Types of projects: the basic principles of their classification

In practice, you can find different types of projects. Management of them can combine completely different subspecies of activity with their results. In this case, we can talk about the construction of pyramids in Egypt, and the writing of course work by students in the learning process.

Principle of classification

In this case, the types of projects have significant differences both in the scope of application and in the composition of the subject, duration, scale, level of complexity, structure, interest groups and individuals.

Knowledge of these differences allows you to pay attention to certain features of individual groups. When implementing some types of projects, you can use different management methods and tools.

Their classification can be determined taking into account the following factors.

Scope of activities

First, the main types of projects differ in the areas of implementation. Among them are the following:

• Commercial, which are performed under contracts concluded for the production of products or the provision of services;
• Research, used in the field of development and engineering;
• Types of projects related to the design and construction of basic production resources;
• Developments implemented in information systems.

External projects

This classification can be found depending on their implementation.

Thus, internal projects are executed directly in the organization. In this case, the performers and customers belong to its members. All work that can be attributed to the design, or the implementation of a particular development, is carried out by the company on its own resources at the expense of its own resources.

Often, these types of organization of projects are used when the future work corresponds to the main type of activity. For example, when executing a project to introduce a software into the production area in an organization, it becomes necessary to have a sufficient number of specialists with the necessary skills to create such a product.

Internal projects provide greater efficiency and flexibility in making a decision. Their implementation avoids various surprises and unforeseen circumstances that arise as they are implemented.

Today it is difficult to find an enterprise that does not have internal projects. The following types can be classified as such: to improve the quality, develop logistic schemes, hold promotional events and presentations, and so on.

Types and types of projects of internal type have such an advantage as the absence of so-called external control. In this case, we are talking about the fact that in the absence of any penalties in contracts, an enterprise may change certain decisions regarding the timing, resources, technologies used in its implementation during the implementation of developments.

Therefore, the manager needs to be careful with the ability to change decisions. Any change can lead to an increase in the cost of the project. Another problem is some conservatism in their implementation. This is reflected in the lack of initiative on the part of employees who already have some skills and knowledge, but do not want to change any methods in the work, even if they are more effective. These factors lead to risks on the rise in the cost of projects.

Often managers do not need to have any special knowledge for planning and successful implementation of certain developments. Due to a certain clarity and simplicity related to the goals in conjunction with the ways of achieving them, sometimes only experience in management work and common sense is enough.

Internal projects

This type assumes the implementation of works that are offered by external customers. Particular importance in this case should be assigned to formalizing relations with counterparties (partners and customers) in the legal field. So, the partners work out the conditions for performing the work, taking into account any legally correctly drawn up contract, according to which the fulfillment of the conditions is mandatory.