Which of the following is NOT a phase of the standard project life cycle?

• A. Initiating
• B. Planning
• C. Controlling
• D. Executing

Answer: (C)

Understanding the project life cycle helps distinguish how work is organized from start to finish. In the standard view, the phases are Initiating, Planning, Executing, Monitoring and Controlling, and Closing. The phrase Monitoring and Controlling describes one combined phase that covers tracking progress, comparing it to the plan, and making adjustments as needed. Controlling by itself isn’t named as a separate phase in this framework; it’s part of that larger Monitoring and Controlling phase (and is also described as a process group in some sources). So the option that uses Controlling alone isn’t a standalone phase, which is why it’s the correct choice. The other options—Initiating, Planning, and Executing—are indeed the recognized phases.