A Guide to the Project Management Life Cycle

Five Process Groups

When you’re running a project, it’s important to make sure that you progress through all five stages of the project life cycle, from initiation to closing. Each portion of the life cycle has its own process and set of deliverables. For example, during the initiation phase, project managers, stakeholders, and team members will be working on the project proposal and scope statement. During the closing phase, project managers will work on the closing documents and the process of putting the project to bed.

Life Cycle Help

While it’s easy to see how the different parts work individually, sometimes it can be confusing to understand how the different phases flow together. Is the project a linear thing or does it require that sometimes project teams return to the planning phase? Sometimes, if there’s a change or something big happens, it’s necessary to change the scope and then carefully manage the change after that.

• Overview of the Project Life Cycle
• The Five Steps in the Life Cycle of the Project
• What PMI Has to Say About the Project Life Cycle
• The Way the Project Proposal Works During Different Stages of the Project Life Cycle
• Learn About Life Cycle Costing
• Risk Management Throughout the Project Life Cycle
• Are There Really Seven and Not Five Phases of the Project LIfe Cycle?
• Keys to Managing Project Change

Initiation

During the initiation phase, the project manager and project team put together their thoughts for running a successful project. Deliverables produced during this phase include an agreement on the project scope statement. The project scope statement outlines the boundaries and relevant stakeholders involved in a project. This document is created when the project manager meets with the stakeholders and sponsors for the project and the project is outlined. Once the scope is nailed down, if need be, a project proposal is submitted for approval. If approved, or not needed, then the team works together to create a project charter.

• Guide to the Initiation Process Group
• Learn About the PMBOK Approach to the Initiation Phase
• The Project Initiation Phase Made Understandable
• Learn About the Differences Between Scope Statements and Project Charters
• Why You Shouldn’t Skip Project Initiation Steps
• Using a Project Initiation Checklist Can Make the Process Easier
• Special Considerations for Initiation Roles in Project Management
• Tools to Help You Manage Scope and Scope Change in Your Projects

Planning

Once you’ve initiated the project and you’ve gotten the approval for beginning the project, it’s time to carefully plan out the project. This is the phase that most people think about when they start thinking about project management. Planning the project involves creating work breakdown structures to decompose the project into component parts, assigning action items to individuals, and assessing the risks involved with the project’s execution. Proper project planning will help ensure a successful project and will minimize the chances that your project will fail.

• Things to Keep in Mind When Moving Into the Planning Phase of Your Project
• Estimating as Part of the Project Planning Process
• Using Careful Project Planning as a Starting Point for Estimating Cost in Your Project
• The Roadmap to Guide Your Project Planning Process
• What Clear Planning Will Do for Your Project
• Templates to Make Planning Projects Much Easier
• Setting Objectives During the Project Planning Process
• Elements of Putting Together a Successful Project Plan
• Basic Project Plan Formatting Tips
• Tools to Help You With the Project Planning Process

Execution

No, execution in project management doesn’t involve standing in front of a group of guns all pointed toward you. When you’re executing the project, you’re carrying out the pre-defined tasks for that project. The project execution process group is the phase during which all of the aspects that you have planned out carefully will be carried out. During this phase of the project, you will be making heavy use of the project plan and of any project tracking tools you have selected.

• Overview of the Project Execution Phase
• What Elements Does Your Project Execution Plan Need?
• Problems That May Crop Up During the Execution Phase of Your Project
• Issues Cropping Up in Software Execution Phases
• Carry Your IT Project Execution Phase Out With Success
• Project Tracking Forms That Will Make Your Life Easier
• Freeware Project Tracking Apps to Help You Carry Out Project Execution
• Twelve Top Project Tracking Tools

Monitoring

Monitoring your project is a vital part of the project life cycle. When you’re monitoring your project, you’re checking to see whether the various milestones are being met, what the quality of work being preformed is like, and the progress being made by the team as a whole.

During the monitoring phase of your project, you will be carefully overseeing what is going on in the project. Successful monitoring phases rely upon good communication, so it’s vital that you have an excellent communication plan in place. During the monitoring phase, if you find out that something is not working for your team, it may become necessary to change the project. Thus you’ll also need to be aware of change management methods.

• Your Guide to Understanding the Monitoring and Control Process in Project Management
• Looking at the Monitor and Control Phase of Your Project
• Tools Used in the Six Sigma Monitoring Process
• The How-To of Conducting a Project Audit
• Learn the Proper Protocol for Conducting Your Project’s Audit
• Writing an Effective Project Status Report
• Make Sure You’re Familiar With These Project Reports
• Creating a Change Management Plan
• Creating a Communication Plan

Closing

Closing your project is an oft-overlooked phase of project management. Many people simply complete the execution and monitoring steps in a project, and then they move on to the next project. However, properly closing projects is a vital part of running a successful project. During the closing phase, files are archived (making room for new projects), closing forms are filled out, and lessons are recorded in order to make the next project run more smoothly.

• Learn What’s Involved With the Project Closing Phase in Your Project
• Ten Steps for Closing Your Project Smoothly
• Tips for Your Project Closing Statement
• What Are the Requirements for Closing Your Project Out?
• Key Activities for Closing Out Your Project
• Project Closure Report Form to Help You Close Out Your Projects
• A Sign-Off Template for Closing Your Project Out
• What Your Project Close Out Report Needs to Include
• Knowing the Right Time to Terminate Your Project Is Vital

References

• Monitor Image courtesy of Wikimedia Commons
• Life Cycle image courtesy of Wikimedia Commons