14 Transition Management

Question 1

What is Transition Management?

Answer 1

The integration of the outputs of a project into Business as Usual

Question 2

What is the final stage of the Project Lifecycle?

Answer 2

Transition

Question 3

What happens in the transition phase of a project?

Answer 3

PM must hand over the outputs of the project; a post-project review should be conducted; project team disbanded.

Question 4

What handover documents must the PM issue in the transition phase?

Answer 4

Maintenance schedules; user instructions; warranties

Question 5

What are the two kinds of training that stem from the Linear Lifecycle.

Answer 5

Created and delivered

Question 6

What three phases make up staged implementation in the Linear Lifecycle?

Answer 6

Train –> Release –> Support

Question 7

In the Iterative Lifecycle why must the PM implement early engagement activities?

Answer 7

To get buy-in and support from the users

Question 8

Why must transition management activities continue throughout the project?

Answer 8

1) ensures users keep up to date with each output release, 2) prevents change fatigue

Question 9

Why is it important to identify any outstanding work?

Answer 9

Identifies what is left in the backlog; outstanding risks; and outstanding issues and changes

Question 10

State the key factors of transition management in the linear and iterative lifecycles.

Answer 10

Linear Lifecycles

• Transition planning should be a continuous activity throughout the lifecycle.
• The final output is only available during the transition phase (final phase of the Project lifecycle).
• It is important to monitor progress and the alignment of deliverables against expectations through assurance and governance procedures during the project life cycle at regular review points.

Iterative Lifecycles

• Provide the PM the opportunity to build stakeholder buy-in on an ongoing basis.
• This can be via collaborative input to the design or ideas from BAU about the implementation schedule.

Question 11

In Project closure, there are key evaluation and administrative activities. What are they?

Answer 11

Financial closure of the project; plan and run a post-project review; lessons learned; knowledge management; disband the team; archive project documentation.

Question 12

What are the actions that can support a smooth transition?

Answer 12

1. Managing stakeholder expectations from the outset to increase the likelihood of the project outputs being accepted. 2. Identifying and engaging with end users and project sponsors as key stakeholders throughout the project. 3. Aligning needs with outputs where project constraints allow and communicating any digression from these. 4. Setting the path for handover and acceptance by familiarising key stakeholders with the deliverables from the outset. 4. Ensuring clear communication to reduce the risk of the PM misunderstanding the requirements or the end users of the deliverables.

Question 13

At what stage should the new BAU preparation be considered?

Answer 13

Early in the project lifecycle.

Question 14

Why is business readiness an important element to consider throughout the project?

Answer 14

It ensures buy-in from the users of the project outputs and those who will be expected to do things differently.

Question 15

Who carries out business readiness activities?

Answer 15

The Project Team.

Question 16

What is the Change Impact Analysis?

Answer 16

A method of analysing the scope and scale of the change to the new BAU. It helps to understand the organisational impacts on people, performance, processes, systems and culture.

Question 17

State the four key steps of Change Impact Analysis.

Answer 17

1. Define the change; 2. Identify impacted areas; 3. Assess the Impact Level; 4. Develop an Action Plan.

Question 18

What is the purpose of the Stakeholder Impact Analysis?

Answer 18

To understand how each stakeholder is impacted by the change, the scale of the impact, and identify any support required as a result.