Final answer:
A project comprises a series of unique and interconnected tasks or phases, completed in a sequence to achieve the project's objective.
Step-by-step explanation:
A project is carried out through a set of tasks or phases, a number of nonrepetitive activities that need to be accomplished in a certain sequence in order to achieve the project objective. In project management, these tasks are typically considered unique and are structured in a way that once they are completed, they are not repeated within the same project. Each task is critical to the overall success and is interconnected with other tasks.
An important methodology used in project planning and execution is known as the engineering design process, which involves completing these project tasks or phases in repeated cycles until a desired result is achieved.
Breaking down a project into smaller tasks is a heuristic or strategy that makes the management and completion of the overall objective more manageable. This is similar to students tackling a large research project by taking it step by step - from brainstorming to proofreading.
Moreover, within the engineering and product development world, there is often a cycle that involves prototyping, testing, and refinement. This can lead to multiple iterations as new characteristics of the design are uncovered during testing.
Task deadlines in project management are of utmost importance, which is reflected in the SMART criteria where 'A' stands for Achievable and 'T' stands for Time-bound, emphasizing realistic and deadline-oriented goal setting.