What is a project? Types of projects. Types of projects


Let's talk about what are technical projects, how to create and implement them correctly. To begin, consider the theoretical issues related to this topic. Let us dwell on the classification of those projects that are most often found in modern society.

What are projects

This is a system-wide integrated process, which is aimed at the modernization of certain areas of human life and activity. Currently, technical projects are most in demand, as they contribute to improving the quality of life of the population of our planet. In different countries, this term has a different meaning, but most often the concept of a project is similar, regardless of the state language and religion of the population.

Components

Given the fact that special projects are required for the implementation of projects, and methods for solving the task may depend on various parameters, the following components are distinguished:

  • the main plan (setting goals and objectives);
  • means of solution;
  • results.

This concept of the project indicates the complexity and versatility of its structure. He is able to make serious changes in the life of both an individual person and the whole state. The results from its implementation can be abstract or specific, necessary for a particular region.

Project Features

The classification of projects depends on many factors. For example, if we consider such activity as a dynamic system, then we can distinguish the following results:

  • current;
  • end.

If a school project is considered, in this case, as the final result of the student’s independent activity, one can consider receiving them new theoretical and practical knowledge and skills.

Project Options

The classification of projects is related to the timing of their implementation, the scale, quality of development and implementation, the amount of funds used, as well as the place of their practical implementation. There are many factors that determine the algorithm of actions.

The classification of projects and their types depend on the subject area, composition, and also on the structure of the work performed.

The type is determined by the field of activity for which it is intended. The scale is affected by the size, number of direct participants, and the degree of environmental impact. The complexity of the actions is determined by the organizational, technical, technological, as well as the financial side of the activities.

The classification criteria of the project are considered, now you can go to the description of specific projects:

  • organizational;
  • social;
  • economic;
  • training;
  • investment.

Features of organizational projects

They relate to the creation and reform of new companies, as well as to the holding of forums, conferences, seminars, symposia. Organizational projects have the following distinctive characteristics:

  • have specific goals, they are aimed at improving the organization of the event;
  • have specified terms of implementation;
  • characterized by resources;
  • involve cost control in terms of efficiency.

Economic projects

Their goal is the restructuring of organizations, as well as the existence of a customs and tax system. Note their characteristic features:

  • preliminary selection of the final result, which can be adjusted as you work;
  • determination of specific terms of implementation;
  • calculation of expenses that will be required to implement the plans.

Pupils and students often use economic calculations to think through individual or collective projects.

Social projects

Recently, many organizations have been actively using this form. For example, on the basis of a comprehensive school, there is a detachment of volunteers - volunteers who are involved in charity work: helping older people, landscaping the area around the school. Social activity is also characteristic of many large companies and industrial enterprises. For example, the Siemens company is implementing a social project in our country aimed at supporting gifted children.

Every year, representatives of the company hold a competition of scientific and practical works for high school students, in which children create their work in various fields: medicine, robotics, instrumentation, etc.

Winners receive not only excellent cash prizes, but also the opportunity to internships in the company, as well as the chance to study at prestigious higher educational institutions of our country.

Social projects help solve specific problems of society, for example, with their help it is possible to eliminate the consequences of natural disasters. They involve setting goals, which may vary as the project progresses. Social projects do not imply specific deadlines; they are characterized by limited resources.

Technical projects

They are always associated with the development of a new product. Technical projects have the following distinctive characteristics:

  • differ in a specific purpose;
  • have stable terms of implementation;
  • they have a fixed budget.

One example of such a project is the modernization of equipment at a woodworking plant. The term of work should not exceed six months. The goal is to develop a new technology that will save wood, make the process waste-free production.

Educational projects

The modern classification of projects distinguishes such a form that is suitable for the educational process. After the introduction of new standards in domestic education, research and project activities became a mandatory form of obtaining universal educational skills in primary, secondary, and also high school.

Before the children will be engaged in independent research, the teacher considers the general classification of projects. Examples of work performed by students may be associated with a particular scientific discipline. For example, a primary school student independently grows crystals of table salt, and a high school student creates a project for growing champignons on the balcony. Depending on the number of participants, the training project can be group or individual. The following factors are characteristic of it:

  • thematic focus;
  • number of performers;
  • terms of implementation;
  • the importance of the results;
  • the opportunity to broadcast the experience gained

Investment projects

In fact, all projects are suitable for this definition, since many of them need certain financial investments.

