Which statement best defines a project?

A continuing operation that produces the same output every day under standard procedures

Any activity carried out by a permanent department with no time limit

A routine task repeated by the same staff to maintain existing output

Why is a project called unique or non-routine?

Each project differs in site, design and conditions, so it is not a repeated daily operation

Because it always uses new money and never uses old equipment

Because only one engineer works on it

Which is the correct order for setting project goals?

Identify need and stakeholders, state broad goal, break into objectives, test against SMART, get client approval

State SMART objectives first, then identify the need, then the broad goal

Get client approval first, then identify the need, then set objectives

Break into objectives, identify stakeholders, then state the broad goal without any testing

What do the letters in SMART stand for in goal setting?

Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic/Relevant, Time-bound

Simple, Monitored, Approved, Reported, Tested

Specific, Managed, Allocated, Reviewed, Timed

Strategic, Measured, Authorised, Required, Tracked

2065 Shrawan (old course) · 8 marks

Project, characteristics and SMART goal setting

Short answer

A project is a temporary endeavor with definite start/end, creating a unique product within constraints. Characteristics: specific objective, definite life, uniqueness, progressive elaboration, temporary team, limited resources, uncertainty, interdependent tasks, stakeholders, multidisciplinary. Goal setting uses SMART criteria: Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic, Time-bound. E.g., 'Construct 12 km, 5.5 m wide black-topped road from X to Y in 24 months at ≤NRs 40 crore.'

Explain project and the characteristics of a project. Explain goal setting (SMART).

Project

A project is a temporary endeavour, with a definite start and end, undertaken by a team to create a unique product, service or result within limited time, cost and quality constraints. Examples: building the Kathmandu-Terai Fast Track, a 100 MW hydropower plant, a bridge, or developing a hospital information system.

Characteristics of a project

Characteristic	Meaning	Example
Specific objective	Defined purpose and deliverable	Complete a 40 m span bridge
Definite life span	Fixed start and end date	Start Shrawan 2080, finish Asar 2082
Unique / non-routine	Not a repetitive task; each project differs in site, design, conditions	Two dams are never identical
Progressive elaboration	Details are developed step by step as information increases	Concept, feasibility, detailed design, drawings
Temporary team	Team formed for the project and dispersed at the end	Engineers, contractors, consultants
Limited resources	Fixed budget, manpower, equipment, time	Budget of NRs 50 crore
Uncertainty and risk	Future events cannot be fully predicted	Landslide, price rise, delay in land acquisition
Interdependent tasks	Activities depend on each other	Foundation before columns
Customer / stakeholders	Client, funder, users, public	Department of Roads, donor, villagers
Multi-disciplinary and cross-functional	Different specialists work together	Civil, electrical, environment, finance

Goal setting (SMART)

Goals and objectives are set by understanding the need or problem, consulting the stakeholders, and stating the end result in clear, measurable terms. The usual sequence is:

Identify the need or problem and the stakeholders.
State the broad goal (the long-term purpose).
Break the goal into specific objectives (short-term, measurable results).
Test each objective against the SMART criteria.
Get approval from the client and revise if resources or constraints do not match.

SMART criteria

Letter	Criterion	Meaning
S	Specific	Clear and unambiguous; says what, where and for whom
M	Measurable	Quantity, quality or cost can be checked
A	Achievable	Possible with available resources and technology
R	Realistic / Relevant	Matches the need and the organisation's capacity
T	Time-bound	Has a deadline or time frame

Example

Poor objective: "Improve the road to the village."

SMART objective: "Construct a 12 km, 5.5 m wide black-topped road from X to Y, within 24 months, at a cost not exceeding NRs 40 crore, meeting Department of Roads standards."

Specific: 12 km black-topped road from X to Y.
Measurable: length, width, cost and standard are given.
Achievable: the equipment, contractor and budget are available.
Realistic: the village needs year-round access.
Time-bound: 24 months.

✓ Answer checked by Claude Opus 5.5 (high effort)

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