The management of a software application from planning through retirement is known as what?

The management of a software application from planning through retirement is referred to as life cycle management. This term encompasses all phases of a product's journey, including conception, development, deployment, maintenance, and ultimately, the retirement of the application. Life cycle management focuses on the continuous oversight and optimization of a product throughout its entire lifespan, ensuring it meets users' needs and delivers value effectively.

This concept is crucial in the context of cloud environments, where applications might evolve rapidly and require ongoing adjustments based on user feedback and technology changes. Life cycle management ensures that a software application remains relevant and efficient from its initial launch to its eventual phase-out, aligning with corporate strategy and user demand.

In contrast, other terms such as development lifecycle focus primarily on the phases of software development rather than the entire application management process. Product management typically centers around market fit and product strategy rather than the technical phases of the application’s life. Application support, while important, is more focused on maintaining an already deployed application rather than managing its entire life cycle from planning to retirement.