Project Closure
Purpose
To provide guidance to the Client's Project Manager to enable the project to have a controlled finite end and for ownership of the deliverables to be transferred to operational management.
Benefits
- Identifies outstanding issues and actions required
- Avoids unnecessary waste in resources by not allowing the project to be protracted
- Provides an opportunity to take stock of achievements and lessons learnt
- Structured coaching, developing the Client Project Manager's skills
Method
By definition, a project is a temporary organisation to bring about change. Once the project is finished the project organisation should be disbanded and any products developed by the project transferred to the appropriate owner. Project costs can escalate when products are not fully transferred. To prepare for project closure a systematic review of the status of each deliverable, as specified in the project plans, should be conducted. This review should include the end-user's readiness to accept and own the deliverables as well as a review of open issues and risks. The Project Closure service provides a dedicated Consultant to work with the Client's Project Manager with a primary focus on the status of the deliverables. The service comprises three activities:
- Preparation: Study of key project documentation (PID, Plans, Logs)
- Coaching Day: Review with the Project Manager
- Feedback: Review of End of Project Report
The Client's Project Manager should send the latest authorised project documentation to the consultant so that he or she can prepare for the Coaching Day. During the Coaching Day the Consultant and the Project Manager will assess the project status to determine:
- That all outstanding issues are identified
- That all follow-on actions are fully detailed
- That the Project Manager appoints an appropriate owner for each action
- That the user has agreed that all products have been delivered as planned and meet the acceptance criteria
- That all the project documentation is in a form to be archived
- Whether a Post Project Review is required
- That the Project Budget and Lessons Learned Reports are reviewed in order to determine the key points for the End Project Report
Deliverables
The services of a Project Management Consultant for 3 days.
Reporting & Reviewing
The Consultant reports only to the Client Project Manager for the duration of the service.
Assumptions
The Consultant will:
- Verify that all deliverables have an acceptance certificate or similar (but not whether the deliverables meet the stated requirements)
- Make recommendations on follow-on actions and the content of the End Project Report (the Client's Project Manager is responsible for progressing those actions and producing the report)
- Have access to key documentation and information
Price
3 days of work charged at WPM's standard consultancy rates.
Product Code
CON-010
