Chapter 10: Project Closure

Overview

THE COMPTIA PROJECT+ EXAM TOPICS COVERED IN THIS CHAPTER INCLUDE:

• 4.1: Recognize and explain the value of conducting a comprehensive review process that identifies the lessons learned and evaluates the planning, organizing, directing, controlling, execution, and budget phases of the project, identifying both the positive and negative aspects in a written report.

• 4.2: Recognize the need to plan to transfer the project deliverable to support and maintenance and to budget for these resources including help desk.

• 4.4: Recognize the need to obtain formal customer sign-off of the project deliverable and hand off to the customer.

• 4.5: Recognize the need to complete project documentation, secure approvals , and archive/store appropriately.

• 4.6: Recognize the need to close out contracts and sign-off for vendors .

Finally, your project is winding down and the end date is in sight. But don't get too excited, your job is not over yet.

A project does not magically end when the last deliverable on the project schedule is complete. Your project plan should also include all the tasks required to transition the project to an ongoing operation. A good project manager follows processes to formally close the project. The good news regarding these additional tasks is that much of the work you do during project closure will help you do a better job managing future projects.

Project closure activities apply regardless of the reason the project is ending or at what point you are at in the project life cycle. Even if your project is canceled , there is still a closeout phase.

Contract closeout is the completion of all items documented in a vendor contract and the formal acceptance of all vendor work.

Administrative closure involves finishing and archiving project documentation, obtaining formal sign-off from the client, conducting a comprehensive review of the project to document lessons learned, turning over the project to operations and maintenance, and releasing project team members to their functional organizations.