Exam Essentials

Name the project phases included in a project closeout review. The phases included in project closeout document are planning, organizing, executing, directing, controlling, and budget.

Understand why it is important to document both the positive and negative aspects of the project.

It is equally important for the success of future projects to capture both what worked on the project and what you would change.

Explain the purpose of obtaining formal customer or stakeholder sign-off. Formal sign-off documents that the customer accepts the project work and that the project meets the defined requirements.

Describe the purpose of a project archive. The project archive is the official copy of all of the project documentation, which can be referenced to answer future questions regarding the project or as a resource for other projects.

Understand the key elements of contract closeout. Contract closeout verifies that all the work described in the contract was completed satisfactorily per the contract terms and conditions. It includes written notification of contract completion to the vendor.

Know what groups are involved in project turnover . Project turnover includes any group that will be involved in the ongoing maintenance, update, or support of the system, and includes both technical and nontechnical teams .

Understand why lessons learned is such an important facet of project closeout. Often overlooked as a vital component of project closeout, a formal lessons learned endeavor can reveal much valuable information that can be used in future projects. There is no such thing as the perfect project-all projects could have benefited by something being done differently or better than it actually happened .

Realize that end user support is a part of your closeout efforts. Because you've introduced a new system, it's vital that you don't simply close out the project with a 'There, it's all done!' statement. You have to be sure that the project has provided for things such as end user training, training manuals, help-desk preparations for support, and so forth.