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What is the difference in task and activity in project management?

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Question added by ANWAR ALI
Date Posted: 2016/01/03

"Task" The smallest identifiable and essential piece of a job that serves as a unit of work, and as a means of differentiating between the various components of a project.

 

"Activity" -  Smallest unit of work having four characteristics:

(1) definite duration, (2) logic relationships with other activities in the project, (3) resource consumption, and (4) an associated cost.

Often used as an alternative term for task.

 

Ramendra Sunder Sinha PMP
by Ramendra Sunder Sinha PMP , DGM Planning , Gaur Sons Limited

As per PMBOK, an activity is the element in the last level to which the WBS is broken down and is used to prepare the network diagram to determine the resources allocation, schedule and cost. 

 

Task is work(s) required to complete the activity which is assigned to the team members. 

 

Idris Thomas
by Idris Thomas , Project and Property Manager , Ethical Property Company Ltd

I think that a 'task' is something that is undertaken as part of a more lengthy 'activity'. For example, a task may be to write a section of code which fits within the software that the whole team is writing. One person completes a task, whilst the team is undertaking an activity.

Heba Hassanin
by Heba Hassanin , Programme Administrative Assistant , World Health Organization - Egypt

a task : is a mission to be accomplished through certain procedures & has a direct outcome.

an activity : is an operational action to complete a task or any job requirement.

Yaqoub Alomar
by Yaqoub Alomar , Civil Engineer , Al-Zubeir municipality

Activity -- Task or set of tasks carried out in order to create a deliverable.

Task should be thought of as a subset of an activity.

Edelweiss Alunday
by Edelweiss Alunday , Finance Manager Secretary/ DC , United Al Saqer Group - Finance

Task is a duties and responsibility assigned by the employer.

Activity is happening or being done in daily operation.

 

Mahmud Dabbour
by Mahmud Dabbour , Property Consultant & Advisor , Freelance

Actually both are the same but task is a shorter  activity , while activity can go on for long.

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