Pinto and Prescott (1988) associate critical success factors with project success through the use of project phases. These project phases include conceptualization, planning, execution, and termination. Some authors (Darnall & Preston, 2010b) use similar terms for the project phasesinitiation, planning, execution, and close out. Although the authors use different terms, there is a constant theme of a project life cycle with common activities during defined stages of a project.

Note: The authors of your course text use the term project phase, while the PMBOK uses project life-cycle processes.

Identify a project you worked on or are familiar with. Did the project go through a life cycle? Were the processes of this life cycle consistent with those described in the PMBOK? Were the critical success factors consistent with the life cycle, as described by Pinto and Prescott?

Post word response that addresses the following:

• Describe the project you identified, along with two or three activities in each process of the project life cycle.
• Explain the critical success factors in each process.

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The PMI organizes project management knowledge into project management processes and knowledge areas. The project management process group also aligns very closely with the project life cycle. The first project management process group, the initiating process group, occurs during the start-up of the project. The closing process group occurs during the closeout of a project. Planning, executing, and monitoring project management processes that occur throughout the life cycle of a project can vary significantly, depending on the profile of the project. Submit word paper in which you select one of the project management process groups (initiating, planning, executing, monitoring, or controlling) and address the following: 1. Describe the activities that should occur within this process group. 2. Analyze the critical success factors that align with this process group.