PMBOK - step by step... step 2

PROJECT LIFE CYCLE AND ORGANIZATION - Project and project management exists in an environment that is Weider than project itself.

PROJECT LIFE-CYCLE is a collection of generally sequential and sometimes overlapping project phases, determined by the management, organizations involved in the project,the nature of project, and array of application.

CHARACTERISTICS OF THE PROJECT LIFE CYCLE - In general, all projects have the following life cycle structure:

• start of the project
  
• organize and prepare
  
• work on project
  
• close the project

Ability ti influence to the final outcome of the project's product is highest at the start with minimal cost,later during the time,the cost grows.

PRODUCT VS PROJECT LIFE CYCLE RELATIONSHIPS - In general, a project lifer cycle contains one or more product life cycles. But project where the objective is service or result,contains no product life cycle; and can be a product that contains several projects*example: develop new automobile is based on several independent projects.

PROJECT PHASES - the phase structure of the project allow to segment project into logical subsets and improve ease of management,planing and control.

All phases has similar characteristics:

• at the end of phase transfer some work to the next stage; this point in phase is known as milestone,phase gate,decision gate,stage gate,kill point
  
• there are some single phase projects, other projects can have many phases.
  
• some organizations have standardized projects, other allow project management team to choose the most appropriate for the individual project.
  

PROJECT GOVERNANCE ACROSS THE LIFE CYCLE - the project governance approach should be described in project management plan, it must fit in context of program or organization sponsoring it. The phase structure provide basis for control, each phase specify what is allowed and expected for that phase. The beginning of a phase is also a time to re validate earlier assumptions,review risjs and define in more detail the processes necessary to complete the phase deliverable(s).

A review of both key deliverable and project performance:

• determine if the project should continue into its next phase
• and detect and correct errors cost effectively,

should be regarded as good practice.

PHASE TO PHASE RELATIONSHIPS - There are 3 basic types of phase to phase relationships:

• a sequential relationship - phase can start when previos is complete;reduces uncertanity,but reduce schedule is not posible
  
• an overlapping relationship - phase start prior to complete previous one;may increase risk;
  
• an iterative relationship - only one phase is planned , the next one is planned as work progresses in current;useful in research;reduce ability for long planning.
  

PROJECTS VS OPERATIONAL WORK - work in organization can be project or operations work.They differs in that operations are ongoing and produce repetitive results,projects are tempoerary and they end.When operation achieve goal,it is not ended,it follow new direction.Operations work supports the bussiness environment where projects are executed. Depending of nature of the project,project outcome may contribute existing operations work(for example:developing,acquiring or enhancing an operational depatments'information system)