--- title: "Characteristics compared with final year project" subject: "Project Engineering" chapter: 1 key: "semester_7/project_engineering:characteristics-vs-final-year-project" source: https://www.bctengineer.com/q/semester_7/project_engineering/characteristics-vs-final-year-project site: BCT Engineering --- # Characteristics compared with final year project Project Engineering · Chapter 1: Introduction of Project and Project Management - Asked in: 2080 Baisakh, 6 marks - Video: [Project Management: An explanation of The 5 Characteristics of Projects](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hpojxzFJh18) — SPM - Answer checked by Claude Opus 5.5 (high effort) on 2026-10-14 - Page: https://www.bctengineer.com/q/semester_7/project_engineering/characteristics-vs-final-year-project - Whole chapter: https://www.bctengineer.com/md/semester_7/project_engineering/chapter-1 ## Question Explain the characteristics of a project by comparing it with a final year project. ## Short answer A final year project is a small but true project, exhibiting all project characteristics: specific objective, definite start/end, uniqueness, temporary team, limited resources, progressive elaboration, uncertainty, interdependent tasks, stakeholders, and management need. Only scale differs from large field projects. ## Answer A final year engineering project (for example "Design of a 20 kW micro-hydro plant") is a small but true project, so it shows every characteristic of a project. | Characteristic | In a final year project | |---|---| | Specific objective | Design and report of a given system, with defined deliverables | | Definite start and end | Starts in 7th semester and ends at the final viva with a deadline | | Unique, non-routine | The topic and site/data differ from other batches and from regular classes | | Temporary team | A group of 3-4 students formed for this work and dissolved after submission | | Limited resources | Fixed time, small budget, laboratory and software access | | Progressive elaboration | Idea, proposal, literature, design, analysis, report, with details developed step by step | | Uncertainty and risk | Data not available, equipment failure, member absent, supervisor change | | Interdependent tasks | Data collection before design; design before drawings | | Stakeholders | Supervisor, department, examiners, the client or industry | | Management needed | Planning (Gantt chart), progress meetings, control against the deadline | Compared with regular coursework (a permanent, repetitive activity), the final year project is temporary, unique and goal-oriented. The same ideas of scope, schedule, cost and risk apply to a large field project; only the scale differs. ## Check yourself The answer's key points as multiple-choice questions, with the correct option and why. 1. Why is a final year project a true project? A. It is repeated by every batch in the same way B. It has a specific objective, definite start and end, unique topic, temporary team and limited resources C. It has no deadline D. It is a permanent routine activity Answer: B. It shows every project characteristic, only at a smaller scale. (Key point: Final year project as a project) 2. What is the temporary team in a final year project? A. The whole college staff permanently B. One student working forever C. A group of 3-4 students formed for the work and dissolved after submission D. The examiners only Answer: C. The group exists only for this work. (Key point: Temporary team in FYP) 3. Which is an example of interdependent tasks in a final year project? A. Writing the title page before reading B. Submitting the report before any work C. Viva before design D. Data collection before design, and design before drawings Answer: D. Tasks depend on outputs of earlier tasks. (Key point: Interdependent tasks in FYP) 4. How does a final year project differ from regular coursework? A. Coursework is permanent and repetitive; the final year project is temporary, unique and goal-oriented B. Coursework is unique; the project is routine C. Both are temporary and unique D. Coursework has a viva and the project does not Answer: A. The same ideas of scope, schedule, cost and risk then apply to large field projects. 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