This article has been up to date to be absolutely aligned to PRINCE2 7 (2023 version).
A undertaking has a begin, a center and an finish, so closing a undertaking is a vital a part of the undertaking administration lifecycle.
Closing a undertaking efficiently means a great, clear transition for the undertaking workforce. This entails transferring possession of the merchandise to the operational workforce, and makes it clear that the undertaking workforce are now not chargeable for them.
The undertaking supervisor and the workforce will have the ability to transfer on to their subsequent project.
A clear finish to the undertaking additionally gives a possibility to make sure that any targets that weren’t achieved in the course of the undertaking will be addressed sooner or later.
How does PRINCE2® deal with closing a undertaking?
Closing a undertaking in PRINCE2® makes use of a variant of the Managing a Stage Boundary course of, as this closure exercise occurs on the finish of the final stage. The work required to shut the undertaking ought to be deliberate as a part of this remaining stage. You additionally use this course of if the undertaking closes prematurely.
The Closing a Project course of tackles the top of the present stage in a barely completely different technique to the opposite phases: as a substitute of gaining approval to maneuver to the subsequent stage, this course of features approval to shut the undertaking and handover to operations as a substitute.
What are the goals of the Closing a Project course of?
The goals of the Closing a Project course of are:
- To confirm that there’s consumer acceptance of the undertaking’s merchandise
- To be sure that the operational workforce is ready to assist the merchandise when the undertaking is closed
- To evaluation undertaking efficiency in opposition to the baselines that have been set
- To assess any advantages which have already been realized, replace the forecast for the remaining advantages and plan a evaluation of these advantages sooner or later sooner or later
- To be sure that provision has been made to deal with all of the open points and dangers, with follow-on actions or suggestions.
And after all to make sure the undertaking is closed down in a structured {and professional} method, and never dropped like a scorching potato whereas everybody runs on to the subsequent shiny factor.
How do I shut down a undertaking?
There are 4 areas to cowl when closing a undertaking. Let’s check out these, and also you’ll see that they’re just about widespread sense.
1. Prepare the closure
Whether your undertaking is dealing with a untimely shut or as a part of the pure plan for the work, it’s a must to put together the closing stage.
If vital, current a closure suggestion to the board, though the chances are they’ll already know that closure is on the playing cards.
Still, it’s a must to inform individuals the undertaking is closing, draft a closure notification for the undertaking board to evaluation, archive something that wants arching and tidy up your information in your undertaking administration software. Close out something excellent within the danger register as nicely.
2. Confirm undertaking acceptance
Next, the undertaking’s merchandise should be handed over to the operational workforce. This could possibly be achieved in a single go, or it may need occurred as a part of a phased supply.
If something isn’t but accomplished, put together a follow-on motion listing or suggestions for the operational workforce to select up, together with scheduling a evaluation of advantages at a later date.
Handovers don’t must be one-and-done. You might have handed over deliverables on the finish of each stage, so if that’s the case, simply tie up any free ends at this level.
Check that the advantages administration strategy is up to date and that there’s a plan to measure and monitor any advantages that shall be delivered after undertaking shut.
3. Evaluate the undertaking
This gives the chance to evaluation the undertaking’s unique intent as agreed again within the initiation stage, in opposition to what was truly completed. Look on the goals, key success standards, targets, acceptance standards, KPIs and the rest that was decided in the beginning, and do a comparability to see how shut you have been to attaining these.
The analysis will be introduced as an End Project Report, which covers how the undertaking carried out in opposition to targets, tolerances and the baseline schedule. The analysis also can embrace a Lessons Learned Report, in order that future tasks can be taught from what went nicely and what didn’t go so nicely on this undertaking.
- PRINCE2® Practitioner, Online Course and Exam
- PRINCE2® Foundation Exam Simulator
- PRINCE2® Practitioner Exam Simulator
A complete and accredited PRINCE2® Practitioner on-line course, together with examination voucher and simulator entry.
Buy Now
We earn a fee when you click on this hyperlink and make a purchase order, at no extra price to you #advert
A confidence-boosting set of mock examination questions to organize you for the PRINCE2® Foundation examination in real looking take a look at circumstances
Buy Now
We earn a fee when you click on this hyperlink and make a purchase order, at no extra price to you #advert
A sturdy and real looking examination simulator for PRINCE2® Practitioner with 4 full exams.
Buy Now
We earn a fee when you click on this hyperlink and make a purchase order, at no extra price to you #advert
What if the undertaking is closing earlier than it completes?
Planned closure isn’t the one method that tasks finish.
Projects generally have to be stopped earlier than they’re deliberate to complete. There are many causes for this, together with that the enterprise surroundings or technique might have modified, negating the necessity for the undertaking. Maybe the undertaking isn’t viable any longer. Maybe the important thing stakeholder pushing for the undertaking has left and everyone seems to be relieved they will lastly drop it.
Regardless of the scenario, the undertaking can nonetheless be closed in a managed method. Following a construction and never merely abandoning the undertaking lets the undertaking supervisor salvage something of worth and test that senior administration is conscious of any gaps left by cancelling the undertaking.
When a undertaking is closed prematurely, there could also be some merchandise which were accomplished. These will be handed over to the operational workforce if applicable.
It can also be helpful to inform the administration groups that the undertaking workforce shall be launched early and the workforce members shall be accessible to tackle different assignments.
When a undertaking is stopped early, it’s actually essential to make it possible for there’s ample communication to the enterprise and the undertaking workforce.
People don’t prefer to be related to failed tasks, so attempt to talk the optimistic features of what the undertaking managed to attain earlier than it was stopped, and clearly clarify the enterprise rationale for stopping the undertaking at the moment.
Where can I get extra steering?
Chapter 19 is the PRINCE2® 7 guide reference that you simply want. If you probably did a coaching course, it’s also possible to refer again to your notes there.
Your subsequent steps
- Read extra on how one can shut a undertaking.
- Get a undertaking closure template out of your PMO and begin taking a look at what’s required to fill it in.
- Talk to your workforce concerning the merchandise that want handing over and make plans to try this as step one to shutting down the undertaking.
