1 Project Life Cycles

Question 1

What is a Life Cycle?

Answer 1

• A framework comprising a set of distinct high-level stages
  -Required to transform an idea or concept into reality in an orderly and efficient manner
  -Offer a systematic and organised way to undertake project-based work and be viewed as the structure underpinning deployment.

Question 2

What are the 3 types of life cycle?

Answer 2

-Linear
-Iterative
-Hybrid

Question 3

Give 4 characteristics of a linear life cycle

Answer 3

-Clearly defined outputs
-Applies to stable low-risk projects - expectations of each phase known
-Provides a clear framework for the team - early definition of requirements allowing maximum control and governance
-Controls and information can be passed to the next phase when predefined milestones have been accomplished

Question 4

Concept phase of a linear life cycle:

-Main activity
-2 outcomes

Answer 4

Activity - feasibility study

Outcomes:
-Requirements established
-Outline business case

Question 5

Definition phase of a linear life cycle:

-2 activities
-2 outputs

Answer 5

Activities:
-Refine requirements
-Refine business case

Outputs:
-PMP
-Deployment Baseline

Question 6

Deployment phase of a linear life cycle:

-3 activities
-1 output

Answer 6

Activities:
- Test products against quality spec
-Update plans with latest information
-Assign work to teams

Outcome - realise intended outputs, outcomes and benefits

Question 7

Transition phase of a linear life cycle:

-2 activities
-1 output

Answer 7

Activities:
-Handover to User
-Acceptance of outputs to the sponsor and users

Outcome - formal closure

Question 8

Give 4 characteristics of an iterative life cycle

Answer 8

-Repeats one or more phases
-Beneficial for evolving objectives - agile projects
-Works if the project scope might be vague or solutions unclear - greater flexibility in governance needed
-PM and Team can observe benefits that each stage delivers and tweak for the next iteration accordingly

Question 9

How long are timeboxes usually in an iterative life cycle and what happens if work is uncompleted in a timebox?

Answer 9

2-4 weeks

Put into the product backlog and reprioritised

Question 10

What is the acronym for work prioritisation (iterative life cycle)?

Answer 10

MOSCOW

Must have
Should have
Could have
Won’t have

Question 11

Give 3 characteristics of a hybrid life cycle

Answer 11

-Adds iteration to a linear life cycle - mix approaches
-Enables project team to choose the best elements of both life cycles for their project
-Adapts - fixed requirement set, iterative style can be used in deployment to develop the output and add further functionality

Question 12

What is the extended life cycle?

Answer 12

-Goes beyond the transition and closure phase
-Ensures accountability and governance stays with the team until the change is fully embedded

Question 13

What are the 2 additional phases in the extended life cycle?

Answer 13

-Adoption of outputs - operations seen and enable the acceptance and use of benefits

-Benefits realisation - realisation of the required business benefits or outcomes

Question 14

Give 4 differences between the project and extended life cycles

Answer 14

-Phases - extended LC includes adoption of outputs and benefits realisation phases
-User - project LC usually for projects delivered on behalf of the customer, extended LC for projects funded within the organisation for change
-Accountability - project LC , accountability handed over; extended LC, project teams supports
-Benefits - extended LC, project team can determine immediate benefits realised

Question 15

Give 5 characteristics of an organisation favouring the linear life cycle

Answer 15

-Highly structured and predictable process needed
-Availability of relatively perfect knowledge upfront needed
-Might be resistant to change and inflexible for rework
-Knowledge/teams divided into distinct phases
-Low appetite for risk

Question 16

Linear life cycle - what is created by knowledge and teams being divided into distinct phases?

Answer 16

Knowledge barriers between the phases - especially when different delivery agents carry out different phases

Question 17

Give 5 characteristics of an organisation favouring the iterative life cycle

Answer 17

-Agile
-Departments flexible and open to change
-Favour concurrency and different steps performed in parallel
-Manage uncertainty of scope by allowing objectives to evolve
-Prototypes, timeboxes or parallel activities utilised to acquire new insights

Question 18

Give 2 strengths of the linear life cycle

Answer 18

-Suitable for low risk projects
-Provides clear framework for the team to follow

Question 19

Give 3 limitations of the linear life cycle

Answer 19

-Requires early clarity on scope and governance
-Longer processes to ascertain benefits realisation
-Less flexible

Question 20

Give 3 benefits of the iterative life cycle

Answer 20

-Beneficial for evolving objectives or solutions
-Suitable where project scope may be vague
-Accommodates change more easily

Question 21

Give 2 limitations of the iterative life cycle

Answer 21

-Lack of early certainty for duration and cost
-Complexities in managing resources

Question 22

Give 2 strengths of the hybrid cycle

Answer 22

-Mix of approaches to suit specific development
-Agile working into project or programme can offer increased efficiency and flexibility

Question 23

Give a limitation of the hybrid life cycle

Answer 23

Great skill and clarity needed when using multiple different systems of working