Projectyness: A spectrum of greater or lesser capability

•An activity is not ‘a project’ or ‘not a project’ in itself.•Projects are particular experiences from a specific perspective.•A projecty experience is the result of one's lesser capability to undertake an activity.•Projectyness is a result of the relationship between person/s and an activity.•Degree of projectyness is a function of inherent capability.

Grounding in continental philosophical perspectives, and in alignment with the calls to rethink project management, this article reconceptualises what is a project. This conceptual paper uses the theoretical concepts of Heidegger, Merleau-Ponty, and Dawkins as an interpretative lens to consider project work. The findings are that no activity is innately a project. A project is an experience that arises when there is a lack of inherent capability to undertake the activity. It is associated with a projecty experience: spikiness, roughness, and emotional ups and downs. Furthermore, it is found that there is no point of clear distinction between operational and project work: there is a projectyness spectrum. Based on these findings, we identify that project managing is about managing a lack of inherent capability and managing multiple people's experience (not a single detached activity). Furthermore, the point at which to adopt project management techniques is not definitive.

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