Customer Projects are typically initiated as a result of a request for quotation from a customer, or by a customer contract. In these projects the customer is easily identified and to a large extent present in the project. The customer decides on functional and quality requirements on the project outcome.

The customer's needs and requirements are thoroughly analyzed on an iterative basis. The interpretation of the customer's requirements that has been made in the project is verified frequently with the customer to ensure agreement.

In customer order projects, the project steering function includes the managers in the performing organization who will act as internal stakeholders. As a complement to the customer's requirements, these managers formulate the organization's requirements on the project regarding profitability, performance quality and added value. These requirements are weighed against the requirements on customer satisfaction.

The aim of an internal project is to achieve a specific change within the organization related to its performance or its organizational structure. An internal project is funded by a manager in the performing organization (in most cases the project sponsor). Also the end-users of the project outcome will be found within the performing organization. This means that the organization and the project sponsor will act as primary stakeholders when the requirements on the project outcome are formulated.

However, in order to ensure that all project members are business-focused also in an internal project, the long-term effects of the project and its outcome should be related to the needs of the organization's customers. The customers' requirements can be related to the organization's performance and efficiency.

The long-term perspective on the project outcome is important also for internal projects. After the project has been completed, the effects of the project and its outcome should be evaluated and compared with what was expected when the project was initiated.