New
New
Year 11

Project lifecycle

I can explain the purpose and stages of the project lifecycle.

New
New
Year 11

Project lifecycle

I can explain the purpose and stages of the project lifecycle.

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Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Initiation is about understanding the problem or brief, including audience research and defining success.
  2. Planning involves mapping out how you will solve the problem and create your product or solution.
  3. Execution is the creating stage where plans are turned into reality.
  4. The testing and evaluation stage involves critically assessing the end product to identify areas for improvement.
  5. Closure or presentation is about bringing the project to a formal close and sharing the final work.

Keywords

  • Initiation - the start of the project, where you understand the problem or client brief

  • Execution - following the planning to create the solution or product

  • Success criteria - set out areas that should be included so that the product meets all the expectations of the initial brief

Common misconception

The lifecycle is a plan you follow from start to finish in sequence.

Once you get to the testing and evaluation stage, you may move back to the execution stage until you are happy with the product.


To help you plan your year 11 computing lesson on: Project lifecycle, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...

Asking students to look at a current project and create a SMART target can help them understand how to structure it.
Teacher tip

Equipment

Pupils do not require any specific equipment for this lesson.

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2025), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

Lesson video

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Prior knowledge starter quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
What is the term for information that is created and stored on a computer?

Correct Answer: digital artefact, digital, digital artefacts, digital artifact, digital artifacts

Q2.
What is the term for an object you can touch and use in the real world?

Correct Answer: physical, physical artefact, physical artefacts, physical artifact, physical artifacts

Q3.
What happens when you print a digital document?

Correct answer: It becomes a physical artefact.
It disappears.
It becomes a digital artefact.
It is deleted.

Q4.
Which of these is not a digital artefact?

a spreadsheet file
a photo stored on a USB stick
Correct answer: a handwritten note
an audio recording on your laptop

Q5.
Arrange these steps for turning a digital artefact into a physical one that you can hold.

1 - Create a file on a computer.
2 - Save the file.
3 - Print the file.
4 - Hold the printed object.

Q6.
Why might someone create a digital artefact before making a physical one?

to save energy
to work as a team
Correct answer: to plan or test designs
to avoid using technology

Assessment exit quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
Put these stages of the project lifecycle into the correct order.

1 - initiation
2 - planning
3 - execution
4 - testing and evaluation
5 - closure or presentation

Q2.
What is the main purpose of the initiation stage in a project lifecycle?

to write the final report
to purchase equipment
to present the finished product
Correct answer: to understand the problem and define success

Q3.
What is the acronym commonly used for setting effective goals in project planning?

Correct Answer: SMART

Q4.
What is the main goal of testing and evaluation?

to finish quickly
to ignore feedback
Correct answer: to assess the product and find ways to improve it
to skip to closure

Q5.
Match each stage of the project lifecycle to its description.

Correct Answer:initiation,understanding the problem or client brief

understanding the problem or client brief

Correct Answer:planning,mapping out how to solve the problem

mapping out how to solve the problem

Correct Answer:execution,creating the solution or product

creating the solution or product

Correct Answer:testing and evaluation,critically assessing the end product for improvements

critically assessing the end product for improvements

Correct Answer:closure or presentation,bringing the project to a formal close and sharing the work

bringing the project to a formal close and sharing the work

Q6.
Why might you revisit the execution stage after testing?

to celebrate
Correct answer: to make improvements based on feedback
to close the project early
to skip planning