What is the structure of a project?

The structure of a project is the way it is planned, managed, and controlled.

That is to say, it is the foundation on which all the gears will turn to make the project execute.
according to the established parameters.

There are various methodologies that are commonly used to structure projects. Among the
more well-known are Waterfall, Kanban, Scrum, or the Agile method. If you want to know more
Regarding this issue, we invite you to click on this link and discover specific information.
about the topic.

Be that as it may, it is necessary to deeply understand the project in order to choose a structure and
adequate and efficient methodologies.

How people are organized within the structure of a project

One of the most important assets of any company is its human capital. That's why, when it goes
To structure an executable project, it is important to organize people who will be the ones to
involve and those that will make everything succeed or not.

Now then, how to organize a work group for a project? If we look at

prestigious authors on the subject, such as Sallenave or Gómez Duarte, we discover a key point: the
The organization of people will depend on the organizational culture of the company in question.

What do we mean by this? That both the human structure and the chosen methodology do not
they will depend solely on the inherent nature of the project. The culture and values will also be key
business environment in which they are located.

Thus, everything, from the selection of the leader to the formation of the work team, will be
in constant relation to the company's culture. Key elements such as this will depend on it.
level of commitment of the stakeholders involved, the achievement of success, the adaptability of the
communication channels, the exchange of information, etc.

Nevertheless, whatever the variables to consider and the organization of the company, there are
elements that are usually present and tend to be common regardless of the
selection criteria:
Complementary teams with a unique leader: each team is in charge of a phase or department.

Specialist groups: that is to say, supported by a coordinated method, each contributes its
contribution as an expert or specialist.
Hierarchical distribution: a group of people participating in the initiative according to their level of
responsibility under the supervision of a leader, to whom the results are reported as Project
Manager.

What elements should a project structure contain?

The structure of a long-term project cannot be the same as that of another with a shorter duration.
media or short. Or the same between a project conceived by a company established in the market
and another that has just been launched. That is to say, elements such as the recipients, the resources
available, the number of those involved and the expectations are some of the key points.

However, we can talk about some basic categories that any project leader
should be taken into account when developing its structure.

Purpose and objectives

The purposes of a project are often related to large-scale aspirations, such as

for example, brand positioning or specific performance goals. Compared to
these, the objectives are intermediate steps or immediate actions that contribute to achieving the
purposes. A purpose can be supported by several projects, each of which
has specific objectives.

Recipients

All projects have a recipient or beneficiary. This category is mainly used in the
marketing terrain, where it directly targets the specific audience for which companies
they elaborate their products or services. Sometimes the course of the projects tends to be given by the
conditions set by its receivers.

Product or service

It is the central element of the project. It should condense all the prior analytical work.
conceptual, design, production and market research. However, it should not be confused with the
final result of the project, which is of a general nature. The product, on the other hand, is only a
means to achieve the objectives.

Activities
Every project has activities, which are usually subdivided into phases or intermediate stages.
These phases are more or less complex depending on the scope of the project.

When defining tasks, it is best to do so following a logical and realistic order.

that guarantees the evolution of the process.

In addition, it is important to keep in mind that not all tasks have the same importance, which is why
A prior work of prioritization of the same is necessary.

Calendar

It is also advisable to set dates and deadlines for the development of each task.
a calendar is not necessarily a straitjacket; it is, above all, a guide to action.
therefore, it must be designed with flexibility.

Available resources
They are of two kinds: human and material. In both senses, it is necessary to specify them the best.
way and, at the same time, determine at what point in the process they should be used. This estimation
It also requires a margin of action that allows for the introduction of potential resources.
that are not planned.

Budget

It has to do with the financing of the project. But not only in general terms; if necessary, the
the calculation must include the cost of each stage and any additional expenses that may arise
working group during the execution of its tasks.

Results

A project must also specify the way in which its results will be expressed.
Generally, these are measured based on whether the process has met the objectives that
they traced at the beginning. However, since the drafting of a project is carried out before knowing
the results of the same ultimately involve defining what one wants to achieve. In
This task requires precision, realism, and avoiding vagueness or overly abstract scenarios.

The structure of a social project

Now, as we have seen, it is not only the organizational culture of an entity that will vary the
structure of a project. What happens when the end is social, for example? Undoubtedly, the nature
the project itself is key.

In the case of social projects, you can find much more information about it if you read
this article. However, we can inform you in detail about these keys that will structure
the work to be done reliably and successfully:

Communication: standards must be set in the design of the plan. Resources will be provided and the
tools that make communication effective, periodic, and clear.
Documentation: at the internal level, and also as delivery to third parties, it is necessary that all
documents have the corresponding registration to serve as support for control.
They will specify the product and will be properly concretized.

Roles: we talk about the human factor, always key in any project. It must be very clear the
responsibilities and the assignment of roles. Each party involved will know their area of action and their relationship
with the rest of the team.

The stages of the social project

Now that we know the structure, let's detail the stages into which a project should be divided.
social so that it can be truly efficient and move forward properly to meet the
set objectives:

Identification of needs: it is analyzed what the final objective is intended to be achieved with the
project.

Definition of groups: below, the interest groups involved are marked.

problem and those to whom solutions must be offered.

Creation of a work team: once the objectives and purposes are defined, the team is recruited.
work that will participate in the social project.

Planning: with the team created, an adequate planning is prepared to set the
guidelines to follow. Project management techniques similar to the Gantt chart are used.
Pert method.

Execution: next, the outlined plan is executed under the direction set by the leader or
Project Manager.

Supervision: processes are monitored to ensure that the work is done according to
planned.
Evaluation: samples are collected on metrics to analyze the results obtained. It is studied
if there are deviations or insufficient non-compliance with the objectives to proceed with their
rectification if necessary.

The structure of a research project

Another project that deserves scrutiny is the research one. Very

common among scientists and even university or master's students, they are usually structured of the
next form:

Introduction: the topic to be addressed and the objectives that are intended to be achieved are introduced.
completed.
Theoretical and conceptual framework: the theories and concepts that will be used as a basis are established.

Macro contextual: a basic contextual framework is established.

Working methodology: below, information is provided about the working methodology that is followed
investigator or team of investigators.

Evaluation of results: the object of study is analyzed and the report is presented explaining the
fieldwork carried out and its theoretical contrast.

Design and development of the proposal: that is to say, it explains the generation of new knowledge.
obtained and contrasted with theories with the new empirical bases.

Conclusion: the conclusions reached regarding the object of study are explained.
What is a continuous improvement project?

We conclude our journey through the key elements in the structure of a project.
to explain what a continuous improvement project is. Take note.

We understand a continuous improvement project as one that focuses on a business area.

specify in the entire organization whose purpose is to expand competencies through changes
constant transformers.

It is said that this type of projects applies the Kaizen method, which means change for the better.
That is to say, it is a constant study to improve the competencies of a
department.

For example, if we think about a commercial department, a continuous improvement project could
be the one who consistently applies themselves so that sales keep increasing
progressively according to the defined objectives. To achieve this, changes are implemented and refined.
defects are analyzed results and new techniques are adapted according to specific circumstances
At every moment following the parameters outlined in this article for structuring projects.

In addition to the key elements in the structure of a project, we already know much more about
its application, sections and optimization. Now, it is the turn of organizations to implement them.
practice.