Projects that interest me the most are short projects; I like projects that allow me to think rather than a project where the tasks are routine. I like going into the lab and not knowing what the result may be and the next steps I need to take. 

I would have to agree with @sam21 as short term projects also provide more instantaneous gratification for the work you have worked on. A lot of projects I've worked on in pharmaceuticals are part of initiatives that take years to be put on the market and many time greater than a lifetime which can make your contributions seem a bit minuscule in comparison. I also like projects that set out to make processes more efficient as more variables are already determined, it's just a matter of how to make it easier in a creative and innovative way.

I agree with both @ridmedta and @sam21, that generally I enjoy shorter projects where the work that you put in can be seen in a relatively short amount of time compared to projects that take a career or longer to finish. As I am going for my PhD, I consider this a medium project that I will break up into smaller pieces to finish. I enjoy working in labs as Sam also does where you never know where the results will lead you and what problems you will encounter along the way. I like how the project continues to evolve as you discover more about your research. In the biomedical industry, do most projects take years to complete and how do you normally break it up to manageable tasks that make you feel as though you have contributed? I also enjoy projects where you work on a team that brainstorm to create products and fix problems, as multiple perspectives can help generate better ideas to complete a project. 

I prefer difficult projects that allow me to learn new skills and to think outside the box. I would also much rather hands on projects compared to one done solely with a computer. As for the time frame, long, drawn out ones allow me to go at a steadier pace so that the final product is of much higher quality. These qualities that describe my “perfect project” stem from how I have always looked at school and extracurriculars. If it’s too easy or not as involved, I don’t get the same level of gratification.

I agree with @cassiem , I think that the projects that interest me the most are difficult and complex projects. Difficult projects allow you to push outside your comfort zone and achieve things you may have thought you were not capable of. Finishing a difficult project can be like finishing a difficult class, you may struggle in the moment, however when you reach the finished result you can look back at all you have accomplished and learned. I also think that these types of projects/classes allow you to grow opposed to simple/easy projects. Being an engineer is being someone who is able to solve problems and the best way to become a better problem solver is to challenge yourself.

Does anyone else think the same way about difficult projects/classes?

Thanks,

Matt

Megaprojects interest me the most. As a research scientist for a major cancer hospital in NYC, I've been a witness and participant in many different smaller projects where few people and/or activities are involved throughout the process. Typically, they consist of a straight line of key elements that lead to one objective. My interest in megaprojects stems from my experience with these smaller ones. It seems as though the small projects would be constituents of a megaproject. It's interesting that many different "minute" projects consisting of their own entity of elements all come together to meet one main objective. In my experience, the life cycle of a small project is predictive and straightforward due to it's parallel chain of elements. However for megaprojects, I wonder if a predictive life cycle is even attainable or if megaprojects take on adaptive or hybrid life cycles given the many different components.

Hi @mmd55 , I completely agree with you. Like yourself, I'm also drawn in to difficult and complex projects. Smaller and more simplistic projects just don't seem as rewarding as one with many different components! It's like taking a class where you're already familiar with the material. Of course you'll do great but it's incomparable to the effort one puts in and the knowledge that's acquired for a course where the material is difficult and new. 

Much like @mmd55 and @cassiem have said, projects that really pique my interests are ones that are complex but have a clear desired goal. By forcing you to think outside the box and look at the project from different angles constantly throughout its duration as different roadblocks or topics come up really promotes growth as you learn about things you previously did not even think about or think had relevance and allows you to improve upon your ability to adapt to the unexpected. These projects also tend to have many different routes with interconnected and branching paths that can lead to the same result. Thinking about it from a PM standpoint, being able to visualize all these possible paths and being able to adapt with my team and going on a different path if need be partway through the project without losing out on the work that was done already is something that would feel incredibly fulfilling once the end result is achieved.

i would prefer a project contain both complex and simple tasks. complex task can make me feel challenged and able to learn something new. but if i keep doing complex tasks it can make me feel nervous and cannot force on the job. that is where simple tasks useful. they can make me feel relaxed and brain can get rest so i can keep forced on the work. also i prefer the project that i can do something in the lab. 

I agree with @cm539! When it comes to a project, I would rather do something that allows me to work with my hands then just solely work on a computer. I also enjoy projects that allow you to be more creative when accomplishing them. In terms of the complexity of a project, like @cm539, it is much more satisfying completing a harder project or task than a simpler one. I feel like there is more value and sense of purpose when you complete something more difficult because you will most likely gain more from the experience and learn a new skill while trying to complete it. 

Projects that allow me to think outside the box motivate me the most. It is rewarding to look at things from different angles and understand different complexities. Whenever I work on this kind of project, I find I learn new things that I am always able to apply in the future. Additionally, projects that allow me to work with individuals that are more experienced than me are very interesting to me. This is because I have found it is very beneficial to be able to learn from others who have gone through similar experiences and have succeeded. Are there any kinds of projects you would not like to work on? If so, what are they and what would defer you from working on it?

I agree with the previous replies that were left. I prefer projects that are novel and require new and innovative ways to figure out the solution. I prefer a project where the answer isn't known and it requires trial and error to find. I believe that a period of failure allows for the gratification and joy of finding the correct answer that much better. I also think that new and innovative new processes also allow for the new change to be brought about by your co-workers and the daily process that you work with. Because of how large the projects typically are, they typically don't have that instant gratification that small short projects with an end sight carry. However, I believe that the slow-filling gratification of a long extended project is a better effect in the long run. 

Projects are part of most graduate-level courses, and I believe they are essential to grasp and understand since they can be a considerable chunk of your grade. The most exciting project to me is about a topic I am familiar with, but my teammates are not. This allows my teammates to come to me if they have any questions at the beginning since I know what the topic is about. Also, I partially agree with sseal98 about long extended projects being more effective in the long run. However, this does not allow the team to familiarize themselves with more topics if they focus on one thing the whole semester. I believe projects should be towards the end of the semester to make the team think on their toes and come up with unique ideas. 

As said by @mmd55 , i do prefer the harder complex projects show you how to be consistent with a project, even if it has setbacks or issues. It teaches you how to stick to a long term goal, even if its unsuccessful. It helps bring a confidence within researches because doing a lot of short projects build a confidence to do a project, but successfully doing a complex long project builds a confidence to accomplish any kind of project. Additionally, although it may seem like it can drag, the end result has more gratification because not only were you able to accomplish a complex project which probably took more creativity, thought, and overall time, but you were able to show consistency which in the long run also looks well if doing resumes or for potential references in the future.