The Project Lifecycle is the sequence of phases through which a project progresses. The number of phases and sequence of the cycle may vary based on the company and the type of project undergone. As part of a project, however, they should have a definite start and end, and they are constrained by time. The lifecycle provides the basic foundation of the actions that has to be performed in the project, irrespective of the specific work involved.
The Project Lifecycle typically involves these four stages:
Project Initiation – this is the start of the project. It may involve many sub-activities including: a feasibility study, identifying the scope, identifying deliverables, identifying project stakeholders, developing a business case, creating a statement of work, and possibly initial costs, price, and timeline for work to be done.
Project Planning – Once the project is approved from the initiation phase, it moves into planning. This phase involves creating a project plan, including the tasks, schedule, resources, and constraints on the project. The budget for the project is also created in this phase. In addition, risk should be anticipated and identified at this stage, as well as mitigation plans.
Project Execution – This phase is where the work gets done. Task owners begin work and the project manager oversees that tasks are done in a timely manner and workflow continues smoothly. Monitoring and Controlling (managing the work and financials) are a big part of this phase, as issues will always arise and require quick adjustments as the project progresses.
Project Closure – Once the team has completed all the tasks, and the project owner signs off that all deliverables are complete, the project is closed. Any documentation is handed over to the project owner and if required to an ongoing maintenance organization. The project is then analyzed for performance to determine whether the project’s goals were met (tasks completed, on time and on budget).
Now the question is, how do you manage this lifecycle as a project organization?
To manage the full lifecycle of your projects, you need a business system.
We don’t manage our customer relationships or company financials in spreadsheets anymore, do we? Why should projects be any different?
Project Business Automation: a Business System for Projects
Control and streamline all your project business processes throughout the project lifecycle in one system.
To manage the entire project lifecycle in a system, you may want to consider Project Portfolio Management Software (PPM) or project management solutions. PPM tools help organizations prioritize, manage, and track the performance of different portfolios of projects. The primary goal of a PPM tool is to ensure that projects align with the organization’s strategic objectives, are executed efficiently, and deliver the intended results.
Bring Order to your Project Lifecycle
Project Business Automation (PBA) is the first vertically integrated business system for projects designed to provide the financial and operational tools, controls, and insight that you need throughout the entire project lifecycle. PBA is built from the ground up to reduce complexity and seamlessly connect all your project business processes in one system.
Streamline and automate processes
Increase productivity
Improve project governance
Reduce risk, overruns & delays
Enhance financial control
PBA from Adeaca revolutionizes project-driven business management.
Every project is unique. How can you manage the complex life of a project systematically. You may look for a Project Portfolio Management tool (PPM), or Professional Services Automation, or Project Management tool. However, for project-driven organizations, you really need a Project Business System. A Project Business System is a comprehensive solution designed to govern and support your project business processes throughout the lifecycle of the project.
EcoSys by Hexagon is a comprehensive Enterprise Project Performance (EPP) platform designed to provide control, efficiency, and profitability of projects.
Kantata is a cloud-based Professional Services Automation (PSA) solution specifically designed for agencies, professional services organizations, and consultants.
