5 Phases of Project Management: Your Ultimate Guide to Project Success!

Quixy Editorial Team

February 6, 2024

An effective project manager (PM) is the foundation of every successful project. Despite the misconception that project managers are simply responsible for reminding everyone of deadlines and scheduling status meetings, this is not the case.

To perform these tasks effectively, they need to deeply understand the five phases of project management life cycle, which can be executed to perfection. This article will discuss what each of these phases entails and provide tips on how to achieve success.

The five phases of the project management life cycle were developed by the Project Management Institute (PMI) and include project conception, planning, execution, performance monitoring, and closure. Since its founding in 1969, PMI has been the world’s largest nonprofit membership association for project managers. The organization has set standards for managing projects, programs, and portfolios and offers training and certification programs. Project Management Professional (PMP)® certification is the association’s gold standard of certification. In addition to this certification, seven other types of project management certifications are available.

Approximately 80 PMI members worked together to create the text A Guide to the Project Management Book of Knowledge (PMBOK® Guide) to standardize project management information and practices. 

With a fifth edition in its current state, the PMBOK® Guide provides an overview of best practices used worldwide for achieving better outcomes. Even though PMBOK® Guide is a standard, it recognizes that every project is different. Using the techniques and phases described in the PMBOK® Guide, PMPs can customize their project to meet its unique requirements.

What is a Project Management?

Project management is the process of executing and completing projects. No matter whether it’s a one-time project or an ongoing one, a project manager typically leads it. Although responsibilities vary by industry and business, project managers usually determine the project’s objectives, components, and resources needed to accomplish them.

In different industries or projects, there are different types of project management. For instance, waterfall project management dictates that tasks are completed one after another. In agile project management, deliverables are continuously monitored and improved. Additionally, lean project management focuses on reducing waste in terms of time and resources.

Also Read: Revamp Project Management with No-Code

Demystifying the 5 Phases of Project Management

Effective project management is essential for successfully completing any initiative, whether it be a new product launch or a major organizational change. Managing a project involves a series of interrelated activities that help ensure that the project is successfully completed within the time frame, budget, & to the desired quality standards.

To achieve success in project management, it is common for project managers to follow a set of predefined phases that guide the project from start to finish. In this article, we will delve into the five phases of project management and share valuable tips on executing each phase efficiently. Whether you are an experienced project manager or a beginner, grasping these stages of project management is crucial for delivering successful projects.

1. Project initiation  

When embarking on a new project, it’s crucial to determine if it’s worth pursuing, and the initiation phase helps you do just that. During this phase, you’ll define the project’s objectives, identify the problems it aims to solve and establish the desired outcomes. Also, you’ll determine how to measure success and identify the internal and external stakeholders that need involvement. Essentially, the initiation phase sets the foundation for the entire project and ensures everyone involved is aligned on the project’s purpose and objectives. A simple way to describe the initial stages of project management is that it establishes meaningful goals from abstract ideas.

A framework for setting SMART goals

Consider using the SMART goal framework to identify your project’s goals. The acronym SMART stands for:

• S – Specific: Clearly define and unambiguously state your objectives.
• M – Measurable: Your progress towards your goals should be measured using specific criteria.
• A – Attainable: Do not set unrealistic goals.
• R – Relevant: Objectives should be realistic and achievable within your business.
• T – Time-bound: There should be a clear beginning and end date for your goals.

Let’s take the example of a car manufacturer developing an electric vehicle. The initiation phase will not include making decisions about the vehicle’s design, capacity, or battery power. There is only one certainty: an electric vehicle will be developed within the budget and timeframe provided.

Also Read: Agile Product Management Techniques for Faster Time to Market

2. Project planning  

You will establish clear goals using a project roadmap during the project planning stage of project management. Goal setting can be accomplished in several different ways. The three common project planning strategies are SMART goals, CLEAR goals, and objectives and key results (OKRs). 

SMART goals have been used extensively by many teams due to their ability to improve communication among members, define a clear roadmap, and produce measurable outcomes. 

A CLEAR goal is an acronym that stands for Collaborative, Limited, Emotional, Appreciable, and Refinable. The main reason why many teams prefer this method is that it is more realistic and focuses on collaboration. 

