Project Management

THE MANAGERIAL PROCESS

Clifford F. Gray

Eric W. Larson

Chapter 14

Project Audit and Closure

PowerPoint Presentation by Charlie Cook
 Major
Major Tasks
Tasks of
of aa Project
Project Audit
Audit
1. Evaluate if the project delivered the expected
benefits to all stakeholders.
Was the project managed well?
Was the customer satisfied?
2. Assess what was done wrong and what
contributed to successes.
3. Identify changes to improve the delivery of
future projects.
 Project
Project Audit
Audit Components
Components
• A review of why the project was selected.
• A reassessment of the project’s role in the organization’s
priorities.
• A check on the organizational culture to ensure it
facilitates the type of project being implemented.
• An assessment of how well the project team is
functioning well and if its is appropriately staffed.
• A check on external factors that might change where the
project is heading or its importance.
• A review of all factors relevant to the project and to
managing future projects.
 Types
Types of
of Project
Project Audits
Audits
• In-process project audits
– Allow for corrective changes if conditions have
changed and for concentration on project progress
and performance.
• Postproject audits
– Take a broader and longer-term view of the project’s
role in the organization and emphasize improving the
management of future projects.
Factors
Factors Influencing
Influencing Audit
Audit Depth
Depth and
and Detail
Detail

Organization size
Project importance
Project type
Project risk
Project size
Project problems

Table 14.1
 Conducting
Conducting aa Project
Project Audit
Audit
• Step 1: Initiation and Staffing
• Step 2: Data Collection and Analysis
• Step 3: Reporting
 Characteristics
Characteristics of
of Audit
Audit Leaders
Leaders
1. No direct involvement or direct interest in the project.
2. Respect (perceived as impartial and fair) of senior
management and other project stakeholders.
3. Willingness to listen.
4. Independence and authority to report audit results
without fear of recriminations from special interests.
5. Perceived as having the best interests of the
organization in making decisions.
6. Broad-based experience in the organization or
industry.
 Step
Step 2:
2: Data
Data Collection
Collection and
and Analysis
Analysis
• Organization View
– Was the organizational culture supportive and correct?
– Was senior management’s support adequate?
– Did the project accomplish its intended purpose?
– Were risks appropriately identified and assessed?
– Were the right people and talents assigned?
– Have staff been fairly reassigned to new projects?
– What does evaluation from contractors suggest?
– Were the project start-up and hand-off successful?
– Is the customer satisfied?
 Step
Step 2:
2: Data
Data Collection
Collection and
and Analysis
Analysis
• Project Team View
– Were the project planning and control systems
appropriate for this type of project?
– Should all similar projects use these systems?
– Did the project conform to plan for budget and
schedule?
– Were interfaces with stakeholders effective?
– Have staff been fairly assigned to new projects?
– Did the team have adequate resources? Were there
resource conflicts?
– Was the team managed well?
– What does evaluation from contractors suggest?
 Step
Step 3:
3: Reporting
Reporting

• Audit Report Content Outline

– Classification of project – Recommendations
• Project type • Corrective actions
• Size – Lessons learned
• Staffing • Reminders
• Technology level – Appendix
• Strategic or support • Backup data
– Analysis of information gathered – Summary booklet
• Project mission and objectives
• Procedures and systems used
• Organization resources used
Project
Project Management
Management Maturity
Maturity Model
Model

FIGURE 14.1
 Project
Project Closure
Closure
• Conditions for Closure • Close-out Plan: Questions
– Normal to be Asked
– Premature – What tasks are required to
– Perpetual close the project?
– Failed Project – Who will be responsible for
– Changed Priority these tasks?
– When will closure begin and
end?
– How will the project be
delivered?
 Barriers
Barriers to
to Project
Project Success
Success
Activity* Barrier Incidence (%)
Planning Unclear definition 16%
32% Poor decision making 9
Bad information 3
Changes 4
Scheduling Tight schedule 4
12% Not meeting schedule 5
Not managing schedule 3
Organizing Lack of responsibility or accountability 5
11% Weak project manager 5
Top management interference 1
Staffing Inadequate personnel 5
12% Incompetent project manager 4
Project member turnover 2
Poor staffing process 1
Directing Poor coordination 9
26% Poor communication 6
Poor leadership 5 *To interpret the table, note
Low commitment 6 that 32 percent of the 1,654
participants reported the
Controlling Poor follow-up 3 barriers under “Planning,” 12
7% Poor monitoring 2 percent reported the barriers
under “Scheduling,” and so
No control system 1 on.
No recognition of problems 1 Table 14.2
 Implementing
Implementing Closedown
Closedown
1. Getting delivery acceptance from the
customer.
2. Shutting down resources and releasing to new
uses.
3. Reassigning project team members.
4. Closing accounts and seeing all bills are paid.
5. Evaluating the project team, project team
members, and the project manager.
European
EuropeanSpace
SpaceLaunch,
Launch, AG—Project
AG—Project Closure
Closure Checklist
Checklist

FIGURE 14.2
 Project
Project Performance
Performance Evaluations
Evaluations
• Reasons for Poor-Quality Project Performance
Evaluations:
– Evaluations of individuals are still left to supervisors of
the team member’s home department.
– Typical measures of team performance center on
time, cost, and specifications.
 Project
Project Performance
Performance Evaluation:
Evaluation: Team
Team
• Are standards and goals for measuring performance Clear,
challenging, and attainable? Lead to positive consequences?
• Are responsibilities and performance standards known by all team
members?
• Are team rewards adequate? Management believes teams are
important?
• Is there a career path for successful project managers
• Does the team have discretionary authority to manage short-term
difficulties?
• Is there a high level of trust within the organization culture?
• Are there criteria beyond time, cost, and specifications?
Sample
Sample Team
Team Evaluation
Evaluation
and
and Feedback
Feedback Survey
Survey

TABLE 14.3
Project
Project Performance
Performance Evaluation:
Evaluation: Individual
Individual
• Responsibility for assessing performance
– Functional organization or functional matrix: the
individual’s area manager.
• The area manager may solicit the project manager’s opinion
of the individual’s performance on a specific project.
– Balanced matrix: the project manager and the area
manager jointly evaluate an individual’s performance.
– Project matrix and project organizations: the project
manager is responsible for appraising individual
performance.
Project
Project Performance
Performance Evaluation:
Evaluation: Individual
Individual
• Multirater appraisal or the “360-degree feedback
– Involves soliciting feedback concerning team
members’ performance from all the people their work
affects.
– This includes project managers, area managers,
peers, subordinates, and even customers.
 Conducting
Conducting Performance
Performance Reviews
Reviews
• Begin by asking the individual to evaluate his or her own
performance.
• Avoid drawing comparisons with other team members;
rather, assess the individual in terms of established
standards and expectations.
• Focus criticism on specific behaviors rather than on the
individual personally.
• Be consistent and fair in your treatment of all team
members.
• Treat the review as one point in an ongoing process.
 Key
Key Points
Points in
in Conducting
Conducting Audits
Audits
• Have automatic times or points when audits will take
place. Surprises should be avoided.
• Conduct audits carefully and with sensitivity
• Audit staff must independent from the project.
• Audit reports need to be used and accessible.
• Audits support organizational culture
• Project closures should be planned and orderly.
• Certain “core conditions” must be in place to support
team and individual evaluation.
• Conduct individual and team evaluations separate from
pay or merit reviews.
 Key
Key Terms
Terms

In-process project audit

Maturity model
Performance review
Postproject audit
Project audit report
Project closure
Team evaluation
Three hundred and sixty
degree feedback