PROJECT MANAGEMENT AT A GLANCE Procurement agreements, even if not complete, still need to be closed out and possible cancelation provisions invoked. Unfortunately there is no “Canceled Project Process.” Each one is different so it’s important to consider all project deliverables, procurement contracts, personnel issues, and myriad other considerations and properly handle all the normal steps noted above as well as any issues that arise as a result of “dismounting in mid-stream,” as it were.
And One More Thing
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What follows is not in the Project Management Body of Knowledge, that tome known only to professional project managers, normally sitting on a shelf somewhere near his or her desk (good for reference but not what one would call entertaining reading by any stretch of the imagination). No, what this author has to say about project closing is only gleaned from decades of experience, not only managing projects, but in life. And here it is: the last thing a good project manager does, the last thing a good project sponsor does, is to express gratitude to the project team. Yes, normally they have received a salary for their work and even outstanding work may be considered just and fair trade for the remuneration they’ve received. But research has shown that in the workplace, money is not a motivator. When the employee feels they are not being sufficiently compensated the issue of money is a de-motivator. But once an employee feels they are being fairly compensated for their work, money loses its motivational flavor. It’s exactly the case with water or food— once you have enough of it, getting more is not a driving force. What is a driving force for most
Issue 5 - MAY 2015
Project Management Plan
Deliverables get accepted in the Verify Scope Process
Accepted Delivered
Organizational Process Assets
Inputs
Tools & Techniques The Project Manager makes sure all work is done and that each deliverable has been accepted by stakeholders
Expert Judgement
Project Meetings
Analytical Techniques
Ex. Statistical and trend Analysis to analyze project data for future improvements
Outputs including: Final Products and Services
humans, and employees normally count themselves among this group, is feeling appreciated, even needed. A project team is normally assembled for a one-time project; they are a team only for a short time. For that brief period, with good project management, they feel as if they are part of a group of talented individuals who have come together temporarily to produce something new and, hopefully, wonderful. Then at the close of the project they go their separate ways. People who may have enjoyed working with their team members may find that they never have the opportunity to work together again. By the end of a successful project, there is a spirit of camaraderie, of success, of winning. This is the perfect time to capitalize on strong feelings of being part of a team, of being proud of having accomplished a goal. What a shame, when project teams are disbanded without taking advan-
Organizational Process Assets
Lessons Learned
tage of these positive emotions to encourage team members by demonstrating the company’s gratitude. The size of the team and the resources of the company play a big part in what kind of demonstration of gratitude is given, but a special luncheon, possibly with a few awards for those who went above and beyond the call of duty should be considered a minimum effort on the part of the project sponsorship. With a closing celebration, the team members will have a sense of closure that helps generate good morale in the rest of their work life. With a closure that helps to give meaning to a project, when they are requested on another project, employees will be more likely to look forward to the opportunity and will give it their best efforts. And from a project manager’s perspective, that is as close to heaven on Earth as one can get.