ABSTRACT
The principal objective of programmes is to realize benefits effectively. Therefore, the lifecycle of programmes is closely interrelated with the lifecycle of benefits. The process of benefit creation can be structured in several steps and is described in the benefit lifecycle. The benefit lifecycle begins when the opportunity to realize a benefit is first identified and ends when the benefit has been fully delivered. It can be divided into seven phases. They are: opportunity identification; benefit definition; capabilities definition; capabilities delivery; benefit realization; stable benefit delivery; and end of benefit delivery. Two distinctive characteristics of programme business cases play a key role in the nature of the programme lifecycle. These are the investment-dependent nature of a programme and the fundamental characteristics of a programme to add value and lead change. The start-to-finish lifecycle of a programme can typically be divided into six distinct phases. These phases are as: initiation; definition; preparation; capability delivery; benefit realization; and closure.