This form involves a set of interrelated initiatives that are aimed at achieving a clear result in the allotted time. They are characterized by the scale of investments, as well as some degree of risk.

An integrated project is often called a multiproject. It is characterized by a combination of several separate works that are mutually complementary.

Duration of work

The definition and classification of projects allows you to divide them into several groups:

  • short-term (implementation involves less than two years);
  • medium-term (performed in the range of 2-5 years);
  • long-term (for full implementation requires a period of more than five years).

Project elements

Their number is directly affected by the complexity of the proposed actions. For example, if high quality execution is necessary, in this case the project consists of many separate elements:

  • design documentation;
  • work technology;
  • production facilities;
  • technological equipment;
  • production facilities;
  • provided works, products, services.

Depending on the specifics of the project, other elements may be included in it.

Among the parameters that ensure the functioning of any project, professionals distinguish:

  • financial resources;
  • supplementary agreements;
  • contracts
  • raw materials;
  • staff;
  • premises;
  • territorial location.

The main objective of innovative projects is the introduction into practice of fundamentally new developments. For example, in the social sphere, innovations may be associated with discoveries and new inventions in the field of technology and science.

Supporting projects help people solve environmental problems, including the framework of ecological culture.

All social projects need some funding. For example, the functioning of a district school for gifted children may have a mixed version of financial influences. Part of the resources to support the direction of work with the younger generation, called the Russian government one of the priority types of work with children, provides the regional budget. The second part of the proceeds comes from the local budget. The missing part for the operation of the RShOD is allocated to large enterprises operating in this area.

Thanks to such a financial scheme, it is possible to accumulate funds from various sources, fully providing the school with talented and gifted children.

Conclusion

Currently, project activities have become a form of work not only in large firms and industrial companies, but also in medical and educational institutions. Primary school students, together with their mentors, come up with interesting projects that allow to identify and develop the creative abilities of each child, that is, to fully comply with the requirements of new educational standards.

The uniqueness of any project causes certain problems in its preliminary planning. Often it is difficult for an author (creative team) to immediately guess exactly how they will receive the planned results. In this regard, the results of activities can be not only services or products, but also a certain experience that developers can use in subsequent activities. Any organization can use this form of work, involving in the activity from 2-3 people to several thousand researchers.

Projects are increasingly found not only in industrial organizations, but also in educational and medical institutions. For example, the involvement of children in extracurricular activities became an interesting and timely element of the work of schools. The Cadet Movement project has become an excellent option for instilling respect for the younger generation of Russians and respect for the historical and cultural heritage of their people.

In the theory and practice of educational design, various types (types) of projects are distinguished (Fig. 1).

1. Depending on the number of participating students, they can be individual, paired, group:

    individual project    effective in terms of organizing an independent search activity of a student, taking into account his personal interests, providing an opportunity to realize his creative potential, the need to achieve success and self-affirmation;

    pair and group projects    they have no less developmental capabilities, allow you to take into account the individual characteristics of students in the distribution of their responsibilities, and also teach students the ability to coordinate their efforts in the process of joint solving complex creative tasks.

2. By the nature of the search activity and the prevailing methods, research, creative and information projects are distinguished:

    research projects    by their nature they remind scientific research, obey its logic and include: determining the relevance and degree of development of the problem, object and subject, the purpose of the study, hypothesis, task, methodology and methodology of studying the problem; collecting and analyzing information, conducting an experiment, developing practical recommendations, etc. Projects of this type are most often developed as part of term and diploma design;

    creative projects aimed at developing new original ideas, products of joint activities presented in a creative way (creative report, exhibition, design project for production facilities, a video film, printed materials - a book, an almanac, a magazine in computer layout, computer program, etc.). The main methods of work are “brainstorming”, “synectics”, the method of the creative group (laboratory, design bureau, workshop, editorial office, etc.);

    information projects aimed at collecting the information necessary for the educational process or other customers. The development of the project involves the search for and finding information in various sources: monographs, journal articles, newspaper publications, electronic databases, using sociological surveys. The result of the project is selected, analyzed, generalized, systematized and presented in a certain form information - booklet, collage, publication, web page, etc.

3. Depending on the scope of the developed project, projects can be distinguished production (technical)   and social .   Moreover, they can be productive and social at the same time if a problem that is important for improving the social aspects of production (problems of communication, management, improvement of living conditions, etc.) is solved.

