1 00:00:03,880 --> 00:00:09,610 So before we get into how to plan and run a project and what might go wrong in your project I think 2 00:00:09,610 --> 00:00:14,950 we ought to have a quick look at what is a project and we kind of know one when we see one. 3 00:00:15,070 --> 00:00:20,590 But there are certain things that are indicative that it is a project and the first one is they have 4 00:00:20,590 --> 00:00:27,430 a start in the finish so everything is a project or process and processes just roll on forever and they 5 00:00:27,430 --> 00:00:28,350 never finish. 6 00:00:28,420 --> 00:00:35,730 Something like doing operations in a hospital or making parts in a factory it just rolls on and on forever. 7 00:00:35,790 --> 00:00:41,110 But projects have a start in the finish but there's more to a project than that because there's also 8 00:00:41,110 --> 00:00:44,830 the fact that needs to be a collection of related tasks. 9 00:00:44,860 --> 00:00:48,760 So a one off task has to start to finish but it's not really a project. 10 00:00:48,820 --> 00:00:54,130 A project needs to be a collection of tasks and part of the essence of what makes projects difficult 11 00:00:54,460 --> 00:00:58,580 is that the tasks are interrelated you have to do them in the right order. 12 00:00:58,600 --> 00:01:02,800 So once you've planned the order you can then work back from the finish and work out how you need to 13 00:01:02,800 --> 00:01:03,790 start. 14 00:01:03,850 --> 00:01:07,240 So they need to be a collection of related tasks. 15 00:01:07,570 --> 00:01:13,390 But I also think the real essence of a project is that it's something new it's something that you haven't 16 00:01:13,390 --> 00:01:14,670 done before. 17 00:01:14,980 --> 00:01:18,850 So if you take for example moving houses that a project. 18 00:01:18,850 --> 00:01:24,810 Well for most of us yes it is because we haven't moved house before or we haven't done it for 10 years. 19 00:01:24,850 --> 00:01:27,680 And so we can't remember how to do it anymore from last time. 20 00:01:27,910 --> 00:01:33,280 But if you were in the army and you moved house every year then it would start to become a process and 21 00:01:33,280 --> 00:01:38,740 you would just get the same boxes down from your attic and fold up the same removals company and then 22 00:01:38,740 --> 00:01:40,560 it would have become a process. 23 00:01:40,570 --> 00:01:45,710 So the real essence of a project I think it's something new something that you haven't done before. 24 00:01:45,850 --> 00:01:48,940 And actually that's where the word project comes from. 25 00:01:48,940 --> 00:01:52,450 It's the same as Project which means to throw forward. 26 00:01:52,510 --> 00:01:57,440 So the idea of a project is you're leaping forward into the unknown you're breaking new ground. 27 00:01:57,850 --> 00:02:01,520 So that's the real essence of approach it is something you haven't done before. 28 00:02:02,050 --> 00:02:07,190 And finally I think it needs to be big enough to be difficult. 29 00:02:07,270 --> 00:02:12,280 So if you've got more than one person involved then you definitely need some project management because 30 00:02:12,280 --> 00:02:15,330 you need to know who's doing Waart and the communication between you. 31 00:02:15,610 --> 00:02:20,320 Or if you've got more than 10 tasks then you definitely can't hold them in your head. 32 00:02:20,410 --> 00:02:22,870 Even if it's only you and there's nobody else involved. 33 00:02:22,990 --> 00:02:29,470 If you've got more than 10 tasks it's a project or if the thing's going to take more than say two weeks 34 00:02:29,680 --> 00:02:34,570 then you definitely need it drawn out because as the time unfolds you won't be able to remember what 35 00:02:34,570 --> 00:02:36,100 you're supposed to do when. 36 00:02:36,160 --> 00:02:40,960 So even if it's only three or four tasks if they're spread over more than a couple of weeks then I would 37 00:02:40,960 --> 00:02:45,460 say you need a project plan just to keep a track of what's going on because remember you've probably 38 00:02:45,460 --> 00:02:48,940 got your day job and maybe some other projects as well. 39 00:02:48,940 --> 00:02:54,580 So any of those features will mean that it's a project and it's worth doing a little bit of project 40 00:02:54,580 --> 00:02:55,320 planning.