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Extended project life cycle

In an extended project life cycle, projects incorporate the management of change and the realisation of benefits.

The most common type of life cycle is the linear life cycle, sometimes known as the linear sequential model or waterfall method, illustrated below:

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The scope of a project life-cycle can take various forms to suit the context:

Traditional project life cycle: Projects will be stand-alone or part of a programme and will only be concerned with delivering outputs
Extended project life cycle: Projects that incorporate the management of change and the realisation of benefits (also known as business realisation)

Some projects may include the full product life cycle, eg, whole-life costing.

Your task

Consider the need for including business realisation as a phase in the project life cycle and think about some of the projects that you’ve been involved with recently or in the past.

Share some of the challenges you’ve faced during the life cycle of the project and give recommendations you would provide to others in regards to addressing these challenges.