The Project Life Cycle (Phases) : BC Open Textbooks

The document discusses the typical phases of a project life cycle: initiation, planning, implementation, and closing. During initiation, the project need is identified and a solution proposed. Planning further develops the solution and creates a project plan. Implementation involves executing the project plan and monitoring progress. Closing delivers final products, ends contracts, and conducts a lessons learned review. An example describes applying these phases to a large construction project in a remote location.

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The Project Life Cycle (Phases) : BC Open Textbooks

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3/17/2017 3.

TheProjectLifeCycle(Phases)|ProjectManagement

BC OPEN TEXTBOOKS Project Management

Adrienne Watt

3. The Project Life Cycle (Phases)

Adrienne Watt

https://opentextbc.ca/projectmanagement/chapter/chapter3theprojectlifecyclephasesproje 1/5
3/17/2017 3.TheProjectLifeCycle(Phases)|ProjectManagement

Theprojectmanagerandprojectteamhaveonesharedgoal:tocarryouttheworkofthep
theprojectsobjectives.Everyprojecthasabeginning,amiddleperiodduringwhichactiv
completion,andanending(eithersuccessfulorunsuccessful).Astandardprojecttypicall
phases(eachwithitsownagendaoftasksandissues):initiation,planning,implementatio
phasesrepresentthepathaprojecttakesfromthebeginningtoitsendandaregenerallyre

Initiation Phase

Duringthefirstofthesephases,theinitiationphase,theprojectobjectiveorneedisidenti
oropportunity.Anappropriateresponsetotheneedisdocumentedinabusinesscasewith
feasibilitystudyisconductedtoinvestigatewhethereachoptionaddressestheprojectobj
solutionisdetermined.Issuesoffeasibility(canwedotheproject?)andjustification(s
addressed.

Oncetherecommendedsolutionisapproved,aprojectisinitiatedtodelivertheapproved
appointed.Themajordeliverablesandtheparticipatingworkgroupsareidentified,andth
Approvalisthensoughtbytheprojectmanagertomoveontothedetailedplanningphase.

Planning Phase

Thenextphase,theplanningphase,iswheretheprojectsolutionisfurtherdevelopedina
stepsnecessarytomeettheprojectsobjectiveareplanned.Inthisstep,theteamidentifies
projectstasksandresourcerequirementsareidentified,alongwiththestrategyforproduc

scopemanagement.Aprojectplaniscreatedoutliningtheactivities,tasks,dependencie
managercoordinatesthepreparationofaprojectbudgetbyprovidingcostestimatesforth
costs.Thebudgetisusedtomonitorandcontrolcostexpendituresduringprojectimpleme

Oncetheprojectteamhasidentifiedthework,preparedtheschedule,andestimatedtheco
componentsoftheplanningprocessarecomplete.Thisisanexcellenttimetoidentifyand
mightposeathreattothesuccessfulcompletionoftheproject.Thisiscalledriskmanage
threatpotentialproblemsareidentifiedalongwiththeactionthatistobetakenoneachh
toreducetheprobabilitythattheproblemwilloccurortoreducetheimpactontheprojec
timetoidentifyallprojectstakeholdersandestablishacommunicationplandescribingthe
deliverymethodtobeusedtokeepthestakeholdersinformed.

Finally,youwillwanttodocumentaqualityplan,providingqualitytargets,assurance,an

https://opentextbc.ca/projectmanagement/chapter/chapter3theprojectlifecyclephasesproje 2/5
3/17/2017 3.TheProjectLifeCycle(Phases)|ProjectManagement

Finally,youwillwanttodocumentaqualityplan,providingqualitytargets,assurance,an
acceptanceplan,listingthecriteriatobemettogaincustomeracceptance.Atthispoint,th
indetailandisreadytobeexecuted.

