Project Management

http://www.brighthubpm.com/project-planning/65203-the-project-life-cycle/

An Overview of the Project Life Cycle

written by: Ronda Bowen • edited by: Michele McDonough • updated: 10/21/2013

Yes, just like people, projects have life cycles. Read about the different phases of a project life cycle and how to implement them in your team.

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Project Life Cycle Overview

The project management life cycle consists of five process groups (often referred to as phases): Initiation, Planning, Execution, Control, and Closure. It is important not to skip any of these stages if you want to keep your project from failing. For example, if you skip from initiation to execution without effectively planning the project, mistakes can be made, the project will be too disorganized, and it will fall apart. Likewise, if you, like many project managers skip the closure phase of the project management life cycle, you could risk making similar mistakes in future projects, not properly sealing the project, and more.

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Life Cycle Phase I: Initiation of the Project

Before you can get to planning a project, the project has to be initiated. Project initiation consists of the following steps:

1. Create a document outlining the product or project. This initial document is informal compared to the project charter. It simply describes what will be created.

2. A project feasibility report will need to be completed. Before investing too much time in a project, you must check to see whether or not it is feasible that you will be able to complete the project, product, or process with the available resources.

3. Once you have determined the project is feasible, then a project manager and team will be assigned to the project.

4. The project scope statement is the next deliverable. This deliverable outlines what will be done (the project scope), how it will be done, and why it will be done.

5. Finally, a project charter is created that will...