The project lifecycle is the sequence of phases a project moves through from the decision to initiate it to its formal closure. Defining the lifecycle gives a project structure: each phase has a purpose, a set of activities, expected deliverables, and a gate review where stakeholders confirm the phase is complete before authorizing the next. Without a defined lifecycle, projects tend to drift — teams begin execution before planning is complete, or continue executing after objectives have been met.

Standard Lifecycle Phases

While specific names vary by methodology and industry, most project lifecycles include these phases:

  • Initiation — Define the business case, issue the project charter, and formally authorize the project
  • Planning — Define scope, build the project schedule, plan resources and budget, set the performance baseline
  • Execution — Perform the work, manage teams, procure materials, produce deliverables
  • Monitoring & Control — Track progress against the plan, manage changes, report to stakeholders (runs parallel to execution)
  • Closure — Confirm deliverable acceptance, release resources, document lessons learned, formally close the project

Predictive vs. Adaptive Lifecycles

A predictive (or plan-driven) lifecycle completes each phase before the next begins. The full scope is defined upfront, a detailed schedule is built, and the project follows the plan. This is the waterfall approach, well-suited to projects where requirements are stable.

An adaptive lifecycle delivers work in repeated short cycles (iterations or sprints), allowing requirements to evolve with each delivery. The overall lifecycle still has initiation and closure, but the middle phases loop repeatedly rather than proceeding once.

Project Lifecycle in Maverick

Maverick is designed for predictive lifecycles. Each phase becomes a section of the Gantt chart, with milestones marking the gate between phases and predecessor links ensuring execution cannot begin before planning is complete. The AI chat can build a phased schedule from a description of the project type, suggesting phase durations and task structures based on the work involved.

Related Terms

Project Charter  ·  Project Scope  ·  Milestone  ·  Waterfall  ·  Project Baseline

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