--- title: "Define, classify project; temporary organization" subject: "Project Engineering" chapter: 1 key: "semester_7/project_engineering:project-classification-temporary-team" source: https://www.bctengineer.com/q/semester_7/project_engineering/project-classification-temporary-team site: BCT Engineering --- # Define, classify project; temporary organization Project Engineering · Chapter 1: Introduction of Project and Project Management - Asked in: 2068 Baisakh (old course), 8 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/project-classification-temporary-team - Whole chapter: https://www.bctengineer.com/md/semester_7/project_engineering/chapter-1 ## Question Define a project and classify it. Name the characteristics of a project and describe what you mean by a temporary team/organization in a project. ## Short answer A project is a temporary endeavor with definite start and end, creating a unique product within constraints. Classification by sector, size, ownership, resources, participation, purpose, technology, time, location. Characteristics: specific objective, definite life, uniqueness, progressive elaboration, temporary team, limited resources, uncertainty, interdependent tasks. Temporary team: formed from different fields, disbands after completion (e.g., district hospital team dissolves after handover). ## Answer #### Definition 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. #### Classification | Basis | Types | Example | |---|---|---| | Sector | Agriculture, industry, energy, transport, health, education | Irrigation canal, cement factory | | Size / cost | Small, medium, large, mega | Foot trail vs Melamchi water project | | Ownership | Public, private, public-private (PPP) | Government road, private hotel, BOOT hydropower | | Nature of resources | Labour intensive, capital intensive | Rural road by user groups, a dam | | Participation | Domestic, bilateral, multilateral, joint venture | Government-funded road, Pokhara Airport (China Exim loan), ADB-funded water supply, Khimti hydropower | | Purpose | Production, service, infrastructure, social | Factory, school, bridge | | Technology | Conventional, high technology | Manual brick kiln vs automated plant | | Time | Short term, medium term, long term | 6-month school building vs 10-year highway | | Location | Urban, rural, regional, national | Smart city, village water supply | #### Characteristics - Specific objective - Definite life span - Unique, non-routine task - Progressive elaboration - Temporary team - Limited resources - Uncertainty and risk - Interdependent activities #### Temporary team / organisation A project needs people from different fields for a limited time. A team is formed when the project starts: the project manager is appointed, and engineers, surveyors, accountants and workers are drawn from the parent organisation or hired from outside. Once the project is completed, the team is disbanded and the members return to their departments or move to other projects. Features: it is created for one objective, has a leader with clear authority, its members bring different skills, and it has no permanent status. Example: the team formed to build a district hospital, which dissolves after handover. Because the group is new, team building, role definition and communication are essential. ## Check yourself The answer's key points as multiple-choice questions, with the correct option and why. 1. Which of these is a basis for classifying projects? A. Only the name of the project manager B. Only the colour and shape of the final structure C. Only the number of drawings prepared D. Sector, size/cost, ownership, nature of resources, participation, purpose, technology, time and location Answer: D. Projects are classified on many bases such as sector, size, ownership, resources, participation, purpose, technology, time and location. (Key point: Bases of classification) 2. 'Public, private, PPP' is a classification on which basis? A. Sector B. Technology C. Time D. Ownership Answer: D. Ownership classifies projects as public, private or public-private partnership. (Key point: Classification example) 3. What happens to the project team when the project is completed? A. It becomes the permanent operating staff with the same hierarchy B. It is disbanded and members return to their departments or move to other projects C. It continues as a project team to start routine repetitions D. It is retained to supervise the next project without change Answer: B. The project team is formed for one objective and has no permanent status, so it dissolves at completion. (Key point: Temporary team) 4. Which is a feature of a temporary project team? A. It is created for one objective, has a leader with clear authority, and members of varied skills B. It has permanent status C. It has no leader D. All members have identical skills Answer: A. Because the team is new, team building, role definition and communication are essential. 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