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Welcome
This website contains the LifecycleStep™ Project LifecycleStep Process. This is a great reference site for project managers and team members. Click on the menu bar on the left for a high-level overview. Access to more of the LifecycleStep™ Project Lifecycle Process is available for Members and licensed users.
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Projects are the way that most new work gets delivered. All projects have certain characteristics in common. They all have a beginning and an end. In other words, they do not continue on forever. Projects result in the creation of one or more deliverables. Projects also have assigned resources - either full time, part time or both. There are other characteristics as well.
All organizations have projects. Projects can include building a house or office building, planning and executing a marketing campaign, upgrading desktop operating systems, installing a new phone system, developing an IT business application, etc.
Projects can be managed using a common set of project management processes. In fact, a similar set of project management processes can be utilized regardless of the type of project. For instance, all projects should be defined and planned and all projects should manage scope, risk, quality, status, etc. Project management, however, defines the overall management and control processes for the project. Project management does not actually result in the creation of the project deliverable. At some point, you still need to define the actual activities necessary to build the house, execute the marketing campaign, develop the IT business application and upgrade the desktop operating systems. These activities are referred to as the project lifecycle and the project lifecycle is the focus of LifecycleStep.
The place to start when thinking about lifecycle models is the generic waterfall approach. This model provides the basic outline that can be used on any project. Basically you start off understanding the work that is expected, designing a solution, building and testing a solution and then implementing the solution. What could be easier? Even if you have a small project you still go through these basic steps, although some of them may be a mental exercise. For instance, if you have a forty hour enhancement project, it may seem that you can jump right in with construction. But are you really? It is more likely that you are receiving some type of service request that describes the work required (analysis and requirements), which you take and mentally map into the work to be performed (design). You then make the enhancement changes required, test them (test) and implement them (construct, test, implement). The classic waterfall approach is the lifecycle model you would probably end up with if you knew nothing about methodology and just had to design a basic process for creating pretty much any deliverable.
LifecycleStep defines the waterfall lifecycle model in the most detail since the processes, best practices and techniques can be applied most generically to any IT Development project. However, depending on the characteristics of the project, other lifecycle models may be more appropriate. For instance, if you are installing a software package, you can utilize a specific lifecycle model for package implementation that is light on the design and construct phases. Likewise, if you are conducting a research project, you can use a specific lifecycle that takes into account that the work might be thrown away when you are done. Other important lifecycle models can be used to accelerate projects with certain characteristics. IT online development projects, for instance, may be able to utilize Iterative and Agile techniques.
Some methodologies on application development contain a lot of theory, or tons of impractical detail that might only be needed on huge mega-projects building the space shuttle. There are also many websites available that offer consulting and training services. The LifecycleStep™ Project Lifecycle Process, on the other hand, contains everything you need to understand and execute the project lifecycle for IT Development Projects. Here you will find processes, techniques, best practices, templates, training, etc. You will also find a set of valuable sample schedules that you can use as the starting point for the schedule you build for your project. LifecycleStep can also be used as the basis for a consistent set of lifecycle processes that can be used by the entire IT Development organization.
Before you begin, please read the following pages that provide some background and context on the LifecycleStep process.
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401.0 The Value of Project Lifecycle Methodology |
A Word About this LifecycleStep Website This website contains a wealth of information about the project lifecycle, using a traditional Waterfall model to provide the basic context. This vast content is available according to the Terms and Conditions. There is also a growing set of content that is password protected, including supporting templates, alternate lifecycle models, sample schedules and training material. This content is available for licensed users. |
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Product info: project management, project lifecycle, analysis phase, , design phase, lifecycle design, construct phase, test phase, implementation phase, project lifecycle consulting, project lifecycle methodology, Agile
