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Project Management Software
Lessons Learned: The Importance of the End-of-Project Briefing
Throughout
one’s project, reports are made. Data from project management software
is used to create progress presentations and memoranda. Tracking
information, budgetary concerns, and ongoing analysis and monitoring
take place throughout the project. And when it is all done, it is
tempting to merely sigh deeply and walk away. However, this is not
always the best course of action. After all, if hindsight is, indeed,
20/20, then it is important to look back at the project over all and
evaluate what was done.
It is especially
important to review the processes and the effectiveness of each stage.
By taking the project management group processes (initiating, planning,
executing, monitoring and controlling, and closing) each at a time and
reviewing what happened each step of the way, the project manager can
get an idea of how to better streamline project for the next time.
While particulars will change, the over all process should remain
basically the same. When one looks back at how everything went, it can
help one better tailor a system that works best for him or her.
One
of the most important aspects of project debriefing is reviewing the
project objectives and then measuring what was actually accomplished
against the objectives. Where they all met? Could they have been met
more completely? What could have been done better? These are all
questions that should be asked. Project management software can help
teams look at their progress and measure it against schedules and
objectives. But most importantly, team members as well as the project
leader should evaluate how they feel about the job done, and why they
feel that way. Those working on a project should be encouraged to think
about their own performance and see if it squares with what they would
like their performance to be. They do not have to articulate their
feelings and thoughts, but self-critique can help workers be more
effective team members on future projects.
There
is no reason why the project manager and her or his superiors should be
the only people involved in debriefing. This is a valuable learning
experience for all team members. They can learn more about the process,
and it is very likely that they will add substantially to the
discussion. Not only does it help project team members learn more about
the process, but it can also help them gain insight and learn skills so
that they can become future project leaders. It is a valuable thing to
have employees who know how to step up and lead when necessary, but are
professional enough to work as a team member when not a project leader.
Project
debriefing is an important aspect of project management. Not only does
it give a final look at what happened, and allow team members and
leaders to learn from the project, but it also provides a time to
reflect and determine what follow up might be necessary. If there is a
hand off work involved, this can provide a valuable time to prepare
notes for the next team. When a project is debriefed, it becomes more
than just another success — it becomes a success to learn from and
build upon.
Article by Remedysoft, Inc.
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