Phase 4: Closeout
After spending significant effort, resource, time and money in delivering the project objective, it is essential that responsibilities, information & ownership are transferred without error, and learning points captured...

Phase 4: Closeout

So, you’ve delivered the agreed objective. Congratulations, but the process isn’t quite finished. This final stage of a project is again often overlooked in a rush to get on with the next priority.

The Closeout phase has a number of critical elements to it:

• Verifying all aspects of the objective have been satisfied
• Handing over responsibility to the customer (whether that be internal or external), and formally releasing the implementation resource
• Reviewing the implementation process; what went well, what didn’t, and what learning can be taken forward
• Celebrating the accomplishment as an organisation, plus acknowledging & rewarding the efforts & contribution of the team & individuals responsible for the success.

The benefits of this phase are the:

• Effective transfer of ownership to a satisfied customer
• Improved management of future projects
• Awareness & appreciation by the entire organisation that a successful implementation has been achieved
• Increased motivation of individuals to get involved in the next project

If you’d like a bit detail on Project Management, please go to our Recommended Reading List for a book that could help you. Of course, if you’d like to explore how we may be able to help you, please contact us.