Introduction
Project management is usually related to large-scale business or technical projects. However, in our daily lives, there also exists a project life cycle. In our daily life, whether it’s preparing a class presentation, writing a paper, or planning a short trip, every aspect, from big to small, is closely related to project management. This article will explore how common daily tasks reflect the main stages of the project life cycle, including initiation, planning, execution, monitoring, and conclusion.The framework specifies major activities and deliverables for each project phase as well as guideline questions for the phase end reviews or gates [1].
The Process of Managing Daily Tasks as Projects
First, start with the execution phase, which occurs during the activities of the execution plan. The focus of this stage is to complete the tasks as planned. The initial phase, Conceptualization, refers to the point at which a strategic need has been recognized by top management [2]. For instance, when we start researching, creating slides and practicing presentations. Having ave a general impression of what needs to be done in our mind and start to arrange the tasks. Have a clear understanding of the theme of the ppt you are making, and then be well-informed about the sub-themes within the main theme. Of course, this also includes other preparatory work. Determine the style of the ppt based on the topic of this speech. One should have goals and plans. For instance, if the speech is scheduled for Wednesday, then one needs to be well-prepared before Wednesday.
Now that we have a plan, what we need to do next is to complete the task according to the plan. From the initiation and planning stage in daily life to the execution stage, this is another new process of this matter. During the start-up and planning stage, we haven’t really started doing this yet. But when it comes to the execution stage, we need to start working on it. When it comes to making slides, we need to start researching, making slides and practicing presentations. The focus of this stage is to complete the tasks as planned.
Then comes the next stage. Monitoring and control are also very important in daily activities. When unexpected problems arise (such as limited time or technical issues), we often check the progress and adjust the plan. This process helps ensure that the task can still be completed before the deadline. Effective monitoring can promote efficiency improvement. During the process of making a ppt, it is necessary to check the progress of your ppt production. From a broad perspective to a novel, first look at the overall completion of the ppt to see if it well explains the theme to be expressed. Is the overall color tone of the ppt in line with the theme? These are all the issues we need to consider. On a smaller scale, is the content of each ppt page complete? Do the font and format size need to be adjusted? These detailed points also need to be taken into consideration, as details usually affect the overall effect. If the details are done well, the overall effect presented will also be better. Also, we need to deal with problems during the task process, such as insufficient time, illness, and task delays. When making a ppt, one should have a rough estimate of the completion time in mind, so as to complete it in an organized manner according to the plan, avoiding the sense of haste caused by insufficient time and also preventing the problem of task delay.
Outcomes and Self-Reflection in the Project Life Cycle
The final stage is the closing and reflection phase. The closing stage occurs when the task is completed. For instance, we have finished the presentation this time. At this stage, individuals can reflect on their performance and consider areas that can be improved in future projects. At each stage of the project life cycle, individuals’ cognitive representations of the self, or self-schemata, may undergo changes [3]. Studying and understanding project management from the project life cycle would help track project information and improve project management continuously [4]. After the presentation, we can reflect on whether we have any shortcomings this time so as to make better improvements next time. For instance, the theme of this ppt was not expressed clearly enough and the content was not rich enough to complete. Therefore, with these experiences, I can do better when making a presentation next time.
Consideration
Everyday activities clearly reflect each stage of the project life cycle. By understanding these processes in daily life through the different stages of their completion and development, we can manage our time and tasks more effectively. Understanding project management is not only useful in professional Settings but also in daily life.
References
[1] C. Labuschagne and A. C. Brent, “Sustainable project life cycle management: The need to integrate life cycles in the manufacturing sector,” International Journal of Project Management, vol. 23, no. 2, pp. 159–168, 2005.
[2] J. K. Pinto and D. P. Slevin, “Critical success factors across the project life cycle,” in Proceedings of the Project Management Institute Seminar/Symposium, Drexel Hill, PA, USA, Jun. 1988.
[3] R. E. Kleine and S. S. Kleine, “Consumption and self-schema changes throughout the identity project life cycle,” Advances in Consumer Research, vol. 27, no. 1, pp. 279–285, 2000.
[4] T. Wang and H. M. Chen, “Integration of building information modeling and project management in construction project life cycle,” Automation in Construction, vol. 150, Art. no. 104832, 2023.
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