The phases of a project life cycle
Regardless of what kind of project you’re planning, every project goes through the same stages. Although each project will require its own set of unique processes and tasks, they all follow a similar framework. There’s always a beginning, a middle, and an end. This is called the project lifecycle.
The project lifecycle provides predictability and gives the project manager a way to tackle tasks in distinct phases. In this section, we’ll explain what you need to know about each phase.
Further Reading:
blog post
Best Practices for Your Project Management Initiation Phaseblog post
7 Stakeholders to Consult Before Starting a New ProjectFurther Reading:
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Project Management Basics: 6 Steps to a Foolproof Project Planinfographic
10 Steps to a Kickass Kickoff Meetingblog post
How 5 PM Experts Create a Fail-Safe Project Management PlanThe execution phase
This stage is where the bulk of the project happens. Deliverables are built to make sure the project is meeting requirements. This is where most of the time, money, and people are pulled into the project.
As previously mentioned, a kickoff meeting is held to mark the official start of the execution phase. A kickoff meeting agenda might look something like this:
- Introductions: Who’s who?
- Project background: Why are you doing this project? What are the goals?
- Project scope: What kind of work is involved?
- Project plan: What does the roadmap look like?
- Roles: Who will be responsible for which elements of the project?
- Communication: What kind of communication channels will be used? What kind of meetings or status reports should your team expect?
- Tools: Which tools will be used to complete the project, and how will they be used?
- Next steps: What are the immediate action items that need to be completed?
- Q&A: Open the floor for any questions
Further Reading:
blog post
The Chemistry Behind Every Great Project Kickoffblog post
The Right Way to Empower Your Team With Flexible Hours and Remote Workblog post
The Art of the Handoff: What Soccer’s Tiki-Taka Teaches Us About Teamworkblog post
Joelle Kaufman’s Secrets to Leading a Successful TeamThe controlling and monitoring phase
This phase happens in tandem with the execution phase. As the project moves forward, the project manager must make sure all moving parts are seamlessly headed in the right direction. If adjustments to the project plan need to be made due to unforeseen circumstances or a change in direction, they may happen here.
During the controlling and monitoring phase, project managers may have to do any of the following:
- Manage resources
- Monitor project performance
- Risk management
- Perform status meetings and reports
- Update project schedule
- Modify project plans
At the end of this phase, all the agreed project deliverables should be completed and accepted by the customer.
Further Reading:
infographic
What Is Resource Management and Why Is It Important?blog post
blog post
Stop Projects From Derailing With Wrike’s New Report Templatesebook
Resource Management GuideProject closure
The closing phase is a critical step in the project management life cycle. It signals the official end of the project and provides a period for reflection, wrap-up, and organization of materials.
Project managers can:
- Take inventory of all deliverables
- Tie up any loose ends
- Hand the project off to the client or the team that will be managing the project’s day-to-day operations
- Perform a post-mortem to discuss and document any learnings from the project
- Organize all project documents in a centralized location
- Communicate the success of the project to stakeholders and executives
- Celebrate project completion and acknowledge team members
Now that you understand each stage in the project life cycle, choosing the right project management tool for you and your team is critical to project success. Read on for best practices when choosing a tool that fits your needs, and a guide to the features you should consider when assessing a project management software.
For more information on the project lifecycle, check out our video below:
Project Management MethodologiesProject Management Software