Process Definition

The Close Project of Phase process includes those activities required to finalize each Project Management Process Group.  Once all process groups have been completed, the project is considered complete.  The key benefits to this process is the documenting of lessons learned, ending of all related project work, and final release of organizational assets and resources.   

Process Assessment

The use of a formal project or phase closure process helps ensure a smooth transition form active project work to the release of organization assets to pursue other project endeavors.  Project management is responsible for monitoring and controlling the closure process to ensure a proper turnover of the completed product or service.  Failure to do so can turn weeks or months of positive stakeholder engagement into a last minute fire drill.

Figure 47. Close Project or Phase: Inputs, Tools and Techniques, and Outputs. Reprinted from "A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK Guide), 5th Edition" by Project Management Institute, 2013, p. 100. Copyright 2013 by Project Management Institute, Inc. Reprinted without permission.

Artifacts

1.  Expert Judgment (Tools & Techniques) - This PMGT 614 WBS 5.4 assignment discusses the value added to the closure process through the use of the stage-gate process.  The process identifies the gates, or checkpoints, that must be cleared before the next stage can begin.

2.  Expert Judgment (Tools & Techniques): This PMGT 612 submission is an excerpt from a group assignment.  It focuses on the closure process involving a global project which has failed.

3.  Project Management Plan (Input):  This PMGT 501 Group Kitchen Remodel Excerpt identifies key components to the project plan.  These inputs to the Close Project or Phase Process play an integral role in knowing the deliverables and their acceptance criteria.