Product vs. Project
Understanding the fundamental difference between building products and executing projects
Your Progress
Section 1 of 5Two Different Mindsets
Many organizations confuse projects and products, applying project management thinking to product development. This fundamental misunderstanding leads to failed products and frustrated teams.
Project
A temporary endeavor with a defined beginning, end, and specific deliverables
- • Fixed timeline and scope
- • Clear success criteria
- • Team disbands after completion
- • Example: Building a bridge
Product
An ongoing solution that evolves based on user needs and market changes
- • Continuous lifecycle
- • Evolving success metrics
- • Persistent team ownership
- • Example: Building Spotify
Compare Timelines
Start
Day 1Project kickoff with clear end date
Build
Months 1-6Development phase with fixed scope
Launch
Month 6Delivery and handoff
End
Month 6Project complete, team disbanded
⏱️ Projects have a clear end point when deliverables are complete
Test Your Understanding
Project or Product?
For each characteristic, decide if it describes a project or a product:
Has a fixed end date
Success measured by user outcomes
Scope defined upfront and fixed
Team stays together long-term
Changes are scope creep
Built for continuous learning
Key Takeaways
- •Projects have clear endpoints; products are ongoing journeys
- •Project success is measured by delivery; product success by user outcomes
- •Projects fix scope upfront; products embrace change and learning
- •Applying project thinking to products leads to failure