07 Handover and Reviews

Question 1

What is the Handover?

Answer 1

The point in the life cycle where deliverables are handed over to the sponsor and users

Question 2

What is the objective of the handover phase?

Answer 2

To ensure a controlled and efficient transfer of the project deliverables (including any associated documentation) into the operational environment.

Question 3

3 activities often in Handover phase?

Answer 3

1) User acceptance of deliverables
2) Transfer of deliverable ownership
3) Documentation acceptance (inc. warranties, guarantees etc.)

Question 4

3 activities often in Closure phase?

Answer 4

Post-project review
Archiving of project documentation
Contractual closure - invoicing, charge codes etc.

Question 5

What is a review?

Answer 5

A critical evaluation of a deliverable, business case or project, programme or portfolio management process

Question 6

What three possible areas will a project review usually focus on?

Answer 6

1) Deliverables
2) Business case
3) Management processes

Question 7

What is done when reviewing the management processes?

Answer 7

Project assurance requires the process to be regularly reviewed in order to ensure that is being well managed, in accordance with agreed procedures

Question 8

What is done when reviewing the business case?

Answer 8

The continued viability of the project should be reviewed at specific points in the life cycle (at the end of each phase as a minimum). The outcome of such a review may well be the early termination of a project.

Question 9

What is done when reviewing the deliverables?

Answer 9

The review could take the form of quality control of the outputs created by the project (for example, formal inspection)

Question 10

What two types of life-cycle reviews are conducted?

Answer 10

Time or event driven (eg. event is at end of each stage, time is every month)

Question 11

Where is the frequency of reviews set out?

Answer 11

Quality management plan

Question 12

What should an effective review include?

Answer 12

> List of attendees who will add value to the review
A defined agenda, including the output from previous reviews
A report with clear actions and owners

Question 13

Do exercise 7.4

Answer 13

now

Question 14

What is a project evaluation review?

Answer 14

Provides the PM and the team with an opportunity to formally review the PRESENT health of the project (considers success criteria, managerial and technical processes, and lessons learnt/corrective actions)

Question 15

What is the post-project review?

Answer 15

Undertaken after the project deliverables have been handed over but before the formal closeout of the project and disbanding of the team. The purpose is to learn lessons and improve future project delivery

Question 16

What is an Audit review?

Answer 16

Where a review is conducted by an external party (e.g. project office or external auditor) then the review is known as an audit. The audit may be triggered by concerns regarding the governance of the project and/or to determine its continuing viability.

Question 17

What is a product (peer) review?

Answer 17

The evaluation of work or performance by others in order to maintain or enhance quality. Peer reviews utilise the independence, and in some cases the anonymity, of the reviewers in order to obtain an unbiased evaluation.

Question 18

What is a gate review?

Answer 18

Also known as stage-gates, these are typically held at the end of each phase of the project life cycle. It marks a key decision point in the project where the sponsor will sanction the continuing investment based on a formal evaluation of the present and forecasted progress. It is important that external factors that may impact the viability of the business case are also considered.

Question 19

What is the benefits realisation review?

Answer 19

The sponsor is accountable for the realisation of the project benefits. Benefits typically materialise at a future date where the project deliverables have been in operational use for some time. Multiple benefits realisation reviews may be required depending on the nature of the project, each one determining the expected and unexpected benefits that have been realised and analysing the reason for any variance.