TABLE OF CONTENTS All projects, by their definition, must come to an end and managing the final phase is just as important as starting up.
In this final theme you will:
Explore what is involved in project closure
Consider how you can evaluate and capture learning from your project.
Managing this challenging, final phase of the project involves maintaining momentum within the project team, evaluating the project and writing the final report. It also includes organising the project documentation to capture the lessons that have been learned.
On long projects, it can be very difficult to keep the team energised and motivated, particularly as the end draws near. The short-term specialist team members will have come and gone, and members of the core team may begin to drop out, to take up new projects or go back to their normal everyday jobs. The project manager too may feel tired and demotivated, particularly if the project has been a challenging one with many problems or changes.
You might need to work quite hard to generate continued enthusiasm, focusing the team on what it has achieved and the need to complete the project in the same professional way they have carried it out so far.
It is important at this stage to stick to your established procedures and timetable, and not to let things drift and just fizzle out. Your project deserves better. Set a date for a final project meeting, when your sponsor can confirm that...
