Projectuses

Projectuses is a term used in some project management and product development contexts to describe the set of uses, applications, or value propositions that a project is intended to enable. It emphasizes translating outputs into real-world utility and outcomes, rather than focusing solely on features or deliverables.

Definition and scope: A projectuses framework identifies core uses (how the product or service will be employed), primary user groups, and the performance conditions that indicate success. It often includes functional uses, nonfunctional uses (reliability, security, compliance), and organizational uses (cost savings, risk reduction, process improvement). The concept aims to capture the practical rationale behind a project from multiple stakeholders’ perspectives.

Process: Practitioners begin by eliciting stakeholder needs and envisioned uses, then map these uses to concrete requirements, user journeys, or use cases. They create a uses catalog or use-map that links each use to success metrics, validation criteria, and testing activities. The approach supports alignment across design, development, and QA, and it can be revisited as new uses emerge or priorities shift.

Relation and benefits: Projectuses complements use-case–driven development and outcomes-based planning. Advantages include clearer alignment with user needs, more deliberate prioritization, and easier validation of value delivery. Limitations include potential ambiguity in defining uses and the possibility that uses evolve with time; ongoing review and governance are often required.

Examples: In software, uses might include data ingestion, analysis, and report sharing; in a civil project, uses might include public access, safety enhancements, and operational efficiency.

See also: Use case, Requirements engineering, Outcome mapping, Value proposition.