Analyze the similarities across various definitions of projects and project management and identify where deviations occur.

To analyze the similarities across various definitions of projects and project management and identify where deviations occur, we can follow these steps:

1. Collect Various Definitions: The first step is to gather various definitions of projects and project management from different sources. These sources could be textbooks, scholarly articles, professional organizations like the Project Management Institute (PMI), and online resources.

2. Identify Common Elements: Once we have a collection of definitions, we can start identifying common elements. Most definitions of a project will likely include elements such as a specific goal, a defined start and end, a unique set of operations, and the creation of a unique product or service. Similarly, project management definitions will likely include elements like planning, organizing, securing, and managing resources to achieve specific goals.

3. Identify Differences: After identifying the common elements, we can then look for differences or deviations in the definitions. These could be in the form of additional elements present in some definitions but not others, or different interpretations of the same element. For example, some definitions might view a project as a one-time effort, while others might allow for repetition. Similarly, some definitions of project management might emphasize the role of the project manager more than others.

4. Analyze the Reasons for Deviations: The final step is to analyze the reasons for these deviations. These could be due to different perspectives (e.g., academic vs. professional), different focuses (e.g., process-oriented vs. people-oriented), or different contexts (e.g., different industries or types of projects).

By following these steps, we can gain a comprehensive understanding of the similarities and differences across various definitions of projects and project management.