As with any project, the management of an event passes through a series of phases. Decisions on time underlies all aspects of event management. The event is the deadline for most of the management. However the event management does not end with the event. There remains the shutdown or closure phase.
After much discussion, the names for the phases decided by the EMBOK are:
- Initiation
- Planning
- Implementation
- Event
- Closure
During each phase the event team undertakes different tasks. The combination of knowledge, skills and processes is different. During the Initiation, for example, the event manager is studying the feasibility of the event. Once the event is found to be feasible, the Planning phase is entered. Note: the Event and the Closure phase may be regarded as part of the Implementation.
