speeding up of business projects thus leading to sustainable achievement of goals and profitability. However, it should be reclaimed in order to provide a level playing ground for businesses with projects.
This follows the realisation that IT resource endowment is widely diverse and there are global players who are not at par with the required level of IT knowledge in order to keep up with the current standards.
There is need for major reforms that can cater for understanding technology in order to enhance effective completion of projects.
Besides, globalization has impacted project management patterns. It has created an immense need for transparency in project management by dictating business environments, performance and innovation.
Understanding changes arising from globalization is the best platform for adapting the unpredictable marketing environment.
References
Axson, D. (2011). Scenario planning: navigating through today’s uncertain world. Journal of Accountancy, 211(3), 22-27, 10.
Mahaney, R. & Lederer, A. (2011). An agency theory explanation of project success, The Journal of Computer Information Systems, 51(4), 102-113.