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2 - PROJECT LIFE CYCLE AND ORGANIZATION

Monitoring &
Controlling Processes
Planning
Processes
2
Initiating Closing Monitoring &
Controlling Processes
Processes Processes
Planning
Processes
Executing
Processes
Initiating Closing Monitoring &
Controlling Processes
Processes Processes
Planning
Processes
Analyze
Executing
Processes Initiating Closing Monitoring &
Controlling Processes
Processes Processes
Planning
Processes
Architect
Executing
Processes
Initiating Closing Monitoring &
Controlling Processes
Processes Processes
Planning
Processes
Design
Executing
Processes
Initiating Closing Monitoring &
Processes Processes
Controlling Processes
Planning
Processes
Construct
Executing
Processes Initiating Closing
Processes Processes
Integrate
Executing
Processes
Test
Time
Figure 2-2. Overlapping Sequential Phases of a Predictive Software Project Life Cycle
Phases may be overlapped when the partially completed previous phase has provided sufficient work products
to allow the following phase to proceed, and provided there are sufficient resources to permit two phases to
proceed concurrently.
The need to repeat some processes of a previously completed project phase may occur because: (a) the
requirements are emergent in nature; (b) new understandings arise around stakeholder expectations regarding
product scope; (c) new insights into the technology are gained; or (d) errors in previous work need to be fixed.
Detailed, initial planning for a predictive software project life cycle does not equate to a single “big bang”
delivery of the resulting software product. A predictive software life cycle can include iterations that involve one or
more of the six phases depicted in Figure 2-2. Some of the iterations can result in tested, deliverable software that
may, when desired, be delivered into the users’ environment.

Predictive life cycles are most successful for software projects that have well-defined requirements, a familiar
problem domain, stable technology, and a familiar customer. These attributes allow the project scope, and the time
and cost required to deliver that scope, to be determined early in the project life cycle.

©2013 Project Management Institute. Software Extension to the PMBOK Guide Fifth Edition 29
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