The dynamical process of photoexcitation and photoionization of alkali atoms is studied with three-step laser pulses, focusing on the similarities and differences between Li and Cs atoms on their properties by making a comparison of them. Based on several excitation schemes, the present work not only establishes the rate equations of atom population for all related transition states, but also obtains the analytical solutions of photoexcitation and photoionization process. The mathematical solutions are simplified significantly by restricting the most general case to the several special cases, either designed or selected carefully, in order to highlight the main factors and obtain the physical insight underlying the complicated mathematical expressions. With self-programming, the possible impact of time configuration of laser pulses on the three-step laser excitation process of the photoexcitation and photoionization is calculated and studied systematically. Variation of the ionization efficiency with the laser parameters is investigated and discussed. With the same time configuration of laser pulses, the dependences of atom population for all the related transition states on the two different excitation paths are compared and analyzed, reflecting the impact of changing the atomic parameters. Under the similar excitation conditions, the differences of ionization efficiency between Li and Cs atoms are explored. Finally, based on the present study, several means for optimizing ionization efficiency are proposed.