--- title: "Characteristics of project life cycles" subject: "ICT Project Management" chapter: 4 key: "semester_7/ict_project_management:project-life-cycle-characteristics" source: https://www.bctengineer.com/q/semester_7/ict_project_management/project-life-cycle-characteristics site: BCT Engineering --- # Characteristics of project life cycles ICT Project Management · Chapter 4: Project Management - Asked in: year not given - Video: [Project Life Cycle in Project Management : 4 Stages of Project life cycle EXPLAINED](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5DurtA7MXto) — Leaders Talk - ThinkEduca - Answer checked by Claude Opus 5.5 (high effort) on 2026-10-14 - Page: https://www.bctengineer.com/q/semester_7/ict_project_management/project-life-cycle-characteristics - Whole chapter: https://www.bctengineer.com/md/semester_7/ict_project_management/chapter-4 ## Question What are the characteristics of project life cycles? ## Short answer Project life cycles have sequential phases with low early cost and effort peaking in execution; risk and stakeholder influence are highest at the start, while the cost of changes increases later. Each phase ends with a deliverable and a gate review, and different skills are needed across phases. ## Answer A project life cycle is a collection of generally sequential phases. The common characteristics, as described in PMBOK, are as follows. #### Characteristics 1. **Phases are sequential and sometimes overlap**: each phase ends with the transfer of a deliverable, such as a design document or prototype. 2. **Cost and staffing levels are low at the start, peak in the middle (execution), and drop rapidly near the close.** 3. **Risk and uncertainty are highest at the start.** As the project proceeds the probability of successful completion normally improves. 4. **Stakeholders' influence is highest at the start and gradually decreases** as the project progresses. 5. **The cost of changes and of correcting errors increases as the project continues.** A requirement error found in testing costs far more than one found in analysis. 6. **Each phase has defined deliverables and entry/exit criteria.** 7. **Phase-end reviews (gates, kill points)** decide whether to continue, modify or stop the project. 8. **Different skills and resources** are needed in different phases. 9. **Phases are time-bound** and are usually named after the main work, e.g. design, build, test. 10. **Life cycles may be predictive, iterative, incremental or adaptive**, according to how well the requirements are known. ```text Cost of change | / | ___/ | ____/ |____________/ +----------------------> time Concept Execute Close ``` #### Illustration In an ICT project, most staff are engaged during coding and testing (peak effort), while few are needed during concept and close-out. Feasibility reviews at the end of concept stop weak projects before major spending. These characteristics guide the manager on when to invest in planning and risk reduction: early on, when influence is highest and change is cheapest. ## Check yourself The answer's key points as multiple-choice questions, with the correct option and why. 1. How do cost and staffing levels typically vary over a project life cycle? A. Highest at the start, declining steadily to the end B. Low at the start, peak during execution, drop rapidly near close C. Constant throughout all phases D. Low at the start and highest at closing Answer: B. Effort builds up as the work begins, peaks during execution and falls quickly as the project closes. (Key point: Cost and staffing profile) 2. When are risk and uncertainty highest in a project? A. At the start of the project B. During execution only C. Near the close-out phase D. They remain equal throughout Answer: A. At the start little is known, so uncertainty is highest; the chance of success improves as the project proceeds. (Key point: Risk and uncertainty) 3. Why is it important to find a requirement error during analysis rather than testing? A. Testing cannot detect requirement errors B. Stakeholders have more influence during testing C. Staffing is lowest during testing D. The cost of changes and corrections rises as the project continues Answer: D. Change becomes more expensive later, so errors found in testing cost far more than those found in analysis. (Key point: Cost of change) 4. How does stakeholders' ability to influence the project change with time? A. Lowest at the start and highest at the end B. Highest in the middle of execution C. Highest at the start and gradually decreases D. Unchanged throughout Answer: C. Early decisions are cheap to change, so influence is greatest then and falls as the project progresses. (Key point: Stakeholder influence) ## Related in ICT Project Management - [Project life cycles in detail](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_7%2Fict_project_management%3Aproject-life-cycles) — ICT Project Management, chapter 4 - [Product versus project life cycle](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_7%2Fict_project_management%3Aproduct-vs-project-life-cycle) — ICT Project Management, chapter 4 - [Project development life cycle phases](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_7%2Fict_project_management%3Aproject-development-life-cycle) — ICT Project Management, chapter 1 - [Characteristics of a project](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_7%2Fict_project_management%3Aproject-characteristics) — ICT Project Management, chapter 1 ## Related in other subjects - [Project life cycle phases and activities](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_7%2Fproject_engineering%3Alife-cycle-phases-activities) — Project Engineering, chapter 1, asked 5× - [Scope of CM and project life cycle phases](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_8%2Fconstruction_management%3Ascope-lifecycle-phases) — Construction Management, chapter 1, asked 4× - [Gumbel flood at given risk, 50-year project life](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_5%2Fengineering_hydrology%3Agumbel-risk-63-58-4200) — Engineering Hydrology, chapter 6 - [Define project and its characteristics](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_7%2Fproject_engineering%3Adefine-project-characteristics) — Project Engineering, chapter 1, asked 4×