4. In accordance with the nature of the developed problems are distinguished theoreticaland practice oriented   projects. So, students, on the basis of approaches to education taught in the history of pedagogy, develop their own concepts of education in creative groups. A different, practical, nature is the development of a project aimed at solving a specific practical problem by order of a college, a specific teacher (methodological project). These species can be successfully combined in one project. For example, a theoretical project carried out in the classes on the discipline "Management" and aimed at researching and analyzing the organizational culture of the enterprise is simultaneously accompanied by the preparation of the video "Specialization of the store and the organizational culture of the trading company", which is used as educational material in several disciplines.

5. Depending on the academic disciplines within which the project is being developed, we can distinguish:

    mono-subject projectscarried out within the framework of one academic discipline;

    interdisciplinary projectsalso realized in the process of studying a certain course, but based on the active use of materials of others;

    subject projects, not only not related to a specific discipline, but also, as a rule, implemented outside the framework of a specific academic discipline.

Interdisciplinary and subdisciplinary projects ensure active productive activity of students on the basis of systematization, integration and integrated use in the process of training of a specialist of knowledge and skills acquired in the study of various disciplines. This is the nature of certification diploma projects.

    In terms of duration, deadlines, projects can be:

    short termdeveloped in several classes or in the process of students' independent work between them;

    medium term    - developed from a week to a month;

    long term- developed from one to several months.

When studying a specific discipline, mainly short-term projects are used, long-term projects include course and diploma design.

Most often, educational projects of students are complex, combining several types. The combination of research and practice-oriented projects, individual and group forms of organizing work on them makes it possible not only to master research abilities, but also to master systemic methods of solving production problems based on the cooperation of their individual projects. ( see Appendix 1)

For the successful application of a variety of Project Management tools, it is necessary to determine to which class the project belongs, the work on which you have to.

The whole variety of projects can be classified according to a number of signs:

    in scale;

    by complexity;

    by quality of performance;

    according to the level of participants;

    in relation to the customer company;

    by the innovativeness of the concept.

In scale   distinguish small, medium and megaprojects.

Small projects   small in size, simple and limited in volume. So, in American practice:

    investment: up to 10 million dollars;

    labor costs: up to 50 thousand man-hours.

Examples of typical small projects   pilot plants, small (often in block-modular versions) industrial enterprises, modernization of existing facilities.

Small projects allow a number of simplifications in the design and implementation procedure, the formation of the project team (you can simply redistribute intellectual, labor and material resources for a short time). At the same time, the difficulty of correcting the mistakes made due to the lack of time to resolve them requires very careful determination of the volumetric characteristics of the project, the project participants and their working methods, the project schedule and report forms, as well as the terms of the contract.

    appoint one manager (coordination should be carried out by one person);

    flexible organization of the project team, ensuring interchangeability of its members;

    the simplest form of the project schedule;

    clear knowledge by each member of the team of their tasks and workloads;

    start-up of the facility should be carried out by the same engineers who began work on the project.

Megaprojects -   these are targeted programs containing many interconnected projects, united by a common goal, allocated resources and time allotted for their implementation. Such programs can be international, state, national, regional (for example, the development of free economic zones, republics, small ethnic groups of the North, etc.), interbranch (affecting the interests of several sectors of the economy), sectoral and mixed.

As a rule, programs are formed, maintained and coordinated at the highest levels of government: state (interstate), republican, regional, municipal, etc. Megaprojects   possess a number of distinctive features:

    high cost (about $ 1 billion or more);

    capital intensity - the need for financial resources in such projects, as a rule, requires non-traditional (joint-stock, mixed) forms of financing, usually by a consortium of firms;

    labor input - 2 and more million man-hours for design, 20 and more million man-hours for construction;

    duration of implementation: 5 years or more;

    the need for the participation of other countries;

    remoteness of areas of implementation, and therefore, additional costs for infrastructure;

    influence on the social and economic environment of the region and even the country as a whole.

The most typical industry examples megaprojects - projects carried out in the fuel and energy complex, and, in particular, in the oil and gas industry. Thus, the systems of the main pipelines connecting the oil and gas regions of the Far North with the center of the country, the western borders and large industrial areas were built in bursts (“strings”) for 2-3 years each. At the same time, the duration of such a project was on average 5-7 years, and the cost was more than 10-15 billion.

