In our daily life we often face mini-projects, such as making supper, redecorating the house, writing an article. These different kinds of activities have the following common features, which make them projects:

• orientation to concrete objectives;
• coordinated execution of interrelated activities;
• limited timings within fixed initial date and a deadline;
• originality and uniqueness in a certain way.

Each of the features mentioned above has its important inherent meaning. Let us look at them more closely.

Orientation to objectives achievement

All projects are supposed to achieve some objectives. That is exactly what becomes the driving force for each project. A project usually consists of a system of interdependent objectives. For example, refugee assistance (the primary objective of the project) involves following activities: to conduct a situation analysis (secondary objective #1), to determine refugees' needs (secondary objective #2), to define a scope of possible assistance (secondary objective #3) and to provide direct assistance (secondary objective #4). Often there is only one primary objective set in the project as the project aim; all secondary ones are identified as "objectives". Therefore an important challenge of project management becomes an accurate initial setting of objectives at the highest level, and then scaling down to more detailed objectives.

Project is a set of activities aimed at achievement of objectives.

Coordinated execution of interrelated activities

Projects involve accomplishments of numerous interrelated activities. Sometimes such interrelations are obvious enough, in other cases they are difficult to recognize. Some in-between objectives could not be realised until the others are completed, while some tasks should be carried out in parallel. If the sequence of task accomplishments is broken, the whole project could be at significant risk. Consequently, a project is a dynamic system formed by interrelated elements demanding special management approach.

Limited timings

During the project implementation most of the efforts are devoted to meeting the project deadlines. The diagrams showing the exact timings for each action and multi-level time-tables are prepared for that purpose.

Project as a system of activities exists for a certain period of time.

Uniqueness

Projects are sets of unique activities occurring once. At the same time, the level of uniqueness can greatly differ from one project to another. If a person conducts trainings on a certain subject and does the same training for the twentieth time, the level of its uniqueness is relatively low. However, the main sources of uniqueness can lie in a specific character of a certain activity – project idea, target group or experts engaged in a project.

Thus, project managers are responsible for three aspects of project accomplishment – achievement of timings, costs and objectives. According to the project management practice, effective time management is a key principle to success in three aspects of project realization. Time restrictions on projects often become the most critical. If the project deadline is not met, it usually causes costs overrun and work results of poor quality. Therefore, most of project management techniques are focused on scheduling and scheduling control.  

In such a way, project management is a set of activities aimed at project implementation with the maximum possible effectiveness under given timings, funds (or resources) and quality of final project results reflected in the project final report. 

One of the most powerful tools in managing complex projects is Microsoft Project, designed for project planning and scheduling and including easy-to-use tools and all information regarding the project.