Difference between Project and product and project scope and product scope

Project versus Product In lifecycle terms, the idea of building, creating or producing a product is conceived, then considered for funding. When approved it becomes in investment that needs be managed. While you are creating the product you are in the project lifecycle. Once the product is built then the project lifecycle ends, but the product's life continues. This phase of the product's life is refered to as Steady State or Operations & Maintenance. This may be 1-2 years, or 50 years. Dept of Defence refers to the entire product life, from conception to demise as a "Program." Don't confuse this with PMI's definition of Program Management (a group of related projects). Project Scope versus Product Scope From the scenarion I describe above, Project Scope covers the definition and management of the project phase in hte product's life. This includes cost, schedule, quality, etc. that PMBOK describes. Product Scope defines the specifications of the item that was created, including how it will be used, under what conditions it should provide service/function, and the cost to own and operate it. by Friar