Project Objective and Project Life Cycle Phases

1.3. Project Objective and Goal

Objectives are the end towards which the activities of a project are directed. A project has clearly defined objectives. Project ceases to exist when objectives have been achieved. Objectives are defined to make sure we have identified the right target and create team commitment.

The goal of any project should clearly state what the project will deliver at the end. Goals are purpose and mission for the initiating project which is set at the start of the project. Goal setting takes time, energy, and dialogue.

Goal setting criteria

Goal and objectives of a project should be SMART, we called this as SMART criteria of goal setting.

S= Specific (clear and well defined)

The more specific the goal clearer target you set for yourself. So goal always needs to as specific and clearly defined as the possible i.e. goal should be detailed and describe exactly what project will deliver. For example, if you want to write a book, don’t just say I want to write a book be more specific about its title of the book, how many page it will contain and by what time you will finish.

M= Measurable

Second, the goal should be measurable so that project outcome can be measured and compared. If we can measure progress it will help us to see fruits of our labor and motivate us to keep moving forward.

A= Achievable/Attainable

We must set the goal that can be achieved within current restrictions, such as schedule, workload, knowledge, and technology. Setting an unrealistic goal will lead you to failure even before the start. And also goal must be agreed by all the members of the team.

R= Realistic

The goal must be attainable or realistic i.e. possible under the limited set of resources available. So set the goal that has realistic chance of achieving. For example, if your exam is about to start in two days and you haven’t started reading yet, it is pretty unrealistic to set the goal of scoring distinction marks.

T= Time-framed

Last and most important, all smart goal must be time bound. The project should have deadline by which plan to have the goal completed, setting deadline reinforces the seriousness of goal and motivates us to take action. If there is no internal pressure to the complete project will never get completed.

Example of smart goal

“I want to have 8 roomed two storey building in Baneshwor, Kathmandu with garden and swimming pool by two years from now”.

1.4. Project Life Cycle Phases

The project cannot continue endlessly, it is a temporary job. A project depending upon its nature, size, type, and complexity passes through different well-defined phases from its inception to successful completion. Collectively project phases are known as project life cycle phases.

In civil engineering normally there are three phases

i. Pre-construction.

ii. Construction phase.

iii. Post construction phase.

Following five phases contribute to developing a project from an idea to reality.

i. Initiation Phase

ii. Planning phase

iii. Engineering and Design Phase

iv. Implementation Phase

v. Termination/Divestment Phase

r

Above graph shows the resource consumption in different phases of a project.

i. Initiation Phase

In this phase:

Conceptual study: It includes preliminary identification and formulation of the project.

Feasibility study: It is done to gather more information about different aspects of the project like location, nature, size, resources required, equipment, and users who will be benefitted.

Market study: This phase includes the study of different marketing aspect and demand of product considering potential size and composition of the market.

After this phase, project’s feasibility from different aspects is analyzed, if the feasible project is undertaken otherwise not.

ii. Planning phase

This phase includes:

Work breakdown structure (WBS): Activities of the project is broken down into smaller fragment so that it is easy to control and monitor project’s progress.

Cost and schedule planning: After breaking down the project, time and cost estimate of each smaller fragment is assigned depending upon past experience and work complexity. Total time and cost estimate is also prepared.

Contract term and condition: Contract is legal document agreed by client and contractor. The contract terms are approved in this phase, to accomplish the project in right time, cost and quality specifications. The contract may be lump-sum, unit rate etc.

At the end of this phase, time and cost estimate is known and major contracts are let.

iii. Engineering and Design Phase

This phase includes following two steps:

Preliminary Engineering and design: It includes engineering concepts, evaluation of technological capability, size and capacity decisions, and economic studies. For example in the designing road, the preliminary design requires information about road alignment, gradient, number and type of cross-drainage, the location of the bridge, geological condition etc.

Detailed engineering and decision: In this, each and every structural element is designed in detail and analyzed. This detailed phase includes architects, interior designers, and engineering disciplines including civil, electrical, mechanical, and chemical etc.

iv. Implementation Phase

In this phase:

Application of design and paper work physically on the site.

Manufacturing, installation, and testing of machines and civil works.

Monitoring, evaluating and controlling is done to chack project progress at any stage of project implementation.

The facility is substantially completed at this phase.

v. Termination/Divestment Phase

This is the end of project and project is brought to its completion.

Final testing and maintenance of the project are done and handed over to the client and resources are released to other projects.

A basic task in this phase is evaluation and handover of the project product to the customer.

Bibliography:

IshwarAdhikari and Santosh Kr. Shrestha, “A text book of Project Engineering” 2011, Chandeshwori Publication, First Edition.

K. Nagarajan, “Project Management”, ISBN: 81-224-1340-4, New Age International (P) Limited, New Delhi, India, 2001.

E.R. Yescombe, “Principles of Project Finance” 2002, Yescombe-Consulting Limited.