Projectized Work vs. Operational Work

Projectized Work: Also known as "project-based work," this encompasses all temporary endeavors undertaken to create unique products, services, or results. It includes individual projects, groups of related projects (programs), and collections of projects and programs aligned with strategic objectives (portfolios).

• Temporary: Each project has a definite start and end.
• Unique Deliverables: Each project, program, or portfolio aims to produce specific, unique outcomes or benefits.
• Strategic Focus: Particularly in portfolios, the work aligns with broader organizational strategies.
• Complexity Management: Programs and portfolios handle higher complexity and interdependencies compared to single projects.

Operational Work: Involves ongoing, routine activities necessary to run the business and sustain its operations. It focuses on maintaining efficiency, consistency, and quality in day-to-day processes.

• Continuous and Repetitive: Operations do not have a defined end date and are performed regularly.
• Stable and Predictable: Activities are designed to maintain a stable and predictable output.
• Efficiency-Oriented: Focuses on optimizing processes for efficiency and reliability.

The building block of operational work is a process that takes inputs and uses various tools and techniques to generate outputs.