A project lifecycle is defined as:

A project lifecycle is the series of phases that a project passes through from its initiation to its closure. These phases provide the fundamental framework for managing the project. While the names and number of phases are determined by the management and control needs of the organization(s) involved, they are typically sequential. However, in some project situations, phases can overlap to compress the schedule, a practice known as fast-tracking. This structure of sequential and sometimes overlapping phases is the core definition of a project lifecycle.

1. Project Management Institute. (2021). A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK® Guide) (7th ed.). Project Management Institute. Section 2.5.2, Development Approach and Life Cycle Performance Domain, p. 53.

2. Project Management Institute. (2017). A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK® Guide) (6th ed.). Project Management Institute. Section 1.2.4.1, Project Life Cycle, p. 19.

3. Shenhar, A. J., & Dvir, D. (2007). Reinventing Project Management: The Diamond Approach to Successful Growth and Innovation. Harvard Business School Press. Chapter 2, "The Project Life Cycle," discusses the sequence of phases from start to finish.