project and project difference

Project vs project

| Grammarist

| heteronyms

Project and project are two words that are spelled identically but are pronounced differently and have different meanings, which makes them heteronyms. We will examine the definitions of the words  project and project , where these words came from, and a few examples of their use in sentences.

Project (PRAH jekt) is a noun that means an undertaking, an enterprise, a plan or program, sometimes involving collaboration with others. The plural form is projects . The word project is derived from the Latin word, proiectum , which means a thing that is thrown.

Project (proh JEKT) is a verb that means to 1.) extend outward; 2.) move forward; 3.) speak loudly enough to be heard a great distance; 4.) throw light or an image displayed through light; 5.) present a certain image of oneself to the public; 6.) attribute one’s own thoughts and feeling to another; or 7.) make a prediction about the future based on current data. The word project is a transitive verb, which is a verb that takes an object. Related words are projects, projected, projecting, projection . The word project is derived from the Latin word, projectare , which means to thrust forward.

Examples In the last few months, she’s sharpened that skill by learning how to create and design in 3D as part of a project to leave a legacy behind after she leaves the Canton school. ( Atlanta Journal Constitution ) The 93rd Academy Awards announced the shortlists in nine categories today and Indian Women Rising’s first project ‘Bittu’ made it to the Live Action Short Film shortlist. ( New India Times ) The main character is a blank canvas of a woman who is written with purposeful blandness so that anyone can project onto her, imagining ourselves in the fairytale.  (Glamour Magazine ) They record each other on phones which project onto a wall. (Philadelphia Inquirer )

Check out some others we covered:

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PPM Express

Integrated Project Portfolio Management

What Is The Difference Between a Project and a Program?

You can arrive at your destination only when the course is correctly set, and all participants know where and why they are going. The project and the program are management categories, where special attention is paid to competent planning. How to understand the difference between them, and what do these differences affect?

• The project  is a corresponding set of activities and processes with the primary goal of implementing a large-scale task. The project’s main attributes are the availability of deadlines, resources, and mission. The project implementation can be calculated quantitatively as well as qualitatively.
• A program  is a group of projects united by a single goal, management, resources, and mission. Their result is a qualitative state change caused by the implementation of planned tasks.

How the Projects and Programs are Different?

The most important difference between these concepts is their scale. A program is several projects united by one goal. It is measured not quantitatively but qualitatively and implies a change of state. Terms of  project implementation , as a rule, are rigidly defined, and their transfer will inevitably affect the implementation of the program.

There are also differences in the complexity of the implementation of the tasks. The implementation of the project seems to be simpler since, for success, it is enough to achieve goals by a certain period. The program is only a hypothesis, which must be confirmed in practice.

The Defining Standards

The organization has one or more portfolios, each of which contains a variety of programs and projects.  Portfolio management  is about selecting the right mix of programs and projects that an organization should do based on available resources and funding.  Program management is about coordinating several related projects over time to produce outcomes that are beneficial to the organization. Projects are designed for the efficient delivery of a specified output.

PMI Standards

The project is a temporary undertaken to create a unique project service or result. The program is a collection of related projects managed in a coordinated manner to achieve benefits and control not possible by managing them separately. Some elements of work may be included in programs that are not within the scope of the individual projects.

Standardization

The definition of a program is consistent, as can be seen in the examples. Programs are the coordination of multiple projects to realize benefits that otherwise would not be possible. The program’s goal of realizing benefits differs from project or  project management . These definitions focus on the efficient delivery of products, services, or results (i.e., deliverables). The difference between projects and programs is often described as the “efficient creation of outputs.” Programs are concerned with delivering outcomes.

Measurements of a Project or Program

• A project is well-defined, with a project charter that spells out precisely what the scope and objectives are for the project. A program tends to have greater levels of uncertainty. The team is also bigger. The project team oversees and coordinates work on several projects, so although the core team may not have as many people as required, the project managers and all the project team members will be included.
• This is the most significant difference between projects and programs. A project represents a single effort. It is a group of people forming a team working towards a common goal. A program is different; it is a collection of projects. Together all the projects form a cohesive package of work.
• Some projects do go on for several years, but most of the tasks you’ll work on will be shorter than that. On the other hand, programs are longer. As they set out to deliver more stuff, they take longer. Programs tend to be split into tranches or phases. Some projects are also divided like this, but not all projects last long enough to be delivered in multiple stages.
• A project team works towards achieving specific outputs, what you get at the end. For example, this could be a set of deliverables that form a software package, a new retail branch, or whatever you are working on. The benefits of a project tend to be tangible: you get a ‘thing’ at the end. A program team works towards delivering outcomes. Outcomes can be tangible but are often not. The benefits of a program are the sum of all the benefits of the different initiatives it contains. These benefits may be policy- or culture-related or involve a change in how an organization operates.

