Project types: basic principles of their classification

2024 Author: Howard Calhoun | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 10:16

In practice, you can meet different types of projects. Their management can combine completely different sub-activities with their results. In this case, we can talk about the construction of the pyramids in Egypt, and about writing term papers by students in the learning process.

Classification principle

At the same time, types of projects have significant differences both in scope and in the composition of the subject, duration, scale, level of complexity, structure, interested groups and individuals.

Knowledge about these differences allows you to pay attention to some features of individual groups. For some types of projects, different management methods and tools can be used.

Their classification can be determined based on the following factors.

Field of activity

Firstly, the main types of projects vary by area of activity. Among them are the following:

• commercial, which are carried out under contracts concluded onproduction of products or provision of services;
• research used in development and engineering;
• project types related to the design and construction of basic production resources;
• developments implemented in information systems.

External Projects

This classification can be found depending on their performance.

Thus, internal projects are executed directly in the organization. In this case, performers and customers refer to its members. All work that can be attributed to the concept or execution of a particular development is carried out by the enterprise on its own at the expense of its own resources.

Often, these types of project organization are used when the work ahead corresponds to the main type of activity being carried out. For example, when executing a project to introduce some software into the manufacturing sector in an organization, it becomes necessary to have a sufficient number of specialists with the necessary skills to create such a product.

Internal projects provide greater efficiency and flexibility in making a decision. Their implementation avoids various surprises and unforeseen circumstances that arise as they are implemented.

Today it is difficult to find an enterprise where internal projects would not be executed. These may include the following types:quality improvement, development of logistics schemes, promotional events and presentations, etc.

Types and types of internal type projects have the advantage of not having so-called external control. In this case, we are talking about the fact that in the absence of any pen alties in the contracts, the enterprise in the process of implementing developments can change certain decisions regarding the timing, resources, technologies that are used in its implementation.

So the manager needs to be careful about using the opportunity to change decisions. Any change can lead to an increase in the cost of the project. Another problem is some conservatism in their implementation. This is expressed in the lack of initiative on the part of employees who already have some skills and knowledge, but do not want to change any methods of work, even if they are more effective. These factors lead to the emergence of risks to increase the cost of projects.

Many times managers do not need to have any special knowledge to plan and successfully implement certain developments. With a certain amount of clarity and simplicity about goals and how to achieve them, sometimes management experience and common sense are enough.

Internal Projects

This type involves the implementation of works that are offered by external customers. In this case, particular importance should be given to formalizing relations with contractors (partners and customers) in the legal field. Thus, the partners develop the conditions for the performance of work, taking into account any legally correctly executed contract, according to which the fulfillment of the conditions is mandatory.