Learning through Project Implementation Reviews

A project post implementation review (PIR), allows you to evaluate the project’s effectiveness. A project post implementation review (PIR) is a valuable tool for improving your project management skills. You can improve your project management skills by analyzing what worked and what didn’t during the project. Although the PIR process can be quite formal in certain organizations that have pre-determined templates, it is worthwhile to conduct your own review for smaller projects. It is easier to learn from others’ mistakes and take time to reflect. You must incorporate the results of your PIR into your project management software so that improvements can be made for the next time. PIR libraries are useful for some organizations, but they have a limited value unless they are well indexed.
A PIR should always be conducted with an open mind. A PIR should not be used as an excuse for poor performance. A PIR should answer the following question: “How can it be done better next time?” You should produce one result that incorporates the lessons learned into your project delivery process. These are some important areas to consider when answering this question:
Deliverables
Did the project deliver on its’ promises? If not, why not? These reasons could have been avoided. If so, how could they have been avoided?
What could be done differently, with more input from stakeholders or engagement?
Did you include the right people in your project?
What systems or processes were most successful in delivering this project? These could be integrated into our project delivery system.
Time
Did the project arrive on time? If not, why not? What could we have done to improve the delivery time? Did we allow enough contingency?
Were there unexpected events? Could this have been anticipated at the beginning of the project.
Budget
Was the project within budget? If not, why not?
Did the project scope get extended in a way that justified the budget increase? Could we have anticipated that the project would need to be adjusted in scope?
When identifying the root cause of a problem, try to be objective as possible. You should identify the problem in your project management system. If the consultant wasn’t provided with key information, you might add the requirements for a shared log that the project manager updates as the information becomes available. If the problem was caused by the system not being followed, you should examine the reasons and make suggestions for personnel improvements. Although it is easy to forget to complete a project improvement plan (PIR), they are essential tools to make the next project a success.
Software for Project Management
If you’re interested in learning more about top rated project management software, the editors at Project-Management.com actively recommend the following: