PM500, Unit 1: Exercise

Consider the following endeavors and determine which of the following is a project and which is an operation (Be sure to explain your answer):

1. Creating new software
2. Designing a new motorcycle
3. Manufacturing plastic cups
4. Selling your company's products or services to a new client
5. Updating a website with an article
6. Writing a book
7. Maintaining your company's blog on a daily basis
8. Fixing potholes in a road

Answers

1. Creating new software – this is a project as it is creating something new and unique. This also has a definite beginning and ending of the defined work.
2. Designing a new motorcycle – the design of a motorcycle, or any creative design work, is almost always a project because it is a unique endeavor that creates an end result.
3. Manufacturing plastic cups – this is an operation because it is company core work to manufacture a product. The only exception to this would be if the cups were a custom plastic cup, for example, with special printing or embossing.
4. Selling your company's products or services to a new client – sales is an operational duty and it is an ongoing activity within an organization. Sales is a function and not a project.
5. Updating a website with an article – updating a website with an article is most likely an operation as it is a maintenance or support-based duty. 
6. Writing a book – a book is a unique product that has a definite beginning and ending; writing a book is a project.
7. Maintaining your company's blog on a daily basis – a daily maintenance on your company's blog is not a project, but an example of an ongoing operation.
8. Fixing potholes in a road – this is an example of an ongoing operation. Usually, maintenance type activities are operational in nature.