In this article, you’ll discover the five project life cycles defined by Schmidt. Understanding these life cycles is crucial for effective project management and ensuring successful outcomes. Whether you’re a seasoned project manager or just starting in the field, this comprehensive overview will equip you with the knowledge and tools to navigate through the different stages of a project with confidence. So, let’s dive right in and explore the five project life cycles defined by Schmidt!
Traditional Project Life Cycle
Definition
The traditional project life cycle is a linear and sequential approach to project management. It follows a predefined set of phases that need to be completed in a specific order. These phases include initiation, planning, execution, monitoring and control, and closure. In this life cycle, each phase is well-defined and must be completed before moving on to the next.
Phases
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Initiation: This phase involves the identification and definition of the project’s objectives and scope. It includes activities like analyzing the feasibility of the project, conducting a cost-benefit analysis, and identifying stakeholders.
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Planning: In the planning phase, a detailed project plan is developed, which includes defining deliverables, creating a work breakdown structure, developing a project schedule, and allocating resources. This phase also involves risk identification and mitigation planning.
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Execution: The execution phase is where the actual work takes place. Project teams are assembled, and tasks are assigned. The focus is on implementing the project plan, coordinating activities, and managing resources effectively. Regular communication and monitoring occur during this phase.
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Monitoring and Control: This phase involves tracking the project’s progress, comparing it to the planned schedule, and taking corrective actions if necessary. It includes activities such as performance measurement, quality control, and change management.
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Closure: The closure phase marks the completion of the project. It involves a formal acceptance of deliverables, documentation of lessons learned, and project review. Additionally, it includes releasing project resources, conducting project audits, and preparing final reports.
Characteristics
The traditional project life cycle is characterized by its sequential nature, strict adherence to plans, and emphasis on detailed planning upfront. It is suitable for projects with well-defined requirements and stable environments. However, it may not be as effective for projects with evolving or ambiguous requirements, as changes may disrupt the sequential flow and require extensive re-planning.
Incremental Project Life Cycle
Definition
The incremental project life cycle is an iterative approach to project management. It divides the project into smaller increments or cycles and delivers a working product at the end of each cycle. Each increment builds upon the previous one, incorporating feedback and making improvements. This life cycle allows for flexibility and adaptability to changes.
Phases
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Concept: In this phase, the project concept is defined, including the high-level objectives and scope. This phase helps in determining if the project is feasible and aligns with the organization’s goals.
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Planning and Requirements: The planning and requirements phase focuses on gathering detailed requirements and developing a project plan for the first increment. It involves creating a prioritized list of features, estimating effort, and defining the schedule and resources needed.
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Design and Development: The design and development phase involves creating a detailed design for the first increment and then implementing it. It includes coding, testing, and integrating the developed components.
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Testing and Evaluation: The testing and evaluation phase verifies that the first increment meets the specified requirements. Defects are identified and resolved, and user feedback is gathered to incorporate improvements and address any issues.
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Deployment and Feedback: This phase focuses on deploying the first increment to the users and gathering feedback. The user’s experience and feedback help refine the product and prioritize requirements for subsequent increments.
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Incremental Development: The project then goes through several iterations of the design, development, testing, evaluation, deployment, and feedback phases, with each iteration adding new increments to the product until the final product is achieved.
Characteristics
The incremental project life cycle offers increased flexibility and adaptability. It allows for early delivery of working functionality and incorporates user feedback throughout the project. The iterative nature of the cycle enables adjustments to be made based on changing requirements. However, it requires effective communication and collaboration with stakeholders, as their involvement is crucial at each phase. It is suitable for projects with evolving requirements and uncertain environments.
Iterative Project Life Cycle
Definition
The iterative project life cycle is a cyclical approach to project management. It involves repeating a set of phases in multiple iterations or cycles until the project goals are met. Each iteration builds upon the previous one, incorporating lessons learned and making improvements. This life cycle allows for continuous refinement and provides opportunities for regular feedback and validation.
Phases
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Initiation and Planning: In the initiation and planning phase, the project’s objectives and scope are defined, and a high-level plan is developed. It also involves identifying risks and constraints and allocating initial resources.
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Design and Development: The design and development phase focuses on creating a detailed design for the project’s deliverables and then implementing them. This phase includes activities like coding, testing, and integrating the components.
