The Systems Development Life Cycle

Exhibit 3-2 shows the relationship of the project and systems life cycles, along with the typical project manager and project team activities during each of the phases. From this graphic, it should be clear that the project life cycle activities have more to do with planning, administration, and leadership—all those activities necessary to ensure that plans and processes are in place to ensure a smoothly running project. The SDLC activities, on the other hand, are focused on the technical aspects of producing the project deliverables.

Although there is a definite overlap and merging of activities between the models, it is important that the project manager and his organization realize that the project life cycle encompasses all the activities of the project, whereas the SDLC focuses on the activities of the product. Each of the PLC and SDLC phase activities is explained in more detail below.