Which sequence correctly represents the five phases of the project life cycle?

• A. Initiating, Planning, Executing, Monitoring and Controlling, Closing
• B. Planning, Initiating, Executing, Closing, Monitoring
• C. Initiating, Executing, Planning, Monitoring, Closing
• D. Initiating, Planning, Controlling, Executing, Closing

Answer: (A)

The sequence reflects moving through the project from beginning to end in logical order: you first establish why the project exists and obtain authorization, then plan in detail, then do the work, keep an eye on progress and adjust as needed, and finally close out the project. The five steps are Initiating, Planning, Executing, Monitoring and Controlling, and Closing.

Initiating sets the project in motion by defining the purpose, high-level objectives, and stakeholders, and by securing authorization to proceed. Planning follows, turning those objectives into a concrete roadmap: scope, schedule, resources, risks, quality, and how progress will be measured. Executing is where the actual work happens, delivering the project’s outputs. As work proceeds, Monitoring and Controlling runs continuously to track performance, compare it to the plan, manage changes, and keep the project aligned with goals. Finally, Closing wraps things up: confirming deliverables, obtaining acceptance, releasing resources, and capturing lessons learned for future work.

Why the other orders don’t fit cleanly: starting with planning before initiating lacks the necessary authorization and clarity of purpose, so the plan wouldn’t have a legitimate basis. Executing before planning skips the essential road mapping that guides how the work should be done. Closing before monitoring and controlling would prevent timely tracking and adjustment of the project as it unfolds. Placing controlling before executing also disrupts the natural flow of building and refining the plan before doing the work.