Classification of projects. Concept and classification of projects

Your attention is offered a detailed classification of projects on various grounds. You will find out what their kinds are, how they differ from each other. First of all, we give the necessary definition in order to have an idea of what is at stake.

The project is a complex system process that aims at changing various areas of human life. In developed countries and in the states of the former USSR, this concept differs significantly, and the classification of projects sometimes has its own peculiarities (see the section "Investment Projects").

In the traditional sense of the word, the project means:

1) Intention, idea, purpose.

2) Description, representation, image of some object (non-material or material) on paper or other media.

What does the project include?

Its concept in the developed states of the West is wider than it is accepted here. For example, the American Institute for Project Management designates it as a task with the original data, as well as the required goals (results) that determine the way to solve it. Here, however, it is not said about what means exist for the implementation of the project. In addition, the way to solve a particular problem is not always determined and not only by the goals (results) of its solution. Therefore, we can say that the project includes:

- purpose (task, problem);

- Means of solution (implementation);

- Goals (results).

Results of the project

The project in a broad sense is something that can change anything in the world, in life. His results from this point of view can be specific (organization, construction, building, production, etc.), and abstract (experience, knowledge, methods, plans, etc.). If we consider it as a dynamic system, we can distinguish:

- current (technology, documentation, etc.);

- final (profit, product, etc.).

Often the project and its results are presented in the form of a system of goals, which means that the project is a system. In other words, it is a combination of different elements and the connections that arise between them, which ensures the achievement of certain goals.

The grounds on which you can classify projects

Classification of projects can be carried out by the terms of implementation, the scale, the quality of their development and implementation, the place of implementation, the size of the resources used. The variety of their species is extremely large in reality. The classification of projects has the following reasons:

- The structure, composition of the project and the subject area that determine its class;

The sphere of activity, where it is carried out, determines its type;

- the size of the project, the number of participants, as well as the degree of its influence on the surrounding world, determining its scale;

- duration of implementation, determining its duration;

- degree of technological, financial, organizational, technical and other complexity.

Organizational Projects

Types of projects are the following: organizational, social, economic, technical and mixed. Organizational projects are usually associated with the reform of existing enterprises, as well as the creation of a new enterprise, organization, business entity, the implementation of some event (seminar, symposium, forum, conference, etc.). The main features are the following:

- The project objectives are defined, but quantitatively difficult to measure, since they are aimed at improving the organization of the system;

- the duration of implementation and the deadline are set in advance;

Resources are allocated to the extent possible;

- the costs of such a project are subject to very careful control from the point of view of their economic implementation, often an adjustment is needed in the process of implementation.

Features of economic projects

The classification of project types also highlights economic ones. They are aimed at restructuring enterprises, privatizing, sanitizing, improving customs regulations, the tax system, etc. Their characteristics are as follows:

- preliminary primary goals are planned, which can be corrected during implementation;

- the timing of the project, as well as its individual components, are often adjusted;

- the costs are approximately determined, however they are strictly and continuously monitored.

Characteristics of social projects

Social projects are aimed at solving certain social problems. For example, it is the improvement of pension legislation, social security, the elimination of the consequences of social upheavals and natural phenomena. There are other examples. There is a separate classification of social projects, but they all have the following common features:

- the goals are outlined in general, but as they are developed, they are adjusted to achieve certain intermediate results, a qualitative and quantitative assessment is often difficult;

- both the total duration and the time can not be clearly defined, therefore they have a probabilistic nature;

- resources are allocated to the project as needed, however within the framework of a possible one.

The greatest uncertainty is precisely the projects of this type.

Technical projects

They are associated with the development of a new product (type, type, design). Their features are as follows:

- The main ultimate goal is clearly defined, although individual subgoals can be specified as they are implemented;

- duration, completion dates are clearly defined in advance and, if possible, are observed, but adjustments are not excluded;

- expenses are clearly planned;

- restrictions in the implementation of the project and its planning are mainly related to the production capacity limit.

Mono-, multi-and megaprojects

The classification of projects also makes it possible to distinguish the following types: a megaproject, a multi-project and a monoproject.

Monoproject is a separate project of different scale, type and type. The multi-project is a complex one, it includes several mono-projects. And, finally, the megaproject is a targeted program for the development of industries and regions. It includes several mono- and multiprojects.

Scope of projects

As you can see, the topic "Classification of projects and their types" is quite extensive. Continuing its disclosure, we proceed to the next basis of the classification. It is possible to single out a megaproject and a small one (mini-project). Classification in this case is carried out on a scale. Small in volume is small, structurally simple, has a small number of participants. A number of simplifications are possible when developing and implementing it:

- one person carries out coordination of works;

- the members of the management team of this project are interchangeable;

- the most simple implementation schedules;

- each team member knows his scope of work and tasks;

- the project implements the same composition of executors (teams), which began work on it, carried out development, planning, and then design.

