ABSTRACT
This chapter describes how project-based work differs from ‘regular’ work. All kinds of activities take place within an organization. They may be characterized in the three groups of activities: improvised activities, routine activities, and project-based activities. Project-based activities fall roughly midway between improvised and routine activities. They are non-recurring and have a limited duration, but are reasonably predictable. Improvised activities, project-based activities and routine work can be part of the same work sequence. A project whose aim is to put things on the rails properly could then be undertaken. By the end of the project, standard working procedures will have been developed. According to their character, projects fall into one of several different categories: technical projects, social projects, commercial projects, mixed projects and events. Projects can also be categorized in different ways based on content, such as those with an internal sponsor as opposed to those with an external sponsor.
