What is a project? Every project has a definite beginning and end. If a “project” does not have an end, it is not an actual project. The Project Management Institute (PMI) defines a project as “a temporary effort to create value through a unique product, service or result”.

• Temporary: A project has a definitive start and end date.
• Unique: The work that is done on a project is new; not the routine work associated with maintenance.
• Team, Budget, Schedule: A project has an assigned team, a documented budget, and an outlined schedule.
• Goal: The project is considered done when the project’s goals have been met.

If you find yourself stuck in an endless project, take some time to evaluate the situation.

• Does the project have an end date? If not, work with the project owner and your project team. Set a realistic end date based upon the scope. Consider the business objectives and the effort needed to complete the project.
• What type of work is being done that is repetitive? Address the root cause so the project team can finish up the project.
• Does the project have an assigned team? If not, work with leadership to have the team set. When core project staff are constantly pulled off to other projects, productivity suffers. This is not good for either the clients or the staff.
• Does the project have a budget? If not, take some time to document what you can for the budget. This could be the allotted staff time, project dollars, or whatever makes sense for the project.
• Does the project have a schedule? If not, compile the project schedule immediately. The project schedule is essential for documenting project status and flagging risks that are turning into critical issues.
• What is the project’s goal? If the goal is not defined, that is the starting point for the project manager. The project’s goal should be the project team’s entire focus. If the project team is working on tasks not aligned with the project’s goal, these can be added to the project scope with a change request. Alternatively, they can be moved to a future project.

Hope these tips help you take a step back so the project can be buttoned up efficiently going forward.

~ Gram

Reference: https://projectmanagementacademy.net/resources/blog/project-management-basics/#basic-concept-1