The project’s success is dependent on the project managers. That is, they are accountable for ensuring that the work-in project is finalized on time, is economical, and is to the vital quality standards. They also need to ensure that any lessons learned during the project are documented and used to improve future projects.
Most project managers use project closure procedures to complete a project. This usually involves collecting feedback from stakeholders, doing a post-mortem analysis of the project, and creating a lessons-learned document.
The project manager I interviewed shared with me that they use a variety of project closure procedures liable on the scope and size of the project. For smaller projects, they may simply do a debrief with the team to discuss what went well and what could be improved upon. For larger projects, they may create a formal document that outlines lessons learned and best practices. Regardless of the size of the project, they always make sure to document any lessons learned so that they can be used for future reference.
This manager also mentioned that they are a big proponent of using change management procedures. For them, it is important to have a clear and concise plan for how changes will be implemented, communicated, and monitored. They shared that they have seen too many projects go off the rails because changes were not properly managed. By having a clear change management plan in place, they can avoid this pitfall.
Overall, I gained a lot of insights into how this manager approaches project management. I was particularly impressed by their focus on documenting lessons learned and using change management procedures. These are two areas that I feel are often overlooked but can make a big difference in the success of a project.