Program Manager and Project Manager – What’s the Difference?

Usually, both programs and projects are aimed at achieving one common goal and business result. For example, a program for launching a new marketing campaign consists of several projects, including creating content, working on social networks, promoting, and preparing all the necessary materials for the campaign. This is an example of a situation where both a program manager and a project manager are involved in the work. But what are the responsibilities of each of them?

What Does the Program Manager Do?

A program manager can be called a strategic leader. He defines the objectives of the program and its importance for business.

The task of the program manager is to outline a plan and make a list of mutually beneficial projects that must be completed to achieve a common goal. As for the program itself, its manager is engaged in developing and implementing the strategy and the appointment of staff responsible for individual projects.

For example, if a program involves a marketing campaign, a manager may include attracting potential customers, increasing brand awareness, and expanding the target market to the list of goals. The role of the program manager goes beyond the implementation of individual projects and addresses the long-term benefits of the program as a whole.

What Does a Project Manager do?

The project manager manages the implementation of a separate project within the program. He coordinates the timeline, budget, and use of resources and distributes tasks between team members. Also, the project manager reports to the program manager on the progress of work and changes to the original project plan .

The   project manager’s role is mainly concerned with practical issues, such as meeting deadlines, staying within budget, and completing reporting materials. His role generally ends with the completion of the project, but it can be helpful to review what went well and what didn’t.

Project manager vs. Program manager comparison table

Projects and programs in use.

The table highlights the key differences between projects vs. programs in use.

The diagram shows a simplified view of how projects and programs fit within the hierarchy of a business.

Think of the diagram as showing the people running the business at the top of the triangle – the CEO and board. At the bottom of the triangle, we have the individual specialists who are working as part of a project. At the top of the diagram, we have the Business Level, where the board runs the business. People at this level are concerned with, amongst other things, setting strategic direction to implement the vision and managing a portfolio of programs to move towards the vision.

The next level in the diagram is the Program Level. Here, a program can initiate and control multiple projects to realize benefits. The program could also cancel projects if they weren’t the best way to realize the needed benefits due to a change in the business environment.

Finally, we reach the Project Level. Here projects are formed by the Program Level (or in smaller organizations without a program level, directly by the business level). Projects have a defined scope (set of deliverables) and must work efficiently to deliver these to time, budget, and quality constraints.

This diagram also highlights the difference between the project and the  program and portfolio levels  of management. The Business Level is responsible for managing a change portfolio, essentially several programs. Within the portfolio, each program is responsible for managing several projects.

Let’s look at a practical example of building a mobile phone. A software project exists for the device’s operating system to make sure it’s updated so that it works with the new hardware (as well as updating key applications). The project will aim to deliver the operating system and applications on time, on budget, and required quality.

The program that sits above this project will be much broader in scope. It’s targeted at delivering a mobile phone that maximizes profit for the business.

Our software projects will be just one of the projects controlled by the program. Other projects could include: Go To Market, Hardware, Tooling, Legal, Business Affairs, Support, etc. In fact, some of these projects may be so large and complex that they may be programs.

One of the key jobs of the program is to manage dependencies between projects. For example, the program must coordinate between the Tooling project and the Go To Market project to ensure alignment around the number of devices that the factory must produce to meet market demand. It will change over time and requires careful coordination, so there isn’t oversupply, which would result in a reduced return on investment.

PPM Express  is just the kind of tool that was created specifically for project and portfolio management in small and medium-sized organizations. It is designed to integrate seamlessly with JIRA and Planner, Microsoft Azure  DevOps , and  Microsoft Project Online . What makes it just the right fit for 20+ portfolios at a time operation. It is a Cloud-based solution that makes the dashboard available for your project managers and stakeholders anytime, anywhere. PPM Express is designed to be user-friendly and easy to use and deploy. Get full visibility, establish  project management  practices, and manage resources with accurate and up-to-date data from the projects at hand. All you need to start managing projects, tracking progress, and collaborating is in the  PPM Express  toolbox.

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• The Difference Between a Project and a Program

Project vs Program, plus the difference between Project and Program Managers.

What is a project?

