What Is Project Management? Definition of Projects and Project Management

What exactly is Project Management?

Simply put, it means managing a project—but what exactly is a project, and what does management mean in this context?

Let’s look at the general definitions and those from the PMBOK to understand what a project is, what project management is, and what a project manager does.

Move Your Work Forward — The Ideal Project and Task Management Tool: Repsona

What Is a Project?

When you hear the word project, what comes to mind?
Many people imagine something large, complex, and difficult to control.

Dictionary Definition of “Project”

Let’s start by looking at a basic dictionary definition:

A project. A planned undertaking. A research or development plan.

At first glance, this definition may seem a little different from what you imagine.
But if you think of a project as the planning and execution of a new initiative, that aligns more closely with how we commonly use the word “project.”

PMBOK Definition of “Project”

So how does the PMBOK (Project Management Body of Knowledge) define a project?

A temporary endeavor undertaken to create a unique product, service, or result.

This fits the “project” you often hear about in movies or dramas—it’s work carried out with a clear goal in sight, aiming to create something new.

The key phrase here is “temporary endeavor.”
It means that a project, or the set of work that makes up a project, has a definite beginning and end.

A project can stand alone, consist of multiple interconnected projects, or be part of an organization’s larger strategic activities.

Projects vs. Routine Operations

Routine tasks are defined in the PMBOK as “ongoing, repetitive activities that remain consistent day to day,” serving as the counterpart to projects.

So—does that mean routine work can’t be considered a project? Not necessarily.
Rather than clinging to the definition, it’s better to discuss and define this based on how your team approaches its work.

If a team performs its daily work as a continuous process without reflection, that’s routine operation.
But if the team regularly reviews and improves efficiency, visualizes issues, and makes ongoing refinements, even that “routine” work can be managed as a project.

What Is Project Management?

Now that we’ve defined what a project is, let’s look at what project management means.

PMBOK Definition of “Project Management”

According to the PMBOK:

The application of knowledge, skills, tools, and techniques to project activities to meet project requirements.

In other words, project management involves applying knowledge, skills, and tools to guide the work toward achieving the project’s objectives.

When you hear the term “project management,” you might picture someone tracking deadlines, budgets, or risks.
While those are important, they aren’t the ultimate goal.
The true purpose of project management is to lead the team toward the project’s goals and achieve meaningful results.

Approaches to Project Management

There are various approaches to help project teams achieve their goals—most commonly predictive, adaptive, or hybrid methods.

Predictive Approach

The predictive approach is most effective when project goals are clearly defined at the outset and sufficient information can be gathered and analyzed beforehand.
It’s often called the waterfall model.

This approach lays out the full project schedule from start to finish at the beginning.
Tasks are broken down, dependencies identified, durations and workloads estimated, and adjustments made until a final schedule is agreed upon.
Once that’s set, the team works steadily toward the goal.

For example, in product development, this approach involves defining all features at the start and building them sequentially through to completion.

Adaptive Approach

The adaptive approach works best when project goals are uncertain and requirements are expected to change throughout the project’s lifecycle.
The project is divided into multiple iterations or cycles, with each cycle delivering something of value.

In product development, this might mean adding a few features per iteration—an approach also known as agile development.

Hybrid Approach

The hybrid approach combines predictive and adaptive elements.
It’s useful when some project requirements are clear and others are uncertain.
For example, one part of a project may follow a predictive approach while another part, with evolving requirements, adopts an adaptive method.

What Is a Project Manager?

Now that we’ve defined projects and project management, what about the person who leads them—the project manager?

PMBOK Definition of “Project Manager”

The person appointed by the performing organization to lead the project team and responsible for achieving the project objectives.

Since project management is about leading the project toward its goals, the project manager is essentially the person responsible for guiding the project to success.

They define and drive the project team’s work, managing processes and coordinating efforts to reach the desired outcomes.

Summary: What Is Project Management?

We’ve explored what project management means by looking at the definitions of project, project management, and project manager.
Hopefully, the idea of a “project” now feels more tangible and approachable.

At its core, every project is carried out by people—and that includes the project manager.
Because people are involved, uncertainty and unpredictability are inevitable.
Project management means accepting that “projects don’t always go as planned” and working proactively to keep things moving forward despite that reality.

Move Your Work Forward — The Ideal Project and Task Management Tool: Repsona