This monograph is divided into two parts. Part 1 is meant to serve as a conceptual guide for those facilitating or conducting life-cycle program-management workshops focused on any of the life-cycle stages of: (1) problem finding; (2) program design; (3) program development; (4) program implementation; (5) program maintenance and improvement; and (6) program redirection. Because the framework will be amended and emended from experiences gained in the workshops and later results, the approach is termed "heuristic." A Life Cycle Guidance Team should be formed to sustain the plausibility of the program through its stages. For these purposes, a program is a theory that relates a set of organized activities and resources to intended results. Life-cycle program management and evaluation is applicable to many situations, but in this monograph it is directed toward educational operations of the Cooperative Extension System, with its many years of experience in providing educational programs. Each aspect of the life cycle is examined in some detail. Forty-one figures and 62 tables illustrate the discussion. Four appendixes give more detail on workshop conduct, the outline of a case report, and definitions used in life-cycle program management. Part 2 of the guide focuses on: (1) initiating the program and monitoring implementation; (2) maintaining and improving the program; (3) redirecting the program; (4) managing special topics in the life-cycle program; (5) evaluating the life cycle program; (6) conducting in-depth evaluation studies; and (7) sharing and using the results of evaluations. Twenty tables and 13 figures illustrate the discussion. Four appendixes provide details about conducting workshops and a glossary. (Contains 187 references.) (SLD)