Blog Post Image

List/Describe 5 Phases In Extended Lifecycle And Products

Paul Naybour Paul Naybour

Published: 24th November 2015

  1. Concept

  • Definition

  • Development

  • Handing over and closure

  • Benefits Realisation

    1. Concept is the first phase in the project life cycle. It includes the development
      and approval of the business case. During concept stage, Initial ideas about
      the project are developed, different options are reviewed in order to provide
      solutions to the problems and opportunities for which the project is required. This
      phase is important
      as it usually ends with gate review which approves
      the preferred option and determines the viability of the project. For
      example
      , project is required to provide solutions for the crossing of a
      river Different options were studied such as new bridge, new tunnel, use ferry,
      or cable cars, preferred option is building a new bridge.

  • Definition is the second phase in project
    life cycle at which the preferred option agreed in the earlier phase will be
    developed as a project. That is an important phase as it includes
    definitions to the procedures and tools that will be used during the products
    development. For example, Definition phase includes the development
    of the Project Management Plan (PMP) and all its component plans such as configuration
    Management plan, Risk management …etc.

  • Development is the third phase in the project
    life cycle during which project team are following the procedures defined in
    the PMP in order to produce and deliver the products defined in the same
    documents. This phase includes several stage reviews in order to enable monitoring
    the work progress. This phase is important since by its end products
    / deliverables are ready to be delivered to the Client. For example,
    development phase for the river crossing project will include the activities to
    complete the construction of the bridge.

  • Hand over and closure is the phase during which final
    product will be commissioned and handed over to the end users. If everything
    goes right
    , then the sponsor will sign the approval on behalf of the
    end users. During this phase Project closure is announced, PACs and FACs are
    released, and project team members are disbanded. An example for handing
    over and closure process is the demobilisation of the construction team from
    site and the commissioning of the bridge crossing the river.

  • Benefits Realisation phase follows the completion of
    the project. Sponsor is responsible for the benefits realisation together with
    the end users. Products should be operated in a manner that brings change and
    improvement to Business as usual activities and should fit in purpose. This
    phase is important as it determines whether the actual benefits desired from
    the project are achieved or not. For example, the bridge crossing
    the river is not designed to carry heavy trucks and hence, will not allow the
    mobilisation of the machinery to the other side of the river where new
    development is about to be constructed in other words there is noticed deficiency
    in the achieved benefits from the project.