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Define project and explain its phases

Short answer

A project is a one-time, planned piece of work with a clear objective, start and end dates, a limited budget and a dedicated team. Its phases are initiation or concept, planning or definition, implementation or execution, and termination or closure. Each phase ends with a review gate, and its output is checked before the next phase starts.

Define the project in your own words and explain its phases.

A project, in simple words, is a one-time, planned piece of work with a clear objective, a start and end date, a limited budget and a team formed only for it, such as building a school or a bridge.

Phases of a project

The project life cycle is the series of phases a project passes through from its start to its end. Each phase ends with a review (gate) before the next begins. The common four-phase model is:

 Initiation -> Planning -> Implementation -> Termination
 (Concept)    (Definition)  (Execution)       (Closure)

 Effort
   ^        ___
   |      /    \___
   |   __/         \__
   |__/               \___
   +--------------------------> Time
PhaseMain work
Initiation / conceptIdentify need, pre-feasibility, objectives, preliminary cost, go or no-go decision
Planning / definitionDetailed design, WBS, schedule, budget, resource and risk plans, contracts
Implementation / executionMobilisation, procurement, construction or manufacturing, monitoring and control
Termination / closureTesting, handover, final payment, documentation, lessons learned, release of resources

Each phase produces an output that is checked before the next phase starts. Example (school building): initiation is need survey and approval; planning is design, estimate and tender; implementation is construction; termination is handover and final bill.

✓ Answer checked by Claude Opus 5.5 (high effort)

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