Waldorf University: ORG 5800 Project Closing Process Analysis

This report provides a comprehensive overview of the project closing process, a crucial final step in project management. It emphasizes the achievement of project aims and objectives, the presentation of results to stakeholders, and the formal completion of tasks. The report outlines essential factors ...Read More

Running head: PROJECT CLOSING PROCESS
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Project Closing Process
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PROJECT CLOSING PROCESS 2
Process of closing a project
Project closing is the last step in every project. This is where the aims and objectives of
the project are achieved and all the results presented to the stakeholders of the organization or the
management. At the end of this final process in the project, team members all go home or go
back to their normal duties (Livvarçin, 2018). The reports are produced here, and the budget
closed. The project is completed where the company claims payments from the customers as the
task is complete. The head of the team that is conducting a project presents the report to the
customers or the sponsors of the project. Some factors must be considered if you want your
project closure process to be sufficient (Ofori, 2016). The factors are adequacy of the activities
of closing, good communication, and presentation to the stakeholders and the last factor is how
the team members are competent (Nagyova, 2016). The team members are the determiners of the
project. They decide how the project will be. All the deliverables are transferred after being
finalized. The documents are also approved and signed here.
The purpose of the closure is to ensure that the project completed everything according to
the project plan. It also marks the closure of all management processes of the project
(Choudhury, 2017). The process is also helpful in making sure that all parties approve the
closure of the project after achieving all its goals. Lack of a well-planned closing process might
lead to confusion, loss of some details, or dissatisfied clients. In closing the project, you must
make sure you mention the names of the members of the team that conducted the process (Ika,
2016). Project completing also ensures that the project is handed over to the correct team that
will take care of management and maintenance. This minimizes the risks and makes sure that all
parties are on the same page.

PROJECT CLOSING PROCESS 3
Steps of project closing
There are steps to be followed when closing a project (Newton, 2015). To remember all
the steps, it is necessary to make a checklist of all the steps.
1. Transfer of all deliverables
The project manager must finalize and transfer all the deliverables to the sponsors or the client.
He or she should pass through all the deliverables and make sure they are all completed before
handing them over.
2. Confirm the completion
Every member involved in the project has to agree that the project is complete before formally
closing it. The manager needs to get approvals from all the deliverables of the project showing
that the stakeholders agree that the project delivered (Ece, 2016).
3. Review documents and contracts
Reviewing contracts and documents ensures that all the involved parties are paid according to the
agreements and ensure no invoice is unpaid.
4. Release sources
Releasing resources is a step that must be done. The resources include team members,
contractors, and suppliers. Confirm that they have all been paid.
5. Conducting a post-mortem
This is where the project manager reviews the success, challenges, failures, and identify
opportunities. A performance review should be conducted in terms of quality, cost, and schedule.
6. Archive documentation

PROJECT CLOSING PROCESS 4
All the documents should be gathered and organized carefully for later references. They should
be stored well in the archives of the company. The documents should include notes on possible
improvements (Patanakul, 2018).
7. Celebrate
It is important to celebrate with the team to mark the end of a successful project. This also helps
relieve the pressure of the long working hours of the team members. A happy team can easily
work with you in case you have another project in the future. Close the project together.
Lesson learned document
The project was a success. We came up with solutions for many of the problems facing
the aircraft. The commitment of the team members made the project succeed. The team members
worked long hours in the day and night. Sometimes we asked almost impossible from them, but
they delivered. There were some challenges like the late delivery of materials in the first week,
but the issue was solved and hasn't happened since. In the future, more members should be
included in the team so that the team members won't have to work for long hours. It will also
help take less time so that the members do not have to rush to finish in the planned schedule.
I worked with the best team I have ever worked with. They were committed and helped each
other. Their hard work made the success possible. I would like to work with the team on other
projects. They should be proud as all the success is due to their efforts. One thing learned from
this project is that collaboration is very important when it comes to the achievement of the
project goals and objectives. It requires collaboration from all members involved in the project.
One should understand that for the project to be a success there should be proper management
and contribution of all members involved in that project. The project can close due to failure to
achieve its initial goals and strategies. This is majorly contributed by incompetency experts in

PROJECT CLOSING PROCESS 5
the project activities, mismanagement of the project funds among other things. For this project,
the efforts were directed to the achievement of the major objectives. It requires proper planning
and setting of achievable goals for the project to be a success. The proper ending of the project is
happiness to the management team and all people involved in support of the project. The
celebration marks the success of the project as part of the motivation and reward for all teams
involved in making the project a success. It was learned that if the project has no proper
strategies to be followed towards the achievement of the set goals and strategies, it will be
terminated prematurely. It calls for the set goals and strategies to have the project completed. In
this case, this project was collaborated completed and it was finally closed successfully with a
celebration.

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References
Choudhury, S. (2017), "Project Management", Tata McGraw-Hill Publishing Company
Limited(New Delhi), pg.9
Ece, E. (2016), “ Projeyönetimiveinsankaynaklarıilişkisi”, Journal of Aviation and Space, July,
1(4), 75-85.
Ika, L. A. (2016). “Project management for development in Africa: Why projects are failing and
what can be done about it.”, Project Management Journal, 43(4), 27-41.
Livvarçin, Ö. (2018), "Yönetim Biliminde 49 İnsan 49 Teori",Beta yayınları, pg.240
Nagyova, A. (2016)," Quality evaluation methodology for research projects", Chapter 22 in
DAAAM International Scientific Book, pp. 219-226
Newton, R. (2015), "Project Management Step By Step, Pearson", Optimist YayınDağıtım,
Syf.147,148
Ofori, D. F. (2016). Project Management Practices and Critical Success Factors–A Developing
Country Perspective. International Journal of Business and Management, 8(21), p14.
Patanakul, P. (2018). What project strategy really is: The fundamental buildingblock in strategic
project management. Project Management Journal, 43(1), 4-20.