Features megaprojects   require consideration of a number of factors, namely:

    distribution of project elements among different performers and the need to coordinate their activities;

    the need to analyze the socio-economic environment of the region, the country as a whole, and possibly a number of countries participating in the project;

    the need to highlight as an independent phase of the development of the project concept;

    development and constant updating of the project plan;

    the need to complete the planning phase at all levels of plans: from strategic to operational, taking into account the probabilistic nature and risk of the project;

    the need to monitor the project with constant updating (updating) of all elements of the project plan;

    accounting for the uniqueness (uniqueness) of a megaproject.

By complexity distinguish simple projects, organizationally complex, technically complex, resource-complex and complex projects.

Complex projects   imply the presence of technical, organizational or resource problems, the solution of which involves non-trivial approaches and increased costs for their solution. Naturally, in practice, there are “skewed” versions of complex projects with a predominant influence of any of the listed types of complexity - for example, the use of unconventional construction technologies, a significant number of project participants, complex financing schemes, etc. - all these are the manifestations of the complexity of projects (Fig. 1.4.1.).

Fig. 1.4.1. Determining the complexity of projects

By quality   Executions highlight defect-free projects, projects with improved quality and standard projects.

Standard projects are carried out in compliance with all applicable norms and rules (construction, legal, etc.).

High Quality Projects   carried out with excess requirements for the quality of work performed.

Flawless Projects as the dominant factor use high quality. Usually cost defect-free projectsvery high and measured in the hundreds of millions and even billions of dollars, such as nuclear power plants.

The specificity of this type of project determines its requirements:

    general project plan, combining design estimates and construction and installation works;

    combined (with start-up works) construction schedule;

    early start-up by separate production lines, which allows to check and ensure the quality of all project systems in advance;

    the use of a specially developed program for analyzing problems associated with the project, which allows them to be detected and eliminated in a timely manner;

    application of the most flexible project management system, allowing timely identification and elimination of problems.

By level of participants distinguish between international and domestic projects. Domestic projects , in turn, can be broken down by the level of project participants: state, territorial or local project.

International projects usually differ in considerable complexity and: cost. They are also distinguished by an important role in the economy and politics of the countries for which they are developed.

The specifics of such projects is as follows:

    equipment and materials for such projects are usually purchased on the world market. Hence - increased requirements for the organization engaged in procurement for the project;

    the level of preparation of such projects is usually higher than similar "internal" projects, given, in particular, differences in the legal and regulatory frameworks;

    the duration of the preparatory period for such projects is usually longer due to the complexity of organization and management;

    information support of international projects is always more effective (and, accordingly, expensive) than for "internal" projects.

Such projects are usually based on complementary relationships and partner capabilities. Often, to solve the problems of such projects, joint ventures are created combining two or more participants to achieve certain commercial goals under a certain joint control. In this case, each partner contributes and in a certain way participates in profits.

In relation to the customer company can distinguish internal and external projects.

Internal projects include assignment to staff working in the enterprise, work related to the projects. Here, customers and contractors belong to the same organization, and all work related to the implementation of the project, including the definition of project quality standards, is carried out exclusively by the authorities that are part of this organization. This means that there is a high degree of flexibility in relation to the elements of the order received. However, in difficult cases, this can lead to the fact that external implementation of projects will be doomed to failure, since such flexibility cannot be achieved legally. The following internal projects are possible, for example:

Quality Improvement Projects;

Projects related to logistics;

Establishment of a high-performance factory;

Organizational structure update;

Product development;

Production planning;

Product introduction in new markets;

Introduction (CAD / CAD);

Reduce product development time by half.

A completely different kind of work outside the enterprise, which is characterized by external customer   or performer. The partners here develop working conditions on the basis of a legally reliable contract, the fulfillment of the conditions of which is mandatory. With insufficiently clearly formulated legal definitions, this can lead to misunderstandings regarding the agreements regarding the work to be performed.

This can lead to claims for damages that will slow down the implementation of the project or otherwise adversely affect the ongoing work. The importance attached to claims for damages is reflected in the so-called claimmanagement, engaged in the professional reflection of claims for reimbursement of financial costs put forward by one of the partners in the project.

By the innovativeness of the concept   projects distinguish between traditional and non-traditional projects.

The division of projects into traditional and non-traditional largely depends on how well the idea of \u200b\u200bthe project is already known or to what extent it is innovative. As traditionalor standard, projects can be considered many events from the field of architecture. Further, mention should be made, for example, of road construction projects, as well as any others that are close to the concept of standard ones. In the implementation of all these projects, it is possible to rely on the already known technology and planning of results.

