ABSTRACT
This chapter introduces different theoretical lenses to observe projects. It discusses the traditional perception of a project as a complex task, and the evolution of its conceptualization into a temporary organization, social system and construction. The purpose of the project is to perform a business process for which the project is organized. Project life cycle models differentiate between phases or stages, but also consider the whole or a huge part of the investment as a project. The chapter focuses on the project which is one of the constituting features of the project-oriented organization. The purpose of the project is the contribution to an investment process, which may be, a product investment or an infrastructure investment. In contrast to perceiving projects as complex technical systems, it is a relatively new approach to perceive projects as social systems based on the Social Systems Theory by Niklas Luhmann.
