Project Concept

A project can be defined as an organization specifically created for the fulfillment of a goal and dissolved after its conclusion. It’s characterized for being temporary, having a well defined beginning and an end and obey to a plan and to a specific type of management: projects management.

 

Phases of a Project

Any project is formed by a more or less extensive lifecycle, depending on the kind of project, which can be summarized in 4 phases:

- Conception phase: this phase (also designated as proto project) consists on a previous study that aims to prepare the projects’ global conception and analyze its viability in functional, technical and financial terms. For that, are performed previous market studies, technical and financial, alternatives are analyzed and are submitted the first proposals of the project.

- Planning phase: planning phase is a depth into the work performed in the conception phase. Usually involves market studies, technical and financial studies, resources selection (material and human), schedule definition, budget and technical characteristics and at last presentation and attainment of approval for its implementation.

- Performance phase: performance phase corresponds to the implementation of the project taking into account the planning made, namely regarding deadlines, costs and quality. The work associated to this phase include the organization definition, allocation and management of the human resources, materials and financial, hiring of external equipments and services, deadlines verification and control, costs and quality, exterior contacts and re-planning.

- Conclusion phase: the conclusion phase of the project refers to the release of resources, documentation of the obtained results and the delivery of outputs.

 

 

Translated from Portuguese by Susana Saraiva, Portuguese-English and English-Portuguese translation specialist. Contact: spams@sapo.pt.