Chapter 9: Closing the Project

Chapter 9: Closing the Project

Project Closing ActionThe fourth and final phase of the product life cycle is closing the project.

It starts after the project work has been completed and the sponsor or customer has accepted the project deliverables.

Verification that all the agreed-upon deliverables, were, in fact, provided by the project team or contractor upon completing a project.Project Closing ActionThe process of closing involves various actions including:Collecting and making final payments.Recognizing and evaluating staff.Conducting a post-project evaluation.Documenting lessons learned.Organizing and archiving project documents.Final PaymentsAn activity that must be performed during the closing phase is assuring that all payments have been collected from the customer.

After that, the project books, or accounting records, can be closed, and a financial analysis of the project can be made.Staff Recognition and EvaluationSuccessful projects should end with some type of recognition and celebration.

The project manager should prepare a written performance evaluation of each member of the project team.

If not, the project manager should provide a copy of the performance evaluation to the persons immediate supervisor.Post-Project EvaluationPost-project evaluation meetings

Used to review and evaluate performance of the project and to identify what can be done to improve performance on future projects.

Post-Project EvaluationTwo types of meetings:

Individual meetings with team membersAllow team members to give their personal impressions of performance of the project and what can be done better on future prospects.

Group meeting with the project teamThe project manager should lead a discussion of what happened during performance of the project and solicit specific recommendations for improvement.

POST PROJECT EVALUATIONTeam Meeting

Agenda

1. Technical Performance- Work scope- Quality- Managing Changes2. Budget performance 3. Schedule performance4. Project planning and control5. Risk management6. Customer relationships7. Team relationships8. Communications9. Problem identification and resolution10. Lessons learned11. Recommendations for future prospects.

Lessons Learned