A project is a temporary undertaking, with a defined start and finish, carried out to create a unique product, service or result.
In construction, a project is usually the design and construction of a particular building or piece of infrastructure for a client, delivered within an agreed budget, programme and quality standard. Because each project is unique in its site, design and team, its costs and risks must be assessed afresh rather than simply copied from the last job. For the quantity surveyor, a project typically involves:
- a cost plan or budget set at the outset
- a procurement route and form of contract
- cost reporting and change control during delivery
- a final account on completion
A project differs from a programme, which is a group of related projects managed together, and from ongoing operations or term maintenance work, which have no fixed end point.
Related terms: programme, project management, final account.
