THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN PROJECT AND OPERATIONS

By Definition:
- Project is a temporary endeavor undertaken to produce a unique product, service or result
- Operation(s) is an ongoing execution of activities that produce the same product or service or result.

Difference # 1

- Project has a specific start and end dates

- Operations are not limited by dates (they are normal / daily activities)

Difference # 2

- Project creates a unique product, service or result

- Operations create the same product, service or result

Difference # 3

- Project terminates once it achieves the specific objective

- Operations attain the strategic goals of the organization

Difference # 4

- Project team are not aligned on the organization structure

- Functional team is aligned on the organization structure

Difference # 5

- Tasks are new to any project

- Tasks are repetitive in nature

Difference # 6

- Project has uncertainty due to its uniqueness in nature

- Operations are certainty

With these differences, we can study the following examples:

Example # 1: A programmer creates an antivirus software (Project), but the antivirus software removes or deletes all the unwanted viruses in the computer (Operation).

Example # 2: Conducting a research for a censor (Project), but using the data for other development (Operation)

Example # 3: Building a house needs multiple professionals from different families (Project), but start living in the house as one family (Operation)

You can also add other examples.

Reference:
PMI (2013). A Guide to the Project Management Book of Knowledge (PMBOK Guide 5^th Ed.) USA, Project Management Institute

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