Managing a project, regardless of its size or scope, is an arduous task. From planning the smallest details to dealing with clients’ ever-changing demands to delivering deliverables on time, a lot can go wrong. An easier way to control the project and the quality of the output is to break it down into manageable stages, each with its own set of goals and deliverables.
If you are in a position where you are required to manage projects for your organization, start learning the basic stages of the project lifecycle.
Let’s dive into the five basic stages of the project management process:
Initiation
This is a pre-planning phase where you turn an abstract concept into a meaningful goal. You are required to create a business case and define the project at a broad level.
In order to do so, you need to determine the need for the project and create a project charter – the project charter is a crucial document that contains information such as project goals, the project manager’s appointment, budget, constraints, and estimated timeline.
Moreover, project managers need to take the following steps:
- Identify key project stakeholders – the people who will be involved in the project once you have the project goals and scope sorted out.
- Create a stakeholder list that includes roles, responsibilities, communication, and requirements.
Planning
In this stage, identity access management the technical requirements, develop a detailed project timeline, design a communication plan, and set up goals and deliverables. A Work Breakdown Structure (WBS) is a common tool to employ – this is a breakdown of everything that will be generated – in a hierarchical order.
In this stage, the project manager is responsible for:
- Extrapolating past data to determine possible risks and create a strategy to mitigate them.
- Ensuring that the project team adheres to a set of project processes so that everyone works efficiently and consistently to avoid bottlenecks and project delays.
Execution
The actual work is ‘done by your team’ during the project execution stage – your role as a project manager will be to set up effective procedures.
Other responsibilities of the project manager during this phase include:
- Consistently maintaining effective collaboration between project stakeholders so that everyone stays on the same page and the project runs smoothly.
- Keeping an eye on the processes and resolving any issues that may arise.
Monitoring And Controlling
In this stage, the project manager ensures that no one deviates from the initial plan by determining Key Performance Indicators (KPI) and Critical Success Factors (CSF).
During the monitoring stage, the project manager is responsible for:
- Measuring the effort and cost quantitatively throughout the process.
- Maintaining focus and reminding both developers and stakeholders of the initial goal.
Closing
The project closure stage occurs after the final delivery, indicating the end of the project – external talent is sometimes hired on a contract basis specifically for a project.
The responsibilities of the project manager in this stage include:
- Terminating the contracts and completing the necessary paperwork.
- ‘Reflection meeting’ after project completion to contemplate on team’s achievements and failures during the project.
- Compiling a detailed report that covers every aspect of the project.
Concluding Thoughts
Keep in mind that each industry has its own set of characteristics that may cause things to change or require additional processes. However, with an in-depth understanding of what goes into project management and what project managers do on a daily basis, you can ensure project management success through a physical security consultant.