Project completion

Project completion

Project completion is a central phase in project management that is much more than just the end of a project. In this phase, the services provided are carefully reviewed, documented and all relevant experiences are analysed. This lays the foundation for future projects and ensures that the goals set are achieved sustainably.

Complete projects successfully in 8 steps

Project completion represents the last phase in project management, in which open issues are clarified, project results are presented and debriefings are carried out. Although the main goals of the project may have already been achieved, an orderly finish is essential to truly complete the project and ensure that all tasks have been completed.

1. Carry out final tests: Before a project is officially completed, final tests should be carried out to ensure that all project results meet the requirements. Especially when it comes to technical projects or product developments, it is important to test functions and fix any errors.

2. Clarify open issues: Review the project plan to make sure no tasks were missed. Open questions should either be resolved or clearly documented in case they need to be transferred to a new project.

3. Carry out administrative tasks: Administrative tasks include updating documentation, concluding contracts and the final project budget. This step also includes the distribution of remaining resources or the allocation of team members to new projects.

4. Inform the team about the next steps: The project team should be informed about the next steps. This includes information about pending tasks, graduation events or feedback sessions.

5. Inform stakeholders & submit final report: Key stakeholders of the project should receive a final overview of the results achieved, the project status and the open questions. A final report is a useful means of documenting and communicating the project results in writing.

6. Carry out project debriefing: During the debriefing, the team reflects on the project together. What went well, what could be improved? This feedback should be used to make future projects more efficient and successful.

7. Create a roadmap for improvements: Findings and improvement opportunities derived from the debriefing should be translated into a roadmap. This makes it possible to identify weaknesses in processes or results and to take them into account in future projects.

8. Celebrate successful project completion: An important step that is often overlooked: Recognition of achievements. A successful project completion is a reason to celebrate, whether with a small thank you or a team event.

conclusion

Project completion is more than just achieving project goals. A structured closing process ensures that no important tasks are forgotten and that all parties involved have a common understanding of the results. This not only improves the efficiency of project management, but also ensures that knowledge gained can be used for future projects.