Today's Tip
The Project’s Over — What Happened? Part 1
 Who
hasn’t heard this before?
“We
should capture our lessons learned on this project”
I have found that
we should plan for project evaluation and gather the data during
the project. You're likely to get a pretty weak result if you
just list things the team can remember after the project is over.
So, here is an evaluation process we have used to increase both the
quantity and the quality of the data we collect on a project.
First, we define
evaluation of a project as the act of tracking and measuring results,
work processes, and resources.
It involves collecting and comparing data on what was planned and what
actually happened. The results of the evaluation activity help the
team to identify continuous improvement ideas and to recognize outstanding
achievements.
In more illustrative
terms, here it is in a project evaluation matrix format:
| Evaluation Matrix |
| |
Actual |
Planned |
Results
(Outputs/Outcomes) |
|
|
Processes
(Work Procedures) |
|
|
Resources
(Inputs) |
|
|
To look at some
questions to use to fill in the cells and directions on how
to use the Evaluation Matrix, click here.
Please give this a try with your team even if the project is over.
I think you will find it will increase the quantity and quality of
your data and help you see the interrelated affects of one aspect of
the project on another.
In part 2 of The
Projects Over – What Happened? we will make
suggestions on how to identify and recognize outstanding achievements
on an individual and team basis using the evaluation matrix.
Until next time,
Darryl
Article © 2006
Darryl Sink & Associates, Inc
|
Vol.
2, No. 14 August
22, 2006 
