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The project manager and project team have one shared goal: to carry out the work of the project for the purpose of meeting the project’s objectives. Every project has a beginning, a middle period during which activities move the project toward completion, and an ending (either successful or unsuccessful).
A standard project typically has the following five major phases (each with its own agenda of tasks and issues):
During the initiation phase, the project objective or need is identified, which is usually done through a business case, as we addressed in the past lesson. Once a company decides to move forward with a project, it will create detailed documents and obtain approval to start the project, which we’ll address in the next lesson. Once the approval is given, the project then moves on to the planning phase.
The planning phase of the project is the plan that details the specifics of the project, like budget and timeline. Without a plan, you have no idea if you are doing okay and have no control. You need to know this: How long will it take? How much will it cost? What must be done? While some of this might have been done during the initiation phase when the business case was created, now is when project managers get into much more detail.
In project management, project planning means breaking large tasks down into smaller, more easily managed chunks, which can produce a more realistic timeline.
The planning phase is where the project solution is further developed in as much detail as possible and the steps necessary to meet the project’s objective are planned. In this phase, the team identifies all of the work to be done. The project’s tasks and resource requirements are identified, along with the strategy for producing them. A project plan is a detailed road map that outlines how the project will be executed, monitored, and completed. We will address the details to consider in this phase later in the course.
In the execution phase, work begins on implementing the project plan. This means putting it into action as soon as possible.
During the execution phase, project managers should focus on a few things. They should assign tasks to the appropriate team members and provide them with the necessary guidance and explanation for completing them. Therefore, during this phase, the project plan is put into motion and the work of the project is performed. It is important to maintain control and communicate as needed during this phase.
While the execution phase is happening, project managers will continually monitor and regulate the progress on the project and make adjustments as needed. This is called the monitoring and controlling phase. The goal in this phase is to keep the project on track, on budget, and on time. Some of the activities involved in this phase include:
The execution phase is where the team gets the actual work done, while the monitoring and controlling phase runs alongside it to make sure everything stays on track, on time, and on budget.
During the closing phase of the life cycle, the emphasis is on releasing the final deliverable to the customer, handing over project documentation to the business, terminating supplier contracts, releasing project resources, and communicating the closure of the project to all stakeholders.
Now that you have an understanding of all five life cycle phases, let’s look at a simple example. Suppose you want to remodel your bathroom. There are many plans and decisions that need to be made, such as what kind of shower is wanted, what flooring will be used, and the type of bathroom vanity, among many others. Here is how you might go through each of the phases.
| Life Cycle Phase Examples | |
|---|---|
| Life Cycle Phases | Case Example |
| Initiation phase |
During this phase, you will consider (although maybe not with a formal business case, since this is your home) the cost and benefit you expect to get when you remodel the bathroom. During this phase, you will also put together a rough budget and identify exactly what changes you want to make to the bathroom, for example, getting rid of a tub and putting in a shower instead. You will also get formal approvals during this stage; in this example, this may include getting your significant other or partner to agree to the project. |
| Planning phase |
This is the phase where you will detail exactly how the remodel will be done. You will define the tasks and break down the work (demolition of the shower, removal of the current vanity, etc.). In this phase, you will also decide who will do what. Perhaps, you will decide to lay the tile yourself but hire a contractor to work on the shower and a plumber for the piping work. You will also get into more detail and research the costs of the various supplies you will need. |
| Execution phase | This is where the work will begin! Your contractors will begin demolition, and you will coordinate the delivery of supplies and do the work, solving issues as they come up. |
| Monitoring and controlling phase | This is the phase where you will track your project. Are some items more expensive than expected? Are there other costs you can cut so you stay on budget? Is your project on schedule? If not, you may want to make adjustments to ensure the project is on schedule, such as choosing a bathroom vanity that has a quicker delivery time. |
| Closing phase | The project is complete! Here, you’ll pay your contractors, obtain any needed final inspections (if needed), and clean up the bathroom of construction debris. |
So far, our focus when addressing the life cycle phases has been on the Waterfall methodology. Let’s now look at how the Agile method might vary a bit from this linear process. If you recall, Waterfall is more of a step-by-step process, where everything is planned out at the start. Agile is more iterative and less planned and can be used for projects that need more flexibility.
| Project Life Cycle Phase | Waterfall Approach | Agile Approach |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Initiation | The project is defined once at the start. The business case and feasibility are thoroughly analyzed. | The vision is defined, but the scope is flexible. High-level goals are set, but detailed planning evolves over time. |
| 2. Planning | It involves comprehensive, detailed up-front planning. Elements, such as the timeline, of the project are fixed. | It involves iterative planning. Only the first sprint or a few iterations are planned in detail. Plans evolve based on feedback. |
| 3. Execution | It has sequential phases (design → build → test → deliver). Changes are difficult and costly. | It involves incremental development in short cycles (sprints) and continuous delivery of working parts of the product. |
| 4. Monitoring & Controlling | Progress is measured against the original plan. Deviations are corrected to bring the project back on track and in line with what was developed in the planning phase. | Continuous monitoring occurs with frequent reviews (e.g., daily stand-ups and sprint reviews). Adaptation is encouraged. |
| 5. Closing | The final product is delivered at the end. Customer feedback typically comes after the project is fully complete. | Deliverables are completed and accepted incrementally. Debriefs occur after each iteration/sprint and at final delivery. |
Source: THIS CONTENT HAS BEEN ADAPTED FROM PRESSBOOKS "NSCC PROJECT MANAGEMENT” BY ADRIENNE WATT. ACCESS FOR FREE AT https://pressbooks.atlanticoer-relatlantique.ca/projectmanagement/ LICENSE: CREATIVE COMMONS ATTRIBUTION 4.0 INTERNATIONAL
