Lesson 2 - System Development Lifecycle

What is a project?

A unique set of co-ordinated activities, with definite starting and finishing points, undertaken by an individual or organisation to meet specific objectives within defined schedule, cost and performance parameters.

Project Management

This is the planning, monitoring and control of all aspects of a project from the begining until the end. Project Management also usually involves the motivation of all those involved in it to achieve the project objectives.

When a project starts there should be a clear business case, this should cover amongst other things:

Project Success Criteria

At the start of a project there should be a set of criteria drawn up detailing the criteria for success. This is a way of measuring if the project has been successful or not. Critieria for success should be:


When working on projects to develop and deliver new computer systems you will often hear the term System Development lifecyle. This refers to the stages or phases that a project will go through whilst developing systems.