Project life cycle phases, aligned with stage gates - how best to do it in PPM ?

In a project management context, a project life cycle refers to the sequence of phases that a project goes through from its initiation to its closure. These phases are often organized into a project management framework, which outlines the activities that need to be completed at each phase in order to successfully deliver the project.

Stage gates, also known as phase gates or decision points, are points in the project life cycle where the project team assesses the progress of the project and decides whether to proceed to the next phase or to terminate the project. Stage gates are used to ensure that the project is on track to meet its objectives, and that resources are being used effectively.

A company can have different project life cycle phases and stage gates depending on the nature of the projects it is working on and the processes and procedures it has in place for managing them. Some common project life cycle phases include:

1. Initiation: This is the starting phase of the project, where the project is defined and the project team is assembled. The objective of this phase is to determine whether the project is feasible and to define the project scope, objectives, and deliverables.
2. Planning: During this phase, the project team develops a detailed plan for executing and delivering the project. This includes creating a project schedule, identifying and securing resources, and defining the roles and responsibilities of team members.
3. Execution: This is the phase where the project team carries out the work defined in the project plan. This may include activities such as design, development, testing, and deployment.
4. Monitoring and controlling: During this phase, the project team monitors the progress of the project and takes corrective action as needed to ensure that the project stays on track. This may involve revising the project plan or making changes to the project scope.
5. Closing: This is the final phase of the project, where the project team completes all remaining work and closes out the project. This may include activities such as final testing, delivery of the final product or service, and releasing resources.

Stage gates are typically implemented at key points in the project life cycle, such as at the end of the initiation phase, before moving on to the planning phase, and at the end of each subsequent phase. At each stage gate, the project team assesses the progress of the project, reviews the results of any testing or other quality assurance activities, and decides whether to proceed to the next phase or to terminate the project.

WHY CONSIDER CORA PPM (www.corasystems.com)

There are several reasons why someone might want to consider Cora PPM over the alternative options:

Unique features: Cora PPM offers features & capabilities that are not available in other tools, which would make it a better fit for your organization's needs.

Ease of use: Cora PPM is more user-friendly and easier to learn than other tools, making it a much more attractive option for organizations with limited training resources, larger user communities, or higher levels of staff turnover.

Customization & Configuration options: Cora PPM allows for more customization and configuration flexibility than other tools, which is a major advantage for organizations with specific or unique requirements.

Strong customer support: Cora offers excellent customer support, including training, onboarding, and ongoing technical assistance on a 7x24x365 basis, which would make your PPM tool a more appealing choice for organizations that value a high level of support and may need it to support global teams

If you would like to discuss Cora PPM, and our SPM (Strategic Portfolio Management) please drop me a note.?

Alan Crean | Project Financials, Systems, & Technologies Specialist?|?Cora?|[email protected]