Implementation (Execution) Phase

Duringthethirdphase,theimplementationphase,theprojectplanisputintomotionand
performed.Itisimportanttomaintaincontrolandcommunicateasneededduringimplem
monitoredandappropriateadjustmentsaremadeandrecordedasvariancesfromtheorigi
managerspendsmostofthetimeinthisstep.Duringprojectimplementation,peoplearec
informationisbeingreportedthroughregularteammeetings.Theprojectmanagerusesth

overthedirectionoftheprojectbycomparingtheprogressreportswiththeprojectplanto
projectactivitiesandtakecorrectiveactionasneeded.Thefirstcourseofactionshouldal
course(i.e.,toreturnittotheoriginalplan).Ifthatcannothappen,theteamshouldrecord
andrecordandpublishmodificationstotheplan.Throughoutthisstep,projectsponsorsa
keptinformedoftheprojectsstatusaccordingtotheagreedonfrequencyandformatofc
updatedandpublishedonaregularbasis.

Statusreportsshouldalwaysemphasizetheanticipatedendpointintermsofcost,schedul
projectdeliverableproducedshouldbereviewedforqualityandmeasuredagainsttheacc
deliverableshavebeenproducedandthecustomerhasacceptedthefinalsolution,thepro

Closing Phase

Duringthefinalclosure,orcompletionphase,theemphasisisonreleasingthefinaldelive
overprojectdocumentationtothebusiness,terminatingsuppliercontracts,releasingproje
theclosureoftheprojecttoallstakeholders.Thelastremainingstepistoconductlessons
wentwellandwhatdidnt.Throughthistypeofanalysis,thewisdomofexperienceistran
organization,whichwillhelpfutureprojectteams.

Example: Project Phases on a Large Multinational Project

AU.S.constructioncompanywonacontracttodesignandbuildthefirstcoppermineinn
existinginfrastructureforeithertheminingindustryorlargeconstructionprojectsinthisp
initiationphaseoftheproject,theprojectmanagerfocusedondefiningandfindingaproj

https://opentextbc.ca/projectmanagement/chapter/chapter3theprojectlifecyclephasesproje 3/5
3/17/2017 3.TheProjectLifeCycle(Phases)|ProjectManagement

knowledge,skills,andexperiencetomanagealargecomplexprojectinaremoteareaoft
threeoffices.OnewasinChile,wherelargeminingconstructionprojectinfrastructureexi
Argentina.OnewasinBuenosAriestoestablishrelationshipsandArgentinianexpertise,
thelargesttownclosetotheminesite.Withofficesinplace,theprojectstartupteambeg
gettingworkdone,acquiringtheappropriatepermits,anddevelopingrelationshipswithC

Duringtheplanningphase,theprojectteamdevelopedanintegratedprojectschedulethat
design,procurement,andconstructionteams.Theprojectcontrolsteamalsodevelopeda
projectteamtotrackprojectexpendituresagainsttheexpectedexpenses.Theprojectdesi
designanddevelopeddetaileddrawingsforusebytheprocurementteam.Theprocureme
orderingequipmentandmaterialsfortheconstructionteamdeveloplaborprojectionsre
setuptheconstructionsite.Althoughplanningisaneverendingprocessonaproject,the
developingsufficientdetailstoallowvariouspartsoftheprojectteamtocoordinatetheir
managementteamtomakeprioritydecisions.

Theimplementationphaserepresentstheworkdonetomeettherequirementsofthescope
Duringtheimplementationphase,theprojectteamaccomplishedtheworkdefinedinthe
theprojectfactorschanged.Equipmentandmaterialsweredeliveredtotheworksite,labo
constructionsitewasbuilt,andalltheconstructionactivities,fromthearrivalofthefirstd
lightswitch,wereaccomplished.

Thecloseoutphaseincludedturningoverthenewlyconstructedplanttotheoperationstea
fewremainingconstructionitemswasdevelopedandthoseitemscompleted.Theofficein
inBuenosAriesarchivedalltheprojectdocuments,andtheChileanofficewasalreadyw
accountingbookswerereconciledandclosed,finalreportswrittenanddistributed,andth
project.

Attribution

ThischapterofProjectManagementisaderivativecopyofProjectManagement
licensedunderCreativeCommonsAttribution3.0UnportedandProjectManagementFro
Darnall,JohnPreston,EasternMichiganUniversitylicensedunderCreativeCommonsAt

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3/17/2017 3.TheProjectLifeCycle(Phases)|ProjectManagement

3. The Project Life Cycle (Phases) by Adrienne Watt is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License, except where otherwise noted.