What is the difference between a project vs operations work?

If the work is recurring, ongoing, with no defined end, then you might have an operational process, and not a project.

For example: The development of a new application is a project and providing support to users of that application is operations.

Examples of Operations or Maintenance activities:

• Minor modification or an upgrade to an existing process or program, for instance:
  • Cashnet interface upgrade
  • PeopleSoft regular updates
• Systems patching
• Single person’s office moves
• Single room’s AV equipment refresh