Features of megaprojects

Megaprojects are targeted programs. They are composed of many smaller ones that are interrelated and united by some common goal, time of implementation and resources. Such target programs can be interregional, regional, intersectoral, sectoral, national and international. Hundreds of millions of dollars reach their budgets, and sometimes even more. Such programs are coordinated and formed at the interstate and state levels. 5-7 years, and sometimes more can constitute the duration of their implementation. It is no accident that we singled out them, revealing a topic such as the classification of projects. Project management of this kind is very complex, because it requires consideration of many factors.

The following features are inherent in them:

- the presence of many different performers who specialize in different types of work, and therefore there is a need to coordinate their actions;

- mandatory accounting of social and economic conditions for the implementation of this project in a specific place and at a specific time;

- identification in an independent phase of the development of its concept;

- updating at different stages of the implementation of the initial project plan;

- consideration of its uniqueness and specificity;

- the need to develop different plans for its implementation - both operational and strategic;

- mandatory consideration of the probabilistic nature of various indicators and risk;

- continuous monitoring of this project, as well as updating its elements.

Classification by duration

Considering the topic "Classification of projects and their types," it should be noted that the duration can be divided into short, medium and long-term.

Short-term (up to 2 years) are characterized by the fact that the customer is interested in the fastest completion of this project, so he willingly increases its actual value. At the same time, the reporting is minimized, the minimum number of contractors is involved in the work, the simplest implementation schedules are used, one person is liable, and the changes in implementation are minimal. Projects medium- and long-term do not have such features.

Elements of the project

The complexity of the project is connected with many circumstances. Among them - the need for high quality of its execution, the limitations of various resources (temporary, labor, financial), etc. The following elements can be distinguished:

- project documentation;

- industrial premises;

- production facilities;

- technology of work and production;

- technological equipment;

- services, work, product, which are produced.

Depending on the nature of the project, others are possible, as well as a more detailed division of the above.

The supporting elements of the project are: finance, raw materials, personnel (personnel), premises and territory of location, contracts, agreements, contracts, as well as other elements that facilitate its implementation and development.

Investment projects

Investment is almost all projects, since the vast majority of them require investment of money, that is, investment. In the specialized literature on project analysis and investment planning, it means a set of interrelated enterprises that are aimed at achieving specific goals for a limited period of time. Classification of investment projects can be carried out for various reasons: the scale of investment, objectives, risk level, degree of interconnectedness, timing. In particular, in terms of investment, small, traditional, large and megaprojects are allocated.

In the countries of the USA and Western Europe, those with a value of less than 300 thousand dollars are meant for small projects. Average (otherwise called traditional) have a value of 300 thousand to 2 million dollars. Projects large - these are those that have a strategic nature and cost more than 2 million dollars. And, finally, megaprojects are international or state target programs that unite a number of investment projects having a single purpose. Their cost is from 1 billion dollars.

In Russian practice, there is a slightly different classification of investment projects. For example, in the case when centralized investment resources are allocated on a competitive basis, projects worth more than $ 50 million, dollars are considered large.

Classification of training projects

They can be personal and group. In this case, each of them has undeniable advantages. There is also a special method of projects, the classification of which is presented below. This is a system of training, knowledge and skills for which are acquired in the process of self-planning and implementation of projects by students - practical tasks that are gradually becoming more complex.

Classification of educational projects by:

- scope of activities;

- thematic areas;

- number of performers;

- the timing of implementation;

- importance of results.

All of them, regardless of the type, are unique and unique, aimed at achieving certain goals, suggest coordination of interrelated actions, are limited in time.

Complexity projects can be interdisciplinary and mono-projects. The latter are carried out within the framework of only one area or one academic subject. Intersubjects are carried out under the guidance of specialists representing different fields of knowledge, during off-hour time.

By the nature of their contacts, they can be divided into international, regional, intraschool and intraclass. As a rule, the first two are implemented as telecommunications projects, using various means of modern technology and the Internet.

If we take as a basis the prevailing activity of students, we can distinguish the following types:

- The project is practice-oriented;

- research;

- information;

- creative;

- role-playing.

As for the duration, we can distinguish:

- mini-projects that fit into 1 lesson or a part of it;

- Short-term, designed for 4-6 lessons;

- Projects are weekly, which require 30-40 hours and involve a combination of extra-curricular and classroom forms of work, as well as a deep immersion in them, which makes them the best form of organization of work on projects;

- long-term (annual) as group, and individual (as a rule, they are carried out after-hours).

Variety of projects

Classification of projects, project management, as you can see, are carried out not only by managers and scientists. Many of us are faced with them in their professional activities, in particular, teachers. Students, by the way, also often get the task to perform "Project on the topic ...". This will help them in their future professional activities. A project on a topic proposed by the teacher or selected independently, is often regarded as a graduation or examination paper.