Project Life Cycle Phases

Discovery/Concept Phase

Business case is created

Initiation Phase

Creating the preliminary scope statement

Initiation Phase

Creating the project charter

Initiation Phase

Identifying and assessing stakeholders

Initiation Phase

Developing a responsibility assignment matrix (RAM)

Initiation Phase

Establishing accepted communication channels

Initiation Phase

Developing a records management plan

Initiation Phase

Defining access requirements

Initiation Phase

Reviewing existing artifacts

Initiation Phase

Determining solution design

Initiation Phase

Conducting the project kickoff

Planning Phase

Develop a detailed project scope statement

Planning Phase

Develop a project schedule

Planning Phase

Determine budget considerations

Planning Phase

Develop a quality assurance plan

Planning Phase

Assess and assign project resources

Planning Phase

Perform an initial risk assessment

Planning Phase

Assess and assign project resources

Planning Phase

Perform an initial risk assessment

Planning Phase

Assess the resource pool and assign project resources

Planning Phase

Develop a project management plan

Planning Phase

Train project team members

Planning Phase

Define units of work

Planning Phase

Develop a transition plan/release plan

Executing Phase

Producing and verifying deliverables

Executing Phase

Implementing change management

Executing Phase

Managing vendors

Executing Phase

Tracking and reporting project results

Executing Phase

Updating project elements such as budget, risk, and timelines

Executing Phase

Managing conflict

Executing Phase

Monitoring the risks and issues log

Executing Phase

Performing quality assurance/governance activities such as coordinating phase gate reviews

Executing Phase

Monitoring the budget

Executing Phase

Conducting project meetings and updates

Closing Phase

Validating deliverables

Closing Phase

Closing contracts

Closing Phase

Removing access

Closing Phase

Releasing resources

Closing Phase

Holding the project closure meeting

Closing Phase

Writing the project closeout report

Closing Phase

Obtaining feedback and lesson learned

Closing Phase

Project sign-off

Closing Phase

Handing off the product to the organization

Closing Phase

Evaluating the project

Closing Phase

Archiving project documents

Closing Phase

Rewards and celebration

Discovery Document

Business case

Business case

Justification for the project

Initiating Document

Preliminary scope statement

Preliminary scope statement

Project objectives are defined; business problem the project will address is stated

Initiating Document

Project charter

Project charter

Authorizes the work to begin

Initiating Document

Responsibility assignment matrix (RAM)

RAM

Defines stakeholder responsibilities. Incorporates the use of a RACI chart

Planning Document

Communication plan

Communication plan

Documents the types of information needs the stakeholders have, when the information should be distributed, and how the information will be delivered

Planning Document

Project schedule

Project schedule

Determines the start and finish dates for project activities and assigns resources to the activities

Planning Document

Scope statement

Scope statement

Documents the product description, key deliverables, success and acceptance criteria, key performance indicators, exclusions, assumptions, and constraints

Planning Document

Project management plan

Project management plan

Consists of all the project planning documents such as charter, scope statement, schedule, and more

Executing Document

Issue log

Issue log

A list of issues, containing list numbers, descriptions, and owners

Executing Document

Change log

Change log

Describes change requests and their disposition for the project

Executing Document

Risk register

Risk register

A list of risks and their descriptions

Executing Document

Status report

Status report

A report to stakeholders on the status of the project deliverables, schedule, risks, issues, and more

Executing Document

Dashboard information

Dashboard information

An electronic reporting tool that lets users choose elements of the project to monitor project health and status

Executing Document

Meeting agenda/meeting minutes

Meeting agenda/meeting minutes

Meeting agendas describe the items to be discussed and addressed at upcoming meetings, and minutes recap what was discussed and the decisions made at the meeting

Closing Document

Project closeout report

Project closeout report

Reports on the final closeout of all phases of the project