1. 1 1.A project is a temporary assemblage of resources to solve a one-of-a-kind problem. Projects come in various sizes and types. They range from small projects like developing a spreadsheet-based sales plan to large enterprise-wide projects employing hundreds of people working for several years. But regardless of the size, all projects exhibit common characteristics that distinguish them from other types of work. 2.Projects have specific objectives. 3.Projects must be completed within a specific time period. They have well defined beginnings and ends. THE NATURE OF PROJECTS

2. 2 4.Projects must be completed within a given budget. Although some projects may have loosely defined budgets, all projects have budgetary constraints. 5.Projects are carried out by teams. The assignment of people to a project team can be full-time and/or part-time, depending on the specific needs of the project. 6.Projects are unique. While the degree of uniqueness may vary from project to project, all projects are essentially one-of-a-kind, nonrecurring undertakings. THE NATURE OF PROJECTS

3. 3 KEY DIMENSIONS OF PROJECT MANAGEMENT Project management is a series of activities associated with carrying out the project as effectively as possible. Kerzner (1989, p.4) defines project management as "the planning, organizing, directing, and controlling of company resources for a relatively short-term objective that has been established to complete specific goals and objectives." The purpose of project management is to provide focus for using the resources to achieve a specific objective. In short, the fundamental objective of project management is to "get the job done," to reach the objectives within time, cost, and performance. THE NATURE OF PROJECTS ต่อ

4. 4