---
title: "Characteristics of a project"
subject: "ICT Project Management"
chapter: 1
key: "semester_7/ict_project_management:project-characteristics"
source: https://www.bctengineer.com/q/semester_7/ict_project_management/project-characteristics
site: BCT Engineering
---

# Characteristics of a project

ICT Project Management · Chapter 1: Introduction

- Asked in: year not given; year not given
- Video: [What is Project Management? | Explained in 10 Minutes](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bw-NvGvLHtM) — Max Mao
- Answer checked by Claude Opus 5.5 (high effort) on 2026-10-14
- Page: https://www.bctengineer.com/q/semester_7/ict_project_management/project-characteristics
- Whole chapter: https://www.bctengineer.com/md/semester_7/ict_project_management/chapter-1

## Question

What are the characteristics of a project?

## Short answer

Projects have a unique purpose, are temporary with definite start and end, and are developed through progressive elaboration. They need resources from various areas, have a sponsor or customer, involve uncertainty and risk, and are constrained by scope, time, and cost. They often use cross-functional teams and bring change.

## Answer

Projects have a set of common characteristics that separate them from routine work.

#### Main characteristics
1. **Unique purpose**: each project creates a specific product, service or result that is not exactly the same as an earlier one.
2. **Temporary**: a definite start and end. The team is disbanded after completion.
3. **Developed in steps (progressive elaboration)**: planning is rough at first and becomes detailed as information arrives.
4. **Needs resources**: people, hardware, software, money and time from various areas of the organisation.
5. **Should have a primary customer or sponsor**: provides funds and direction, and accepts the result.
6. **Involves uncertainty**: new work, estimates and assumptions create risk.
7. **Constrained by scope, time and cost**: the triple constraint must be balanced.
8. **Cross-functional team**: people from different departments work together, often temporarily.
9. **Defined objectives and deliverables**: success is measured against agreed outcomes.
10. **Change**: a project brings change to the organisation, such as a new system replacing a manual process.

#### Illustration
Take a project to develop an e-library for a campus.
- Unique: customised to that campus.
- Temporary: six months from kick-off to hand-over.
- Resources: 5 developers, 1 tester, servers, Rs 8 lakh budget.
- Sponsor: campus chief.
- Risk: students may not adopt it; requirements may change.

#### Summary table
| Characteristic | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Unique | One-off result |
| Temporary | Fixed start and end |
| Progressive | Plans refined over time |
| Resource-based | Needs people, money, tools |
| Risky | Uncertain outcome |
| Goal-oriented | Delivers defined objectives |

Understanding these helps the manager choose between project-style management and normal operations management.

## Check yourself

The answer's key points as multiple-choice questions, with the correct option and why.

1. What does 'unique purpose' mean as a project characteristic?
   A. The project is done only once in the world
   B. The project has no sponsor
   C. Each project creates a specific product, service or result not exactly the same as earlier ones
   D. The project uses unique tools
   Answer: C. Even similar projects differ in details, so each result is not exactly the same as an earlier one. (Key point: Unique purpose)

2. What is the role of the primary customer or sponsor?
   A. To do the coding work
   B. To provide funds and direction and accept the result
   C. To disband the team
   D. To run daily operations
   Answer: B. The sponsor funds and directs the project and accepts the final result. (Key point: Sponsor role)

3. Why does a project involve uncertainty?
   A. Because the team is permanent
   B. Because the work is repetitive
   C. Because there is no deadline
   D. Because new work, estimates and assumptions create risk
   Answer: D. Unfamiliar work and estimates based on assumptions bring risk. (Key point: Uncertainty)

4. Which describes a project team?
   A. Cross-functional, often temporary, from different departments
   B. Permanent staff of one department only
   C. Always a single person
   D. Outside vendors only
   Answer: A. Projects draw people from different departments, often temporarily, and the team is disbanded afterwards. (Key point: Team nature)

## Related in ICT Project Management

- [Characteristics of project life cycles](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_7%2Fict_project_management%3Aproject-life-cycle-characteristics) — ICT Project Management, chapter 4
- [Project planning matrix (PPM)](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_7%2Fict_project_management%3Aproject-planning-matrix) — ICT Project Management, chapter 7

## Related in other subjects

- [Define project and its characteristics](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_7%2Fproject_engineering%3Adefine-project-characteristics) — Project Engineering, chapter 1, asked 4×
- [Characteristics of a construction project](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_8%2Fconstruction_management%3Aconstruction-project-characteristics) — Construction Management, chapter 1
- [Project dimensions and characteristics](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_7%2Fproject_engineering%3Aproject-dimensions-characteristics) — Project Engineering, chapter 1
- [Project characteristics versus permanent systems](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_7%2Fproject_engineering%3Acharacteristics-vs-permanent-systems) — Project Engineering, chapter 1