Define project lifecycle phases on which to scope the planning effort.

The determination of a project’s lifecycle phases provides for planned periods of evaluation and decision making. These periods are normally defined to support logical decision points at which the appropriateness of continued reliance on the project plan and strategy is determined and significant commitments are made concerning resources. Such points provide planned events at which project course corrections and determinations of future scope and cost can be made.

Understanding the project lifecycle is crucial in determining the scope of the planning effort and the timing of initial planning, as well as the timing and criteria (critical milestones) for replanning.

Depending on the nature of the project, explicit phases for “project startup” and “project close-out” can be included in the lifecycle.

Project lifecycle phases should be defined depending on the scope of requirements, estimates for project resources, and the nature of the project.

The acquirer includes the entire project lifecycle (i.e., from end user needs through initial and subsequent upgrades) when planning lifecycle phases and refines the acquisition strategy as appropriate. The acquirer considers all supplier agreements in the context of the acquisition so that an integrated approach results. A complex project can involve managing multiple supplier agreements simultaneously or in sequence. In such cases, any acquisition lifecycle can end during any phase of the project lifecycle. Depending on the acquisition strategy, there can be intermediate phases for the creation of prototypes, increments of capability, or spiral model cycles.

Refer to the Establish Lifecycle Model Descriptions specific practice in the Organizational Process Definition process area for more information about acquisition lifecycles.

During establishment of the supplier agreement, the acquirer works with the supplier to understand supplier lifecycle models and processes, especially those models and processes that interact directly with acquirer processes. Agreement on the lifecycle models and processes to be used during the project enables seamless interactions between supplier and acquirer, resulting in a successful acquirer-supplier relationship.

Example Work Products

1.    Project lifecycle phases