System development life cycle originated in the 1960’s when there was a need to develop large-scale business systems. The aim of the cycle is to develop high-quality systems based on customer’s requirements, and that meets and exceeds the clients expectations. The cycle ensures that systems are delivered within budget and the estimated time frames. The cycle has planning, designing, building, testing and delivering as the work phases (Radack 2009).The cycle begins with initiation and concept development which define the scope of the system. This is followed by planning where the plan for the project is developed, and requirements analyzed. This is followed by designing where there is the transformation of ideas into complete detailed systems that show the functionality. The next step is the development where the design is transformed into a full information system. The next step is integration and testing where conformance to requirements and functionality are tested. Implementation follows, where the system is put in place in the production environment. This is followed by maintenance that includes tasks of operation and in-process reviews.
Project management life-cycle is a set of stages that are used to maintain efficient control over projects. The cycle begins at the initiation stage where the problem is identified, and potential solutions evaluated. The project objectives are defined, and an appraisal of the solutions is conducted based on possible risks, benefits and financial commitment. The next step is planning, where the project is broken down into manageable work requirements. Time estimates, cost estimates, and the resource estimates are all done at this level (Archibald et al. 2012). Execution is the next step; it involves securing the resources, assembling the project team for implementation, control, and monitoring. The final phase is closing, which includes demobilization and reassignment of resources. The project is handed over followed by a post-project review.
SDLC and PM Lifecycle do not compete against each other rather they complement each other. PM Lifecycle is concerned about all the activities and process of the project while SDLC is concerned about realizing the product requirements. PM Lifecycle is evaluated for its effectiveness in dealing with the constraints of time, budget and scope which always compete against each other. SDLC is about consistency, quality and product delivery which can only be realized when processes and activities are managed efficiently. Scope that is a major aspect of concern under PM Lifecycle, SDLC assists by managing scope creep. In addition, SDCL provides consistency that helps keep the cost constraint in PM Lifecycle under control. Timely delivery of the product under SDLC complements the schedule constraint under PM Lifecycle.
The concepts of SDLC were applied in the purchase of a software package for a regional hospital facility. The cycle was used in the identification; selection and implementation of an efficient software product to solve the problem at the medical facility. The medical facility needed new software that could handle current billing practices, payments and medical requirements (Mark 2013). The project scope included modernizing the information technology operations and supporting best patient care. The steps in the SDLC that were used included: problem definition, requirements analysis, design selection, implementation, maintenance, and support.
In conclusion, SDLC and PM Lifecycle are both relevant and critical in ensuring that projects are completed in time, meet deliverables and are within budget. The two cycles operate simultaneously in any project in a complementary manner and ensure effectiveness. I.T. projects should be developed in the two cycles in order to make products that meet and even exceed client’s expectations.
Works Cited.
- McMurtrey Mark (2013). A Case Study of the Application of the Systems Development Life Cycle (SDLC) in 21st Century Health Care: Something Old, Something New? Journal of the Southern Association for Information Systems. 1(1)
- Archibald, R., Di Filippo, I. and Di Filippo, D. (2012). The six-phase comprehensive project life cycle model including the project incubation/feasibility phase and the post-project evaluation phase. PM World Journal, 1(5), 1–40.
- Radack, Shirley (2009).The system development lifecycle (SDLC). National Institute of Standards and Technology. Retrieved on Dec. 20, 2014 from http://csrc.nist.gov/
