During which phase is the project defined and the deliverables identified?

The project definition phase is crucial because it establishes the foundation for the entire project. In this phase, the project's scope, objectives, and deliverables are clearly articulated. This involves identifying what needs to be achieved and outlining the specific outputs that will be produced. By defining these elements early on, the project team can ensure that all stakeholders have a shared understanding of the project goals, which helps in avoiding scope creep and miscommunication later in the project.

During this phase, tasks such as gathering requirements from stakeholders, performing initial planning, and confirming the project charter are typically conducted. This structured approach allows the team to set measurable criteria for success and to align their efforts accordingly. Specifically identifying deliverables means that everyone involved knows what is expected and can strategize on how to achieve those results efficiently.

In other phases, like the feasibility study, the focus is on determining whether the project is viable before committing resources. Testing, on the other hand, involves evaluating whether the deliverables meet the specified requirements and function properly, which comes after the project has been defined and executed. Maintenance deals with the ongoing support and updates to the system or product after it has been delivered, rather than defining initial project parameters.