Chapter 2
Thinking Through the Life of Your Project
In This Chapter
Understanding the lifespan of the project
Seeing the different characteristics of each stage
Knowing what to do at each point in your project
Dealing with project documentation and not letting it take over
This chapter covers the lifespan of the project from the initial idea through to closure. Sometimes seeing how things like business justification, planning and risk management fit into a project can be difficult until you have the big picture, so this chapter provides that big picture. It covers what you need to do and at what points, and it also mentions a couple of key project documents that you may find helpful.
Being Methodical
Projects have a sequence from the first idea through to closure, and this chapter provides you with a clear structure, although it is simple. If, after reading this book, you want to move on to a more detailed approach, you can use a project methodology. A number of methodologies exist, such as:
PRINCE2® (PRojects IN a Controlled Environment): Owned by the UK Government
PRIME (PRoject IMplementation Method): A powerful but straightforward business-focused project method that Nick Graham, co-author of this book, has helped produce
Other methodologies include those associated with tools like Microsoft Project and those developed by most major consultancies for use with their clients. In all cases, methodologies offer a structure that takes you through your project. PRINCE2 is rather ...
