What is the life cycle of a project like?

  • Jul 26, 2021
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The Life cycle of a project It is the sequence of the phases of the development or execution of a project from its inception to its closure. In other words, they are the progress steps of the project that is carried out through the execution of the planned stages.

The life cycle of a project is the organization of phases or stages to be met to achieve the objective set in the design to be applied. A phase is the set of project activities that are related to each other and that usually result in a partial or complete product.

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This cycle includes groups of processes that in turn are made up of clearly defined and very specific tasks or activities that ensure the achievement of the objective of the project. In other words, what is expected to be obtained as a result of its application.

A project is complex and can be broken down into other independent tasks with respect to their order. It is executed temporarily, and its purpose is to achieve a product, a unique result or a service. A project is much more than the sum of the phases that make up its life cycle.

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In this article you will find:

Structure of the life cycle of a project.

Life cycle of a project

In order to facilitate and control the management of a project, it is structured in phases or stages that can be followed and supervised. In this structure, defined by the Project Director, the link between the beginning and the end of the project must be reflected.

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In the Life cycle of a project, the number and sequence of phases to be included in the project is determined by management and other factors such as the needs of the organization, the nature of the project and its area of app. However, in general, they retain a similar framework structured in phases or stages.

The phases they are limited in time and although it has a definite beginning and end, it also has particular objectives, deliverables and activities. Some projects are unique and their structure varies widely.

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The project manager defines both the process and the methodology to be used and will also take into account the life cycle of the product that will result when its application is completed.

Phases of the life cycle of a project

The life cycle of a project constitutes the base on which the actions that must be executed in the work that is required are sustained.

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This can include anything from a "predictive" to an "adaptive" approach. In the predictive, the details are defined at the beginning of the project and any alteration or modification of the scope is carefully delimited. In an adaptive approach, the product is developed using multiple repetitions and the scope of each repetition is defined in detail only when it begins.

In general, the action plan includes the following phases:

  • Initiation phase
  • Planning phase
  • Execution phase
  • Closing phase

What does each phase of the cycle comprise?

There is a very important phase in any project, which is the “follow-up and control” phase that some planners incorporate it into the execution phase and others annex it as a phase Besides. However, regardless of where this stage is located, it is very important as all phases need to be constantly monitored and evaluated.

  • Start-up phase: the initial scope of the project and its feasibility are defined. It is time to design the action plan to be carried out and it includes the purpose, vision, mission, measurable objectives and their criteria, conditions, risks and stakeholders, among others.
  • Planning phase: the strategy to follow to ensure success is described in detail. Here the needs for physical and financial resources are determined. This phase contains two parts: the strategic plan that describes the overall approach of the project and the implementation that describes the pathways to achieve the objective. It is then about putting together a design of the plans that establish a clear roadmap.
  • Execution phase: the tasks or activities described in the previous phase are applied, that is, what is described in the action plan is implemented. The project manager constantly supervises and controls the entire process to prevent possible errors and correct them, if any appear.
  • Closing phase: all the necessary processes are carried out to formally complete the contractual obligations and the project.

Characteristics of the life cycle of a project.

The life cycle of a project, as already mentioned, is made up of several phases or stages that define what should be done in each of them and how the product is reviewed and validated. Also who is involved in it and how the process is controlled. Some characteristics of the phases are mentioned below.

  • They have an identifiable beginning and end. At the beginning the cost is low and rises as the work progresses and begins to decrease when the activity begins to decrease.
  • The life cycle of a project is unique and the typical cost curve does not apply to all projects equally.
  • Risks and uncertainty peak at the beginning of the project as well. This decreases as decisions are made and the results of each phase are acceptable.
  • The ability to have to not affect the final product, without drastically impacting the cost, is greater at the beginning and also decreases when it advances towards its completion.
  • The need to make changes and rectify mistakes increases as you move towards the end of the project.

Finally, remember that the life cycle of a project spans from the birth of the project until the finished product is presented. Although each project has a definitive beginning and end, it also has particular objectives, deliverable results, and well-defined tasks.

The number and sequence of phases of a cycle They are determined by project management and other factors inherent to the organization, such as the needs they are trying to address, the type of organization and its area of ​​application.

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