Module2 Organizational Influences and

Project Life Cycle

 The Project Life Cycle

The project life cycle is the agglomeration of all phases in the project
All projects are divided into phases, and all projects, large or small,
have a similar life cycle structure.: Starting the project , organizing and
preparing , carrying out the project work and closing the project
At a minimum, project will have a beginning or initiation phase, an
intermediate phase or phases, and an ending phase.
Each phase has a defined endpoint
Characteristics of Project Life Cycle
Characteristics of Project Life Cycle
 Project Phases and the Project Life Cycle

A project life cycle is a collection of project phases that defines:

What work will be performed in each phase
What deliverables will be produced and when
Who is involved in each phase
How management will control and approve work produced in each phase

A deliverable is a product or service produced or provided as part of a

project
 Handoffs

Project phases evolve through the life cycle in a series of phases

sequences called handoffs, or technical transfers. The end of one phase

sequence typically marks the beginning of the next.
 Phase-to-Phase Relationships

There are three basic types of phasetophase relationships :

A Sequential relationship : where a phase can only start once the
previous phase is complete

An Overlapping relationship : where the phase starts prior to

completion of the previous one (Fast tracking). Overlapping phase
may increase risk and can result in rework .

An Iterative relationship : where only one phase is planned at any

given time and the planning for the next is carried out as work
progresses on the current phase and deliverables
 Organizational Influences

Some organizational aspects that influence how project are performed:

Culture and style (Cultural norms)

Organizational structure

Degree of project management maturity

Project management systems

Types of Organizational Structures (1)
Types of Organizational Structures (1)
Types of Organizational Structures (2)
Types of Organizational Structures (2)
Types of Organizational Structures (3)
Types of Organizational Structures (3)
Organizational Structure
 Organizational Structure
Advantages
Functional Easier management of specialists
Team members report to only one
supervisor
Similar resources are centralized, as
the company is grouped by specialties
Clearly defined career paths in areas
of work specialization
Projectized Efficient project organization
Loyalty to the project
More effective communication than
functional
Matrix Highly visible project objectives
Improved project manager control over
resources
More support from functional area
Maximum utilization of scarce resources
Better coordination
Disadvantages
People place more emphasis on their
functional specialty to the detriment of the
project
No career path in project management
The project manager has little or no
authority
No home when project is completed
Lack of professionalism in disciplines
Duplication of facilities and job functions
Less efficient use of resources
Extra administration is required
More than one boss for project teams
More complex to monitor and control
Tougher problems with resource allocation
Need extensive policies and procedures
 Organizational Process Assets

Processes & Procedures

Organizational standard processes such as standards, policies
Standardized guidelines, work instruction, proposal evaluation criteria,
and performance measurement criteria
Templates
Financial control procedures
Procedures for prioritizing, approving, and issuing work authorization
Etc.
 Organizational Process Assets

Corporate Knowledge Base

Process measurement databases

Project files

Historical information & lesson learned knowledge bases

Issue and defect management databases

Configuration management knowledge bases

Financial databases

Etc.
 Next Topic
2.1 Organizational Influences on
Project Management