Written by Coursera • Updated on Aug 11, 2022 Show
The project management lifecycle consists of four steps: initiating, planning, executing, and closing. What is the project management lifecycle?The project management lifecycle is a step-by-step framework of best practices used to shepherd a project from its beginning to its end. It provides project managers a structured way to create, execute, and finish a project. This project management process generally includes four phases: initiating, planning, executing, and closing. Some may also include a fifth “monitoring and controlling” phase between the executing and closing stages. By following each step, a project team increases the chance of achieving its goals. The project management lifecycle provides projects with structure and tools to ensure they have the best chance of being successful. As a project manager, it’s a process you’ll want to know well. Read more: What Does a Project Manager Do? A Career Guide The Project Management Lifecycle: 4 Steps1. InitiatingIn the initiation phase, you’ll define the project. You’ll sort out the project goals, scope, and resources of the project, and what roles are needed on the team. Clarifying what stakeholders expect out of the project, and what exactly the project is aiming to achieve (and why) will give the project and team clear direction. This is a crucial phase to the project’s success. Without clarity around what needs to be achieved and why, the project runs the risk of not accomplishing the end goals and meeting the expectations of stakeholders. Some steps in the initiation phase include:
Tools and documents used in the initiation phase can include:
professional certificate Google Project Management:Start your path to a career in project management. In this program, you’ll learn in-demand skills that will have you job-ready in less than six months. No degree or experience is required. 4.8 (55,630 ratings) 766,915 already enrolled BEGINNER level Average time: 6 month(s) Learn at your own pace Skills you'll build: Organizational Culture, Career Development, Strategic Thinking, Change Management, Project Management, Stakeholder Management, Business Writing, Project Charter, Project Planning, Risk Management, Task Estimation, Procurement, Quality Management, Project Execution, Coaching, Influencing, Agile Management, Problem Solving, Scrum, Effective Communication 2. PlanningIn the planning phase, you’ll determine the steps to actually achieve the project goals—the “how” of completing a project. You’ll establish budgets, timelines, and milestones, and source materials and necessary documents. This step also involves calculating and predicting risk, putting change processes into place, and outlining communication protocols. If the initiation phase is assembling your troops, the planning phase is deciding what to do with them. The planning phase can include the following steps:
Tools you might use in a this phase include:
Read more: How to Manage Project Risk: A 5-Step Guide 3. Execute and complete tasksExecuting a project means putting your plan into action and keeping the team on track. Generally this means tracking and measuring progress, managing quality, mitigating risk, managing the budget, and using data to inform your decisions. Specific steps might include:
Some tools you might use include:
4. Close projectsIn the closing phase of the project management lifecycle, you’ll conclude project activities, turn the finished product or service over to its new owners, and assess the things that went well and didn’t go so well. It’ll also be a time to celebrate your hard work. Steps in the closing phase can include:
Tools used in the closing phase include:
The following video provides an overview of the project management lifecycle. This is a preview of the Google Project Management Professional Certification. An overview of the project management lifecyle. Getting started in project managementMastering all steps of the project management lifecycle is an ongoing process that will continue throughout your career. Learning the formal aspects—the tools, steps, and vocabulary used in the process—can set you up for success in your beginning days as a project manager. If you’re interested in deepening your knowledge of project management, consider the Google Project Management: Professional Certificate to learn job-ready project management skills at your own pace. Related articles
Written by Coursera • Updated on Aug 11, 2022 This content has been made available for informational purposes only. Learners are advised to conduct additional research to ensure that courses and other credentials pursued meet their personal, professional, and financial goals. When a project starts with a high priority but it is Cancelled because its rank erodes?4) When a project starts as a high priority but its rank erodes or crashes during its project life cycle resulting in closure of the project is an example of changed priority project closure.
At what level of the project management maturity model does optimization of the project management take place?Level 5: Optimizing Process
“Processes are in place and actively used to improve project management activities.
When the project may be completed early with some parts of the project eliminated this is considered?A project closure where the project is completed early with some parts of the project eliminated would be classified as project failure. 72.
What is it called when a project is completed and turned over to its stakeholders?Extinction occurs when project work is completed and accepted by its stakeholders. Addition occurs when projects evolve into ongoing operations, and integration occurs when resources are distributed to other areas of an organization.
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