5 Phases of Project Management Life Cycle for Creatives
- Adilla
- Jul 18
- 3 min read
When it comes to the project management lifecycles, there’s a clear 5-step phase that comes with it. The project lifecycles are constant and often predictable, which helps project managers to set out what they should do next as they manage a project. This includes creative projects as well.
By understanding the project management phases, you can predict the risks of the project and be clear about the milestones and deliverables that need to be fulfilled.
5 Phases of Project Management Lifecycle
Phase 1: Project Initiation
The first stage of project lifecycles is when teams brainstorm and develop a goal for the project to focus on. Once that has been decided, the goal will be developed into a business case. Then, a draft of the project brief is made where details like objectives, goals, budget, and timeline prediction are listed.
For example, if a new line of fashion design is the goal. The initiation phase of this project would only include an estimation of the budget and the timeframe of when this new line of clothes would be released.
Phase 2: Project Planning
This phase is where details are required—the roadmap of a project. Methods like agile project management can be implemented in this cycle. Typically, this phase takes almost half of the entire project’s time frame, as listing the required details for a project is the key to a successful project.
You can also use planning methods like the SMART Goals and CLEAR Goals for this stage to better list out the essentials of a project. A detailed project timeline will prevent issues of misinformation or delays from unclear tasks.
Phase 3: Project Execution
This is where the project begins, and as a project manager, it is important to establish efficient workflows as you monitor your team’s progress. Set a schedule every other week or as many times as you see fit, according to your project’s needs, to ensure everyone is on track and is on the same page about where the project is going.
Utilise tools from project management software that come with features where teams can share feedback in real time. For example, our TESSR Review makes it possible for creatives to provide contextual comments without having to switch applications.
Phase 4: Monitoring and Controlling
This phase coincides with the third phase of the project. As the project progresses, it is crucial to ensure that everything is moving forward smoothly. If any issues arise, project managers should be prepared to address them promptly.
Phase 5: Project Closure
The final phase of project management involves finalising paperwork and documentation to signify the closing of a project. Other than that, a reflection meeting would be required to list out the successes and failures of the project to be a point of reference for the next project.
By reviewing a previous project before moving on to the next, methods that worked can be reused, and the ones that didn’t work can be improved.
Why Do These Cycles Improve Creative Projects?
Other than having a clear framework of the project, these phases help settle uncertainties and complexities of a creative project. Clarity in the phases of creative projects helps find loopholes and set realistic expectations of how creative project goals can be achieved without overexerting creatives in the process.
Key Takeaways on the 5 Phases of Project Management for Creative Work
The five phases of project management lifecycles provide a clear framework to guide any project to success.
Not only structure, but also clarity helps reduce hiccups and keeps progress steady, especially in the creative field.
Creative projects often face unpredictability along the way, therefore making project structure even more crucial.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What are the 5 stages of project management?
The five stages of project management are initiation, planning, execution, monitoring and controlling, and closure.
Which phase is the most important?
Out of all the phases in the lifecycle of project management, planning is the most important part. It holds the bare bones of the project, and without it, the project will not execute smoothly.
How do I apply project management to creative work?
When applying project management to creative work, you have to keep in mind the buffer time and the risks that could potentially happen when the project is executed to prevent delays to the project.
Author Bio
With a background in Arts English, Adilla has been a casual writer for various hobbies like parodies of animated shows and plots for board games. She loves to read anything and everything from fantasy stories to articles on tips and tricks. Now an advocate for mental health and effective project management for the creative industry. Currently, Adilla resides in Malaysia and is a creative writer at TESSR. To know more about her, check out her LinkedIn.
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