prepare for planned or premature closure

 

It is the responsibility of the project manager to ensure that the expected results from the project have been achieved and delivered.  And only then, can the project manager recommend that the project be closed to the project board.

 

First, the Project Plan must be updated with the actual data from the final stage, and this will include information such as costs, timescale, work effort and completed products.  

 

The project manager will want to request a Product Status Account from Project Assurance to ensure that all products have been approved by the appropriate authority as laid out in their Product Descriptions, and that the products have met their quality criteria.

 

The Project Product Description should be reviewed and confirmation given that the project has delivered what is defined and that the acceptance criteria have been met.  

 

Getting product acceptance may involve activities such as user acceptance tests etc, and if so these will have been already carried out via previous Work packages. 

 

It is important to see that customer acceptance at this point may just mean a signature from the appropriate individual or organisation.

 

The project manager will now seek approval to give notice to corporate or programme management via the project board that the project’s resources are about to be released.

 

In a situation where premature closure has been requested, similar activities need to occur, however extra activities may be needed.  

 

For example, ensuring that the project salvages anything of value created, that a building site for example, is made safe, all that unused equipment or materials are safely stored all sold off to recoup any losses.  

 

It may also be that products partly finished at this point must be completed before project premature close.

 

As a result of the above there may be a need for traditional work, and this may cause the need for an Exception Plan to be drafted and approved by the project board.

 

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