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Evaluation and Feedback: The evaluation and feedback phase involves evaluating the project’s deliverables against the defined requirements and obtaining feedback from stakeholders. This feedback helps refine the design and prioritize changes for the next iteration.
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Refinement and Improvement: The refinement and improvement phase incorporates the feedback received and makes necessary adjustments to the project’s design, development, and planning. It includes addressing any identified issues, resolving defects, and adapting to changes.
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Repeat: The above phases are repeated in multiple iterations until the project goals are achieved. Each iteration builds upon the previous one, incorporating feedback and making improvements. This iterative process allows for regular validation, adjustment, and improvement of the project.
Characteristics
The iterative project life cycle promotes continuous refinement and improvement. It encourages early validation and feedback, allowing for the incorporation of changes and minimizing rework. The cyclic nature of the cycle enables regular checkpoints and course correction as needed. However, it requires effective project tracking and management to ensure that the iterations stay on track and align with the project goals. It is suitable for projects with evolving requirements and a need for regular validation and adjustment.
Adaptive Project Life Cycle
Definition
The adaptive project life cycle is a flexible and adaptive approach to project management. It emphasizes embracing changes and adapting to them rather than strictly following predefined plans. This life cycle is particularly suitable for projects with high uncertainty, complexity, and rapidly changing requirements.
Phases
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Envision: The envision phase involves the initial exploration and understanding of the project’s objectives and possible approaches. It includes identifying key stakeholders, conducting a feasibility assessment, and defining the project’s vision.
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Speculate: The speculate phase focuses on developing a general plan and identifying potential risks and uncertainties. It involves creating a broad strategy, estimating efforts, and evaluating potential approaches.
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Explore: In the explore phase, the focus is on experimenting and learning. Multiple approaches and solutions are tested, and feedback is gathered to refine and narrow down the options. This phase encourages creativity and innovation.
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Adapt: The adapt phase involves refining and adapting the project’s plan based on the insights gained from the exploration phase. It includes prioritizing requirements, adjusting the project scope, budget, and schedule, and adapting to changing circumstances.
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Close: The close phase signifies the completion of the project. It involves formalizing the project’s outcomes, capturing lessons learned, and transitioning the project deliverables to the stakeholders.
Characteristics
The adaptive project life cycle provides flexibility and allows for embracing and responding to changes effectively. It encourages learning and experimentation, enabling the project team to find innovative solutions and adapt to evolving requirements. This life cycle requires strong collaboration and communication among stakeholders and a high degree of adaptability to changing circumstances. It is suitable for projects with high levels of uncertainty, complexity, and evolving requirements.
Extreme Project Life Cycle
Definition
The extreme project life cycle, also known as the agile life cycle, is an iterative and incremental approach to project management. It emphasizes adaptability, collaboration, and continuous improvement. This life cycle is specifically designed for projects with rapidly changing requirements and a need for maximum flexibility.
Phases
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Plan: The plan phase focuses on identifying the project’s objectives and scope and developing initial plans. It involves creating a prioritized list of features, estimating efforts, and defining a high-level project roadmap.
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Design: In the design phase, detailed designs are created for the project’s deliverables. This includes creating user stories, wireframes, and prototypes. Collaboration and feedback gathering from stakeholders play a vital role in this phase.
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Develop: The development phase involves coding, testing, and integrating the product’s components as per the defined designs. It includes frequent iterations and releases of working functionality.
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Test: The testing phase focuses on ensuring the quality and functionality of the product. It involves conducting various types of testing, including unit testing, integration testing, and user acceptance testing. Defects are identified and resolved promptly.
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Deploy: The deploy phase involves releasing the developed functionality to the users, usually in small increments. It includes feedback gathering and user acceptance validation.
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Review and Adapt: The review and adapt phase involves continuous review and improvement of the project processes and deliverables. It includes retrospective meetings to capture lessons learned, identify areas for improvement, and make necessary adjustments.
Characteristics
The extreme project life cycle offers maximum flexibility, adaptability, and collaboration. It allows for rapid response to changing requirements and encourages continuous delivery of working functionality. The iterative and incremental nature of the cycle supports regular feedback and validation. Effective communication and collaboration among stakeholders, as well as self-organizing project teams, are essential for success. It is suitable for projects with highly dynamic and rapidly changing requirements.
