Every organization has work to do – even an organization consisting of a single work-at-home entrepreneur. That work falls into one of two categories:

  • Work that is ongoing and repetitive (Operations)
  • Work that is temporary and unique (Projects)

Creating a new web site is a project; managing that site once it’s up and running is operations. Seems clear enough, right? Those of us who live in the real world know that very often it’s hard to tell when the project stops and operations begins. The care and feeding of a web site is one big ongoing cycle: Launch the site. Review the data. Make improvements. Launch the improvements. Review the data. Make more improvements. Repeat as necessary.

Temporary
So, where do we draw the line? Let’s look at the meaning of “temporary,” which, by the way, doesn’t necessarily mean short term. The implication is  that there is a definite beginning and a definite end. Projects are not ongoing efforts – even for a small home business.

The goal of a project is to achieve the objective and close out the project. Projects are the means by which a business strategy is implemented. They are not concerned with sustaining the business; that’s the job of operations.

Remember two things about the temporary nature of projects:
1. The window of opportunity for a project is usually temporary.
2. Most project teams are created to implement the project and then disbanded at its completion.

Unique
If you’re trying to do something that’s never been done before, you’re probably creating a project. Even though your company makes two-way radios, for instance, you’d still require a project to create the web site(s) for a new product launch. Or, what if you’ve decided to sell an existing line of radios via distributors as well as directly to the public? Same thing; you’re doing something unique and that requires a project.

So, get that web site launched – and then turn it over to operations for tweaking to sustain the business.

To learn more about project management, visit the Project Management Institute.

Bye for now!

~ Deborah

DEBORAH YOUNG invites you to share in the conversation by subscribing to her blog and following along on Twitter. The object for all of us is to have some fun and learn a few things along the way!

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