The Scoping Phase is the initial step in the project development process. After the project sponsor defines the project purpose and needs and determines the funding sources, a Project Manager will be assigned. I work closely with A standard project typically has the following four major phases (each with its own agenda of tasks and issues): initiation, planning, implementation, and closure. Taken together, these phases represent the path a project takes from the beginning to its end and are generally referred to as the project's “life cycle.”