A project refers to a specific, singular endeavour to deliver a tangible output.

A project manager is therefore responsible for ensuring a project delivers on its intended output in line with a defined time frame and budget.

What is a program/programme?

A program refers to multiple projects which are managed and delivered as a single package.

A program manager is therefore tasked with overseeing all the projects comprising the program – to ensure it achieves its outcomes.

How projects and programs differ

• The components of a project are specific and exact.
• The scope and goals of a project are well-defined – while programs are typically less clear-cut.
• Because a program covers multiple projects – a program team tends to be larger as it also incorporates the project managers and their project team members.
• Projects and programs may have a waterfall or agile approach.  
• A project represents a single, focused endeavour.
• A program is a collection of projects – together all the projects form a connected package of work. The different projects complement each other to assist the program in achieving its overall objectives. It’s likely the different projects within a program will overlap – the program manager will therefore assess these overlaps and work with the relevant project managers to ensure the program’s smooth progression.  
• While some projects take several years – the typical project will not take very long to complete.
• Programs often take a very long time to complete as they intend to deliver more. It’s therefore common for programs to be organised into phases or tranches.
• A particularly long project may also be organised into multiple phases – but this is less common.  
• Projects focus on achieving tangible outputs, i.e. what you gain upon completing the project.
• Programs focus on outcomes – which are often not tangible. The benefits provided by a program depend on the collective benefits of its projects. Examples of a program outcome include a cultural or political change within an organization – or a change in the way in which an organization operates.

How are Project and Program Managers different?

• Project Managers need to focus on the deliverables of their project which must be achieved within certain cost and time constraints.  
• Program Managers must be comfortable in being less hands-on and they need to have a vision of the benefits the program will achieve.

The best thing for the organisation running program and projects is that everyone understands the different pressures faced by their colleagues.

So if you are a project manager it’s well worth finding out more about program management and similarly program managers benefit from understanding the challenges that project managers face. APMG has the world's best selection of project and programme certifications which are widely recognised the leading organisations and government.

How do I become a Project or Program Manager?

Get trained and certified.

The Praxis Framework Certification is an effective, respected way to verify both your project and program management knowledge in one fell swoop.

Before Praxis arrived an aspiring project or program manager would have to look at several courses to learn the core skills of a competent, well-rounded manager. Praxis trims the fat - compiling the necessary knowledge into a single course.

Praxis quickly gained prestige amongst the project and program community - its Bridging Course has been endorsed by Australia's leading project management association, AIPM  and is also a route to becoming a Chartered Project Professional  with the Association for Project Management.

You'll gain a nifty digital badge if you pass the exam so you can showcase your certified status online.

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The difference between a project and a programme

Many believe a programme is simply a larger, longer version of a project. Despite the similarities, they are actually quite different. Briefly, a project is a specific, single task that delivers a tangible output, while a programme is a collection of related projects.

Definition of a project

PRINCE2 defines a project as “a temporary organisation that is created for the purpose of delivering one or more business products according to a specified business case”.

Projects have an end and aren’t designed to last very long. The project manager ensures the project delivers the intended goal, within a defined timeframe and budget.

Definition of a programme

A programme is defined as “a group of related projects managed in a coordinated way to obtain benefits and control not available from managing them individually”.

Programmes are usually long term, sometimes spanning years, and don’t have a fixed deadline. A programme is a framework of related projects aligned in a specific sequence. They have predictable and repeatable elements to minimise or even eliminate risks.

Project and programme key differences

Project vs programme example.

Let’s say a company wants to build and market a new mobile phone. This programme would be a collection of different projects, like one for updating the operating system and another for sourcing the resources and raw materials, along with the legal, business and support elements. Programme management would manage the dependencies , so each project gets what it needs.

Project and programme similarities

It’s good for project and programme managers to understand the challenges each has to deal with, as both projects and programmes:

• Are temporary
• Use business cases
• Require a team
• Are aligned to strategic objectives
• Deliver change

Project managers vs programme managers

Project managers focus on the project’s deliverables, making sure the project reaches its intended outcome on time and within the budget.

Programme managers are usually less hands-on, but must view the bigger picture and visualise the benefits that individual projects will have on the whole programme.

The biggest difference is that projects deal with delivering strictly defined outputs within a specific timescale and budget, whereas programmes deal with delivering outputs that benefit the entire organisation. Put simply, projects involve ‘doings things right’ and programmes involve ‘doing the right things’. Similar phrases, but very different meanings.

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