Phase 3: Execution

The third phase of the project life cycle is the execution phase.

Eventually, projects must move into the third—and longest—phase of the project management lifecycle: the execution. This part of the process puts that game plan you spent so much time on into action.

The specific objectives of your team in this phase should look something like this:

• Planned activities and tasks are executed
• Deliverables and products are constructed
• Deliverables and products are presented to key stakeholders

Your duties as a project manager in this phase should look something like this:

• Primary focus pivots from performing and supervising to creating project deliverables
• Continual tracking of the project's progress to ensure everything stays on schedule
• Taking on a more passive role so that your team has space to reach goals on their own

During your project's execution, it's essential to give teams the autonomy to do things in ways they feel are most effective. Equally important is your ability to ensure your project stays on track through excellent management of:

• People
• Processes
• Communication

Striking a balance in these things generates projects that are completed on time and within budget. It also ensures that teams and stakeholders stay motivated and satisfied throughout the process.

This phase is necessary to set the plan in motion. Each stakeholder and team member has been named and each task has been delegated to certain members based on their expertise. A project manager leads and manages the team to ensure the project is completed on time. The project status template along with weekly or biweekly meetings can keep the project on track and monitor performance, budget spend, and time allocated to the project.

During the execution phase, the project team tests out the prototype and receives feedback on how the project is doing. If any issues arise, this is the period in which they are resolved and ongoing maintenance can be performed. In some cases, an issue can only be resolved by changing something in the original plan. A project change request form can be filled out by the stakeholder to identify if the change is feasible by analyzing how it will affect the project.