Post-Project Review
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[[File:doubleloopPPR.png|thumb|right|350px| Figure 1: Double loop learning through post-project reviews in | [[File:doubleloopPPR.png|thumb|right|350px| Figure 1: Double loop learning through post-project reviews in | ||
R&D projects <ref name="orglearning"/>]] | R&D projects <ref name="orglearning"/>]] | ||
| − | + | Post-Project Review is a formal review or a meeting of an ended project, examining the lessons that may be learned and used to the benefit of future projects <ref name="orglearning"/><ref name="busby" Busby, J. S. (1999). An assessment of post-project reviews. Project Management Journal, 30(3), 23–29.>. The purpose of the tool is to provide project managers to benchmark on the success and failure modes of an ended project. The introduction of evaluation guidelines to an organization should lead to a more efficient way to manage projects as previous issues can be avoided, and safe solutions can be applied repeatedly. Furthermore, the experience from a project is documented in such a way that it is available for everybody to use it in future projects and not just linked to key employees who might not be present in the future. | |
The tool can be considered within the domain of uncertainty, as one of the four perspectives on how to do projects. Post-Project Review is a tool to acknowledge lessons learned from a project, and a method that emphasizes reflections. Application of the tool gives an additional possibility to adapt to other processes and increase people's competencies and awareness to issues. | The tool can be considered within the domain of uncertainty, as one of the four perspectives on how to do projects. Post-Project Review is a tool to acknowledge lessons learned from a project, and a method that emphasizes reflections. Application of the tool gives an additional possibility to adapt to other processes and increase people's competencies and awareness to issues. | ||
Revision as of 16:36, 22 February 2018
When finalizing a project and providing a deliverable, a project manager does not necessarily know if the project can be considered a success. Thus, a methodology to gain tacit-knowledge can be done by using Post-Project Reviews. Post-Project Review is a tool to "evaluate project results in order to improve future projects methods and practises"[1]. It is arguably a tool within the uncertainty perspective, as the purpose of the tool is to analyze potential failures and successes of a project- The knowledge gained can lead to minimized risk by possibly optimizing and/or preventing mistakes in subsequent projects.
Despite the usefulness of the tool, there is no fixed framework of how to conduct it. Organizations operate differently and do have a tailored methodology for execution of the review [2]. Different studies depict recommendations of measures to apply before closing a project and conducting a post-project review, as well as the methodology on how to conduct it. A project manager follows a set of interrelated actions in order to provide the desired deliverable, and do mainly follow the five categories known as Project Management Process Groups: Initiating, Planning, Executing, Monitoring/Controlling and Closing [3]. Simultaneously, a successful application of Post-Project Review must follow these steps. If a project manager defines the different criteria for success or failure of a project, as well as applying strict quality management during the project; An easier application of Post-Project review can be assessed [4]. Furthermore, the review can be conducted by a combination of team-members and external facilitator. Lastly, there are two recommended debriefing methods which are process-based and documentation-based. Process-based methods are debriefing methods that address the key learnings experienced during a project, and documentation-based methods"are methods on logging the knowledge obtained [1].
This article focuses on the purpose fo the tool, as well presenting a methodology of applying post-project review considering a new product development project. Furthermore, the article argues who are responsible for applying the tool and depict the many barriers towards against it.
Big Idea
Post-Project Review to improve organizational learning
Post-Project Review is a formal review or a meeting of an ended project, examining the lessons that may be learned and used to the benefit of future projects [1][5]
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