A life cycle of project is the span of time between the beginning and end of a project. It encompasses all the steps that are taken to bring an idea from conception to completion. The goal is to create a product, service, or solution that provides value to the customer. Every project has its own unique life cycle. Projects typically start with a needs assessment, followed by research & development, planning & design, development & testing, deployment & execution, and finally, closeout & closure. Careful attention should be paid to each phase of the life cycle in order to ensure successful project outcomes.