Question

DEFINING A PROJECT

One of your employees is confused about what is a project and what is a new process/procedure. She has given you a list of changes going on at your facility and asked you to help her understand.   Review the situations described in the Table below. Indicate whether each situation meets the definition of a project or not. Explain to her why it is or is not a project.

Scenario	Project		Why?
	Yes	No
The Assistant Director is ordering the annual supply of medical record folders. He is taking bids from vendors to get the best price.
You are developing a new PI program. Data will be abstracted into an information system with reports being generated monthly.
You are converting your filing system from alphabetic to a terminal digit.
You are installing new cubicles in the HIM department.
The state is updating its electronic birth certification software. It will be rolling out to all of the hospitals over the next six months.
The Information Management plan is being revised. The HIM Special Projects Coordinator has been given sole responsibility for the revision.
You are developing new productivity standards for your HIM functions.
Your Joint Commission survey is scheduled sometime around the end of the year.   You have a lot of work to ensure that everything is in place.
The annual coding update has been sent to you for installation.
The monthly employee newsletter is being written for release next week.			​

Answer 1

Answers:

1st Scenario: Yes

It is a project because it can only be possible for a professional to manage the annual supply of medical record folders. If it seems to be conducted by the others it may create severe problems and may let the program a mess. This is why the decision taken by the Assistant Director to hire the professionals is significant.

2nd Scenario: Yes

This is of course a project because developing a PI program needs proper manifestation of the information cubicles. Connecting database and receiving the data generated in a month basis needed to be properly programmed. It can only be possible for a professional to manage these things. So this is a project.

3rd Scenario: Yes

Converting the filing system from alphabetic to terminal digit can barely be conducted by a layman. An efficient person in capable of conducting this task. Although it is a project but barely meets the critical ethics of a project.

4th Scenario: No

Installing the cubicles although appears to be a huge task which needs proper supervisory, however, it is not sophisticated enough to be called a project (Khozouei, 2012). This is because, a project has to be time worthy and proper pre planning is needed to be conducted. But in order to install cubicles no sophisticated planning is required.

5th Scenario: Yes

This is undoubtedly a project. Chalking out of the planning and strategies are literally essential to analyze organizing of this approach. Maintaining of proper database and data warehouse system, proper monitoring after the installation is, therefore necessary. Technical expertise is also necessary approach needed to be applied in this scenario.

6th Scenario: No

This approach is not a project. In order to revise the planning of information management, proper observation ethics are needed to be maintained. At the same time, which one is needed to be included and which one is not is to be identified. It does not need any proper planning. Therefore, this cannot be identified as a project.

7th Scenario: Yes

In order to develop the productivity standards the observer is needed to identify what can be the shortcomings that may affect the process of development (McCuen, Sayles & Schnering, 2008). At the same time being new productivity approach proper planning, execution and monitoring is needed. Therefore, it is a project.

8th Scenario: No

This is not a project rather monitoring of the ongoing projects those are running at this time may meet to the utmost accomplishment. Having little time in hand, proper supervision is essential in this approach. Planning, however, may be strategized but, it is no project.

9th Scenario: No

Installation of coding cannot be a project which helps in proper development of the project. Installation of the coding may be properly conducted which leads to attain more intensity. The installation program may be conducted by the common people as well.

10th Scenario: No

This is no project because it is to be conducted in monthly basis. Like the other months it is being written which does not expect to be a significant approach of planning. At the same time no strategies and monitoring are needed as well. So it is not a project.