TO non-traditionalthat is, non-standard, projects may include activities that represent cooperation between enterprises. In addition, extremely large projects at the time of their first test should be called unconventional. An example is the Manhattan Engineering District Project, in which an atomic bomb was created in the United States in 1941. Space projects may also be included here. Traditional projects also require traditional methods for their implementation, while non-traditional projects often require innovative approaches. In case of success of an unconventional project, it is transferred to the category of traditional ones and becomes standard.

If already tested projects are being implemented in other areas, while showing a high degree of innovation for the implementing party, then for the contractor such projects should also be considered as non-standard. In these cases, projects very often take on functions "Problem solver"or "Pioneer"which are re-introduced, despite the fact that their technology is widely known. An attempt to obtain information directly from the experience of previous projects or to adopt it from the relevant literature is practically useless, since it is a significant change in the structure that takes time and a long-term implementation strategy on the site of the project itself. Non-traditional projects can also have an exotic character, and this happens when project management tries to invade those areas in which it was still almost unaware of its existence. This is the use of project management in art.

Project Classification

Within the company's portfolio of projects, various types of projects are being implemented. This can be projects aimed at making a profit and a project direction for the development of the company. It is not rational to use the same tools, methods and models of project management to manage different types of projects. This leads to more confusion, conflict, and the need to implement unnecessary work.

The introduction of the classification will allow to single out processes, tools, project management methods for various types of projects. This makes it possible to independently develop various methods and tools of project management in the company. As a result, the company develops its own unique methodology, which takes into account all the features of the company and its customers.

Classification by field of activity:

Classification by field of activity determines the technology of the project, the phases of the projects and the stages of project implementation. The company develops an implementation template for each type of project.

  • Technical. Technical projects are aimed at creating a physical project product with clearly defined technical parameters.
  • Organizational. Organizational project aimed at changing the organizational structure and processes of the organization. This type of project is often implemented in order to develop the organization.
  • Economic. Economic projects are aimed at generating company profits through the sale of company products or assets.
  • Social. Social projects do not bring profit, but I help the company to improve the social status of the company and trust from customers. Social projects can be aimed at company employees to improve their standard of living.
  • Mixed. Mixed projects include several elements from the above types.

Dimension classification:

Classification by the dimension of projects determines the technology of dividing projects into groups and programs.

  • Monoprojects. Monoprojects are individual projects implemented outside the company's programs.
  • Multiprojects. A multiproject is a complex project of their individual monoprojects aimed at obtaining a complex innovative result. Multiprojects combine different types of projects that are aimed at achieving one goal
  • Megaprojects. Megaprojects is a multi-purpose comprehensive program impoverishing multi-projects of varying complexity and aimed at achieving various goals. Megaprojects unite several multiprojects aimed at implementing a group of goals.

Classification by project financing:

The level of classification by the amount of project financing depends on the volume of costs of the company's projects. The larger the project budget, the greater the amount of money the company risks in its implementation.

  • Small. Small projects may include projects up to 10 000 UAH. Projects related to this class can be agreed upon at the level of the department head or director of a company branch.
  • Medium, Medium projects may include projects from 10 000 UAH. up to 50 000 UAH Projects related to this class should be agreed at the level of the executive director of the company.
  • Large. Large projects may include projects from 50 000 UAH. Projects related to this class should be agreed on by the board of directors of the company.

Classification by purpose of the project:

The designation classification defines the key objectives and results of projects

  • Investment. The investment project is aimed at developing the company's assets. For projects, a business plan is required that describes the profit and costs of the project.
  • Innovative. An innovative project is aimed at creating and / or developing goods and services of a company.
  • Scientific research. Projects of scientific researchers to develop new products and new technologies.
  • Educational. Educational projects are aimed at enhancing the competence of company employees in the subject area.
  • MixedMixed designs contain elements of the various types indicated above.

Classification by project duration:

Classification by duration allows you to divide projects into groups depending on the duration. For example, we offer three groups with average duration parameters. Your company can select groups and duration options.

