PMP prep exam free course - Life Cycle
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PMP prep exam free course - Life Cycle

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PMP prep exam free course- Introduction & the environment in which project operate - Life Cycle.



In the previous article (PMP prep exam free online course-Introduction & the environment in which project operate - part 5- Advantagesand disadvantages of different organizational structure) we took Advantages and disadvantages of different organizational structure during this articles we will going to explain the life cycle.



- What is life cycle.


Life cycle is a progression through a series of differing stages of development.


Life cycles define steps or phases that each product or project goes over life span and with a help of these common life cycles expected expenditure activities or general progress of a project can be estimated. 
For example, if we consider generic project it will include 4 major phases. 1st starting the project, 2nd organizing and preparing, 3rd carrying out the work, and finally closing the project.


As you see in the below figure, these 4 phases of a common project life cycle are shown.



Figure also include the major deliveries at the end of each phase life cycle. At the end of the 1st phase “starting the project” the project charter will be produced. At the end of the 2nd phase “organizing and preparing” project management plan will be produced. During the 3rd phase and at the end of the 3rd phase deliverables of the project will be produced. And finally, at the 4th phase “closing the project” the project documents will be archived, and the project will be closed.


This common life cycle also depict how cost and staffing level changes in the project over life cycle.


As you see, during the starting and planning cost and staffing level are lowest, expenditure and resources usage are maximum during the 3rd phase “carrying out the work” and then start to decline in the 4th phase since the project is closing.


For instance, the below figure show how cost of changes and risk & uncertainty in the project changes over project time.




Cost changes are lower in the beginning because most of the work not been done or delivered yet. Therefore, if change something in the project, it is expected that the cost of this change will be lower compare to changes will make in future. Because as long you started to deliver project work it will be harder and more costly to make change in later phases of the project  because you have to do a rework and may be start from the beginning  to revise the work you did to that date.


Similarly, risk and uncertainty of a project is highest in the beginning because to do not know exactly what you will face and how they might impact the project. However, as long as the project progresses, risk either ne eliminated or over come and uncertainty disappear respectively.


- Product life cycle.


Product life cycle start from conception of a new product to its withdrawal. Product can require many projects over its life. 

The below figure show the life cycle of an old version from I phone product.




As you can see, start with a conception then growth in a growth phase then it reached to maturity phase where it is expected to make most work. Then in 4th  phase it is market demand start to decline but still new project such as fixed software issues can be initiated to support the product and finally, in the 5th phase product was withdrawn and no more projects planned and initiated once the project reached to end of life cycle.


- Project life cycle changes.


Project life cycle changes depending on the industry or organization’s preferences.


For example, project life cycle of a project in construction industry will differ from a project in IT.

Project life cycle in construction industry will have:

Feasibility, planning, design, production, turnover, and startup phases, respectively.

However, in IT project, project life cycle will have:


High level design, detailed design, coding, testing, installation, conversation, and turnover phases, respectively.

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