ISO 42024 Revision Checker
ISO/IEC/IEEE DIS 42024 · Enterprise, systems and software, Architecture fundamentals Stage 40.99 Planning date 15 Sep 2027, an estimate 35 terms · 20 clause areas · 9 annex sections

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Architecture concepts · 4.10

Life cycle and life history

The subclause addresses the life cycle and life history of an entity. It builds on life cycle (3.6.1), life cycle phase (3.6.2), life cycle stage (3.6.3) and life history (3.6.4).

  • concept, not an obligation
  • Clause area
  • ISO/IEC/IEEE DIS 42024
  • Last updated: 2026-10-21

What this unit settles

The four terms give a firm a way to separate the method from the record. Phase and stage are types; life history is what actually happened. That separation is what makes portfolio reporting honest and post implementation review possible.

What to do in your practice

Draw the life cycle model, define the phase and stage types, then keep the actual life history per entity. Record stage transitions with the milestone that justified them. Use the history for scenarios and for retirement. Use the life history in the post implementation review to compare what was planned with what occurred. The comparison is the most credible evidence a practice can produce, because it is drawn from records rather than recollection. Keep it short: the phases, the dates, the decisions and the reasons for the differences.

Who it binds

The organisation and the architecture practice. This unit is not a shall requirement; the claim level states what it is.

Evidence an auditor or regulator asks for

  • The life cycle model and the entity life history record.
    An auditor asks what happened, not only what was planned.
  • The stage transition records with milestones.
    Shows transitions were earned.
  • The scenario record for future histories.
    Shows planning considered alternatives.
  • The retirement record.
    Closes the life history.
Ask your teamWhere is the life history of this entity kept, and does it survive the project that built it?

Common gaps this page catches

  • Only the plan is kept.
  • Stage transitions have no milestone evidence.
  • The history is lost at project closure.

What to prepare before publication

Start the life history record for the top ten entities. Record the last transition and its milestone. Add the record to the retirement checklist.

Related units

Source. ISO/IEC/IEEE DIS 42024, Clause 4.10. Open the official record. Retrieved 21 October 2026.

https://www.iso.org/obp/ui/en/#iso:std:iso-iec-ieee:42024:dis:ed-1:v1:en

ISO catalogue record 87510, the status, stage and page count.

Claim level: concept, not an obligation. The subclause title is in the public preview. The body text is not public.

Last updated: 2026-10-21 · Markdown version · Check your practice