  • Short   - until the 1st year. For projects of this type, we recommend the duration of the planning and implementation periods of no more than a week. Details of project tasks up to a duration of 1 day to 5 days.
  • Medium term   - from 1 year to 3 years. For projects of this type, we recommend the duration of the planning and implementation periods of more than a week to a month. Details of project tasks up to a duration of 5 days to 10 days.
  • Long term   - over 3 years. For projects of this type, we recommend the duration of the planning and implementation periods of more than a month. Details of project tasks up to a duration of 10 days to 20 days.

Geographic classification:

Geographic classification affects the methods of interaction in projects. We offer the following classification:

  • The project is being implemented within a city.The project team is located within the same city. For the implementation of projects of this type, classical methods of interaction are sufficient.
  • Regional project, The project team members are located within the same region or country. To implement projects of this type, it is necessary to use additional methods and tools of interaction.
  • International project. The project team members are located in several countries.

Classification by organization level (within the company):

Classification by organization level affects project management level

  • Local. A local project is implemented as part of a project portfolio of a separate functional unit or branch of the company. A local project uses only the resources of a functional unit or branch.
  • Corporate. The corporate project is being implemented as part of the overall project of the company. Corporate project uses corporate resources of the company.

Starting with one classification parameter, a company’s methodology can be developed by introducing additional parameters or classification levels within existing ones. This will allow developing the methodology in various directions, adapting to changes in the market and in the company itself.

  The choice of processes, methods and tools for implementing various types of projects

In the process of developing technological maturity of the company in the field of project management, specific approaches are developed to manage various types of projects. The introduction of classification in the company's portfolio of projects allows you to define a list of specific processes, methods, approaches and management tools. Each of their classifiers affects the choice of necessary controls in one or more areas of project management knowledge.

The table below shows an example of a table of dependence of areas of knowledge on the values \u200b\u200bof classifiers.

  • Classification by field of activity determines: integration processes with key company processes, a hierarchical structure of tasks and project products, approaches to conducting contracting procedures, determines the methodology for working with project risks depending on project products, as well as quality requirements used in project management.
  • The dimensional classification determines: how to plan the time and manage the time in the project, how to plan the use of company resources in the project in detail, and how often and in detail to implement quality control tasks.
  • The classification by the amount of financing determines: the financing processes and budgets from which financing will be carried out, as well as the level of financial risks and the amount of insurance that the project manager will have to face.
  • Classification by the level of organization defines the tools and methods of interaction, both between the participants of the project team and between the external stakeholders of the project.
Classification by field of activity Dimension classification Classification by amount of financing Organization Level Classification
Integration management
Content Management
Time Management
Cost management
Contract management
Interaction management
Stack Management
Resource management
Management of risks
Quality control

In the modern interpretation, management is science. A scientific approach involves a preliminary consideration of such categories as the subject, method and classification categories of the phenomenon under study. Project management takes the place of a significant scientific and practical field in the vast field of management science. This means that penetrating into the innermost corners of knowledge about the best ways to implement development goals, we cannot but consider the types of projects in all their diversity. To do this, you will first need to classify them according to methodologically sound criteria.

The difference between the concepts of the project and IP

In recent decades, the trend towards the transformation of the activities of commercial organizations has been clearly evident. It consists in increasing the share of project activities in the four components of systemic business reproduction. On the one hand, globalization of markets only strengthens the requirements for using economies of scale in the implementation of production activities of enterprises. Mass production did not go away, but only has a tendency to expand. On the other hand, the design doctrine goes deeper and deeper into almost all regular activity procedures.

This is an inevitable process, because market events are accelerating, and more and more often it is necessary to restructure management and production processes themselves, implementing numerous projects. In addition, the so-called project production is becoming more widespread, since the modern market is a market of individualized consumer demand. Increasingly, a typical house project is being finalized for an individual order, the car has a unique configuration and configuration, even dental services are beginning to be considered in the context of a project approach to each patient.

General model of activity of a modern company

The above is a diagram of the company, in which the project area is highlighted in blue. Investment projects occupy the lion's share of project activities. And in this regard, the question arises of how the investment project differs from the project as a whole? To answer it, let us recall the general definition of a project.

Under the project for the purposes of business management, it is customary to understand purposeful activities that are temporary in nature, carried out in order to create a unique product (service). It is distinguished from other types of activities by a high degree of uniqueness, which can vary over a fairly wide range. Specific goals are inherent in projects, which can be specified as they are implemented. These unique tasks are solved in the course of collegial, interconnected, coordinated work of several performers united in teams.

