• addresses systems concepts and life cycle concepts, models, stages, processes, process application, key points of view, adaptation and use in various domains;

• establishes a common framework for describing life cycles, including their individual stages, for the management of projects to provide or acquire either products or services;

• defines the concept and terminology of a life cycle;

• supports the use of the life cycleprocesses within an organization or a project. Organizations and projects can use these life cycle concepts when acquiring and supplying either products or services;

• provides guidance on adapting a life cycle model and the content associated with a life cycle or a part of a life cycle;

• describes the relationship between life cycles and their use in ISO/IEC 15288 (systems aspects) and ISO/IEC 12207 (software aspects);

• shows the relationships of life cycle concepts to the hardware, human, services, process, procedure, facility and naturally occurring entity aspects of projects;

• describes how its concepts relate to detailed process standards, for example, in the areas of measurement, project management and risk management;

• complements domain-specific application guidance in ISO/IEC TR 19760 and ISO/IEC TR 15271.