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APM > Life cycles > Flashcards

Life cycles Flashcards

1
Q

What is a life cycle?

A

The inter-related phases of a project, programme or portfolio, which provides a structure for governing the progression of the work

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2
Q

Define ‘project’

A

A unique, transient endeavour undertaken to achieve planned objectives

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3
Q

Name the three distinct phases of any life cycle

A
  1. Take an idea
  2. Develop it into detailed objectives
  3. Deliver the agreed objectives
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4
Q

Name the four types of life cycle

A
  1. Linear/ waterfall
  2. Parallel
  3. Spiral
  4. V model
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5
Q

Name the eight stages in a linear/ waterfall life cycle

A
  1. Conceptualisation
  2. initiation
  3. Analysis
  4. Design
  5. Construction
  6. Testing
  7. Production/ implementation
  8. Maintenance
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6
Q

Define ‘parallel life cycle’

A

Similar to waterfall, but phases are delivered in parallel to increase the rate of delivery, i.e. multiple delivery stages, enabling benefits realisation before project closure

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7
Q

What are the four stages of a ‘spiral’ type life cycle?

A
  1. Analysis
  2. Evaluation
  3. Development
  4. Planning
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8
Q

When is a spiral life cycle often used?

A

A spiral life cycle is often used where many options, requirements and constraints are unknown at the start. This is typically within a research environment.

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9
Q

What is a spiral life cycle used for?

A

A spiral life cycle is used to develop a system through repeated (iterative) cycles in smaller (incremental) portions to take advantage of what has already been learnt.

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10
Q

When is a V model life cycle usually applied?

A

A V model life cycle is usually applied in software development where requirements are defined and the development tools are well known.

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11
Q

What does a V model look like?

A

Requirement

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12
Q

What are the four primary phases of a typical linear life cycle?

A
  1. Concept
  2. Definition
  3. Development
  4. Handover and closure
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13
Q

Define the Concept phase of a linear life cycle

A
  1. The Concept phase develops an initial idea and creates an outline business case or project brief and schedule.
  2. A sponsor is appointed and, where appropriate, a PM.
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14
Q

What are the two key decisions in the Concept phase of a linear life cycle?

A
  1. Is the project likely to be viable?

2. Is it definitely worth investing in the next (Definition) phase?

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15
Q

What are the key actions in the Concept phase of a linear life cycle?

A
  1. Customer consultation
  2. Needs and requirements identification and definition
  3. Stakeholder analysis
  4. Identification of benefits
  5. Production of the Approved Need statement
  6. Options study
  7. Creation of outline business case and schedule
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16
Q

What is the purpose of the Definition phase of a linear life cycle?

A

In the Definition phase, the preferred solution is identified and ways of achieving it are refined. Detailed plan(s) in the form of the Project management Plan (PMP), as well as the detailed business case for the project, are created. These are approved by the sponsor before progressing to the next phase.

17
Q

Name the five key actions in the Definition phase

A
  1. Production of the approved need statement
  2. Preferred option selection
  3. Project team formation
  4. Risk identification and assessment

These lead to:
5. Creation of the PMP and detailed business case

18
Q

What happens in the Development phase of a typical linear life cycle?

A

In the Development phase, the project management plan is put into action. This phase may be broken down into further stages, at the end of which the continued viability of the project can be reviewed.

19
Q

Name some of the key actions of the Development phase

A
  1. Execution of plans
  2. Expediting
  3. Monitoring
  4. Reporting
  5. Change control
  6. Leadership
  7. Conflict management
20
Q

What happens in the Handover & Closure phase of a typical linear life cycle?

A

In the Handover and Closure phase, the project outputs are handed over and accepted by the sponsor on behalf of the users

21
Q

Name some of the key actions of the Handover & Closure phase

A
  1. testing
  2. Commissioning
  3. Acceptance of deliverables by users
  4. Training of users
  5. Dissemination of lessons learnt
  6. Disbanding of team
  7. Review
  8. Handover of deliverables from project to production environment
22
Q

What are the additional phases included in an Extended Project Life Cycle?

A
  1. Benefits realisation
  2. Operation
  3. Termination
23
Q

What are some benefits of a structured life cycle?

A
  1. Improved decision making and control
  2. Increased focus on early life cycle phases
  3. More effective planning
  4. Firm basis for project management method
  5. Improved stakeholder communication and understanding
24
Q

Name the five types of reviews in a linear life cycle

A
  1. Gate reviews
  2. Stage reviews
  3. Project evaluation reviews
  4. Benefit reviews
  5. Post-project reviews
25
Q

What is a gate review, and when is it held?

A

Gate reviews are conducted at the end of each phase or stage. It marks a decision point in the project where senior management will:

  1. consider performance to date
  2. sanction the continuing investment in the project based on a formal evaluation of its present and forecasted progress
  3. review plans for the next phase
  4. consider external factors that may impact the viability of the business case
26
Q

What is a stage review, and when is it used?

A

Stage reviews are used to subdivide development phase work into a series of management stages, with work being authorised one stage at a time. At the end of a stage, the sponsor or steering group will review:

  1. progress to date
  2. the state of the project plan
  3. the business case
  4. risks
  5. the state of the next stage plan
27
Q

What is a project evaluation review, and when should it be held?

A

A project evaluation review provides the PM and project team with the opportunity to formally review the health of the project. One should be held at a minimum before each stage/gate review

28
Q

What is a benefits review?

A

A benefits review measures the achievement of benefits against the business case.

29
Q

What is a post-project review?

A

A post-project review is a learning opportunity in which lessons learnt are documented for use in the future

30
Q

Name some benefits of having project reviews

A
  1. Better decision making
  2. Objective review of a project’s health
  3. Improved governance of projects
  4. Sharing of lessons learnt (and subsequent improvement of technical/management processes)
  5. More timely implementation of corrective action
  6. Increased stakeholder confidence (e.g. senior management, project funders, customers)
  7. Increased likelihood of project success (including achievement of agreed success criteria and realisation of benefits)

APM (8 decks)

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