The main definitions of Law No. 39-FZ of 02.25.1999

We have repeatedly referred in articles to federal law 39-FZ, which defines the investment project and its components: investments and capital investments. The key distinguishing features of IP are the focus on profit or other beneficial effect and the fact that this type is realized in the context of capital investments or, in other words, in the fixed capital of a company. The project definition does not provide for such conditions. In my opinion, the above gives a clear answer to the question: what are the differences between the classification of projects and the typology of IP.

Classification of projects into types

The concept and classification of investment projects were discussed in detail in the material devoted to. We are more interested in the general view of projects as a fundamental way, means and form of business activity. The classification of projects is needed primarily for the effective and efficient implementation of their management. Projects as control objects can significantly differ from each other in terms of resource component, in execution technology, and in many other parameters, which, of course, must be taken into account in real practice.

We ask ourselves: what are the types of unique development tasks? To get an answer, we, first of all, can follow the traditional path of the scientific method, starting with the basic principles of dividing the volume of a concept into classes, types, types. Further, we can add to them the time factor, factors of scale and complexity. However, you should immediately introduce a certain restriction in the study of the subject matter. The project in its modern interpretation is interpreted very widely, literally extending to all human activity. I propose to narrow the scope of consideration somewhat, limiting myself to the scope of business, since this is the target setting of our ideology. Thus, the primary classification of projects arises, which is presented further in tabular form.

Classification of project types according to basic criteria

The largest division of design practice is two large types: external projects and internal. Moreover, external tasks may be of an investment nature or serve the commercial interests of the main activity of the company. Of great importance for dividing projects into types is their target orientation and the field of activity in which they are implemented. Based on these characteristics, projects are distinguished:

  • commercial or contractual;
  • construction;
  • oS modernization and reconstruction projects;
  • managerial;
  • educational;
  • IT projects.

Division of IP according to the main classification features

In many ways, the classification of investment projects given above, with the procedure for dividing projects into types, repeats the basic logic. But we should not forget that the concept of IP is somewhat narrower. First, the benefits of their implementation may be indirect or hidden. Secondly, capital investments as such may not be.

Take, for example, the tasks of developing management and specifically reorganizing the management structure at the stage of the Maturity life cycle. The profitability of such an event is far from obvious, there are no investments in fixed assets, but this is a very serious event. Thus, we are entitled to conclude that the classification of investment projects is not applicable to a number of procedures. At the end of the section, we give one more example of species differentiation.

An example of project classification based on special characteristics

Place of projects in company activities

The activities of a commercial organization are heterogeneous in content. And what are the types of business activities? It is best to answer this question by referring to the procedural doctrine of management. Traditionally, each company has four types of processes.

  1. Key business processes. These are the processes for the results of which the company's customers are willing to pay money. It is in them that the added value of the business is created.
  2. Providing business processes. Thanks to them, the infrastructure is reproduced for the implementation of the main processes, development and management processes.
  3. Business management processes. The accumulated experience in solving the strategic and current tasks of the company is embodied in the regulatory requirements and other documents through regulation.
  4. Business development processes. Business development over time loses part of its uniqueness and becomes a cyclically reproduced routine. This kind of routine is formalized into routine procedures called development processes. These include business processes of opening new territorial divisions, business processes of production modernization, etc.

The four named types of processes determine the respective activities. And we will be more interested in business development processes, since it is through them that the “watershed line” between processes and projects passes. The first are regularly repeated procedures that solve the cyclical tasks of the business. The second ones solve unique tasks of activity that were not yet in business practice, or the experience of their implementation is so small that it is not profitable to transfer it on a regular basis.

Scheme of business processes and activities of the company

The above diagram shows a universal picture of dividing all business activities into its four components. Development activity is unique in that all functions, processes and development projects are concentrated in it. The line between processes and projects is gradually blurring. And this is quite natural. Please note that development in any of the above forms is aimed at three types of activities: management, basic and providing BP. In some cases, projects can act as core business processes. Such projects are called contractual. Their examples include the construction business, IT development, etc. The composition of a possible project implementation is presented in the following business model in a pyramidal form.

The composition of project activities in the overall architecture of modern business

In this article, we examined the question of the typology of design practice at the current level of development of commercial organizations. The classification of project types is important from different points of view. Its most important value is the possibility of a selective approach to project management, based on their type and type. In addition, the classification allows us to differentiate the implementation methodology, thereby optimizing the complexity of performing unique tasks and the cost of achieving results.