The OKR (Objectives and Key Results) method is a popular goal-setting framework that differs significantly from other methods. While traditional methods focus on creating projects and then setting objectives, the OKR approach starts with the objectives and then creates projects around them. This approach helps organizations make their goals visible to the entire organization and align everyone towards a common objective.

Your plan should be a comprehensive roadmap that not only outlines what needs to be accomplished but also breaks it down into manageable milestones and deliverables. This way, everyone involved knows their responsibilities and deadlines. In addition to task breakdowns and timelines, your plan should include a communication strategy, a plan for handling potential risks, and a contingency plan for worst-case scenarios.

When it comes to strategizing for this stage, there are various approaches you can adopt. One effective method is agile project management, which optimizes the use of development resources and ensures client requirements are met.

3. Project execution 

During the execution phase of a project, the team focuses on achieving the established objectives through collaboration and teamwork. To streamline the process, tasks can be assigned using a project management tool, allowing for easy resource access and communication. Visualization tools like timeline software can be used to track progress. Lastly, a clear methodology for tracking success should be prepared to ensure everyone is on the same page.

Also Read: Project Management Hacks 101: Handbook for Assured Success

You may wish to track specific performance indicators or set post-campaign objectives. 

The project schedule should be updated as needed to accommodate changing deadlines and workloads, and dependencies should be closed once they have been met. To meet a deadline, make sure your team’s schedule is organized by priority. To ensure that the project is on track and deliverables are met, checking in with team members frequently is a good idea. 

Despite schedule fluctuations, it is important to stay as close to the original timeline of phases of project management as possible to avoid scope creep. To put it another way, do not expand the scope of the project beyond its original intent.

4. Project controlling and monitoring 

To ensure that project objectives and deliverables are met, the project monitoring and control phase runs concurrently with the project execution phase.

Using Critical Success Factors (CSF) and Key Performance Indicators (KPI), you can ensure that no one deviates from the original plan.

It is also the manager’s responsibility to quantitatively track effort and cost during the monitoring phase of project management. Keeping track of the project ensures that the project remains within budget and provides helpful information for future projects.

Also Read: Project Management Simplified for Non-Project Managers

5. Project closing phase  

As a project nears completion, closure becomes a critical phase. This phase involves finalizing project deliverables, conducting a review of project results, and celebrating project achievements. The following steps are covered in this category:

• Delivering the deliverables
• The release of staff and resources
• Keeping all relevant project documents in a safe place or transferring them to the project team
• Contract cancellations with suppliers
• Ensure that all project activities are completed
• Finalizing the project budget and report
• Handover

After closure, you can conduct a post-implementation project review (sometimes called a ‘postmortem’ meeting). This is an opportunity to evaluate what worked well and what didn’t. Understanding failures, if any, can help you learn lessons and improve future projects.

Streamlining Project Management with No-Code Development

No-code solutions offer many advantages across the five phases of project management. During the initiation phase, no-code tools enable rapid prototyping, allowing stakeholders to quickly create prototypes and visualize their ideas before significantly investing time and resources. Additionally, no-code development facilitates early user involvement, providing a platform for gathering feedback and refining project requirements, ensuring alignment with user needs immediately.

In the planning phase, no-code platforms provide visual interfaces that simplify the creation of flowcharts, diagrams, and interactive mockups. This visual planning capability aids project managers in visualizing and mapping project workflows and processes, enhancing the overall planning and coordination efforts. Moreover, no-code tools assist in efficient resource allocation by offering features for task assignment, timeline tracking, and identifying potential bottlenecks. These functionalities enable project managers to optimize resource utilization and ensure smooth execution.

Enhance the efficiency of your project management process

In the present day, cloud-based project management software is a common method of storing all project-related documents.

When a project is divided into multiple phases, it appears more predictable. In addition, it provides a framework for planning and executing operations. In the past, spreadsheets and Post-it notes sufficed for project management. However, the requirements of digital project management have changed completely.

Planning, organizing, and tracking projects require the right tools. To simplify the project management phases for each project, you need an online project management software.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)