Project Life Cycles

Question 1

What are the different life cycle phases?

Answer 1

Concept
Definition
Development
Handover and closure

Question 2

Describe the concept phase.

Answer 2

Develops an initial idea and creates an outline business case. Analysis must be performed to enable mangers ,led by the project sponsor to ensure if it’s viable and worth investing.
Key actions include- customer consultation, requirements, stakeholder analysis, identification of benefits, production of approved need statement

Question 3

Describe the definition phase.

Answer 3

Preferred solution is identified and ways of achieving it are refined, detailed PMP and business case created. Before continuing to next phase approval by project sponsor is required.
Key actions- high level design of chosen option, refined timescales and cost estimate, risk identification and assessment, identification of required resources, project team formation, creation of PMP and business case.

Question 4

Describe the development phase.

Answer 4

PMP put into action. Can be broken down further at the end of the continued viability of the project can be reviewed.
Key actions- execute plans, expedition, monitoring, reporting,change control, leadership, conflict management

Question 5

Describe the handover and closure phase.

Answer 5

The project outputs are handed over and accepted by sponsor in behalf of the user.
Key actions- test, commission, acceptance of deliverables by users, training users,handover of deliverables to production, review,disband project team, dissemination of lessons learned

Question 6

Describe the benefits realisation phase.

Answer 6

Projects may include a benefits realisation of appropriate.

Key actions- implement the benefits realisation plan. Conduct benefits realisation review, life extension and value adding, lessons learned.

Question 7

What are the additional phases in a extended project life cycle?

Answer 7

Operations and terminal.

Question 8

Describe the operation phase in a extended project life cycle

Answer 8

Deliverables are utilised with ongoing support and maintenance. Formal review conduct of the realised benefits.
Key actions- operation, maintenance, benefits realisation, post-investment reviews, life extension reviews, lessons learned.

Question 9

Describe the termination phase in a extended project life cycle

Answer 9

Projects assets are disposed of in an appropriate manner.

Key actions
Disposal
Environmental assessment, disband of operation teams, lessons learned

Question 10

What are the different types of project reviews?

Answer 10

Stage review.
Gate review
Project evaluation review
Post project review
Benefits review

Question 11

Describe stage review

Answer 11

Development work can be divided into a serious of stages, at the end of a stage the project sponsor will review progress to date, project plan, business case and risk and the next stage of the plan to determine whether to continue with the project.

Question 12

Describe Gate review

Answer 12

Conducted at the end of each phase or stage and marks a key decision point in the project to continue investment. Plans for the next phase will also be reviewed and external factors that impact viability of business case.

Question 13

Describe project evaluation review

Answer 13

PMT to formally review the present health of the project. Evaluation of the project success criteria as well as suitable is reviewed. Corrective action should be agreed and documented should take place before every stage gate review. If it’s conducted by an external party it’s known as an audit , audits may be triggered over concerns over governance.

Question 14

Describe Post-Project review

Answer 14

Reviews documents of lessons learned for future use.

Question 15

Describe Benefits review.

Answer 15

Measures the achievements against the business case. The sponsor is accountable for the realisation of project benefits. Typically materialise after the project closure.