Evaluate the Project is a critical activity within the Closing a Project process in PRINCE2 7. This activity involves conducting a thorough assessment of how well the project performed against its original objectives, plans, and business case. The purpose is to capture valuable lessons and determin…Evaluate the Project is a critical activity within the Closing a Project process in PRINCE2 7. This activity involves conducting a thorough assessment of how well the project performed against its original objectives, plans, and business case. The purpose is to capture valuable lessons and determine the overall success of the project.
During project evaluation, the Project Manager reviews several key aspects. First, they assess whether the project delivered the expected products within the agreed tolerances for time, cost, scope, quality, benefits, and risk. This comparison between planned and actual performance provides essential data for organizational learning.
The evaluation also examines the effectiveness of the project management approach used. This includes reviewing how well the PRINCE2 principles, practices, and processes were applied throughout the project lifecycle. Any deviations from the planned approach are documented along with their reasons and outcomes.
Benefit achievement is another crucial element of the evaluation. While some benefits may already be measurable at project closure, others will only materialize after the project outputs have been in operation for some time. The evaluation identifies which benefits have been achieved and establishes arrangements for measuring future benefits through the Benefits Management Approach.
Lessons learned throughout the project are consolidated during this activity. These lessons cover what worked well, what could have been improved, and recommendations for future projects. This knowledge transfer supports continuous improvement across the organization.
The evaluation feeds into the End Project Report, which provides a formal record of project performance. This report is presented to the Project Board as part of the request for project closure authorization. The Project Board uses this information to make informed decisions about accepting the project closure and understanding the true value delivered by the project investment.
Evaluate the Project - PRINCE2 Foundation v7 Complete Guide
Introduction
Evaluate the Project is a critical activity within the Closing a Project process in PRINCE2 v7. This activity ensures that lessons are captured, performance is assessed, and valuable insights are documented for future projects.
Why is Evaluate the Project Important?
Evaluating the project serves several essential purposes:
• Organizational Learning: Captures lessons that can benefit future projects and improve organizational project management maturity • Performance Assessment: Measures how well the project performed against its original plans and targets • Benefits Tracking: Documents which benefits have been achieved and plans for measuring remaining benefits • Continuous Improvement: Identifies what worked well and what could be improved for future initiatives • Accountability: Provides a formal record of project performance for stakeholders and governance purposes
What is Evaluate the Project?
Evaluate the Project is an activity performed by the Project Manager during the Closing a Project process. It involves a comprehensive review of the project's performance, capturing lessons learned, and assessing the achievement of objectives.
The key outputs of this activity include:
• Lessons Report: A compilation of lessons learned throughout the project lifecycle • End Project Report: A summary of project performance against baselines • Updated Benefits Management Approach: Including post-project benefits reviews
How Does Evaluate the Project Work?
The evaluation process follows these steps:
Step 1: Review Project Performance Compare actual performance against the Project Initiation Documentation (PID), including time, cost, quality, scope, benefits, and risk.
Step 2: Gather Lessons Collect lessons from all stages of the project, including input from team members, stakeholders, and project documentation.
Step 3: Assess Benefits Document benefits already realized and outline arrangements for measuring benefits that will materialize after project closure.
Step 4: Compile the End Project Report Create a comprehensive report summarizing project achievements, deviations from plans, and recommendations.
Step 5: Prepare the Lessons Report Consolidate lessons into a formal report for distribution to relevant parties in the organization.
Key Components of Evaluation
When evaluating the project, the Project Manager considers:
• Quality management effectiveness • Risk management performance • Communication effectiveness • Team performance and collaboration • Supplier and stakeholder management • Achievement of business case objectives • Adherence to PRINCE2 principles and practices
Exam Tips: Answering Questions on Evaluate the Project
Tip 1: Know the Responsible Role Remember that the Project Manager is responsible for evaluating the project. The Project Board reviews and approves the outputs but does not perform the evaluation.
Tip 2: Understand the Two Key Products Be clear about the difference between the End Project Report (performance summary) and the Lessons Report (knowledge capture). Questions often test whether you know which document contains specific information.
Tip 3: Benefits Focus Remember that not all benefits are realized during the project. The evaluation must address both achieved benefits and arrangements for post-project benefits reviews.
Tip 4: Timing is Critical Evaluation occurs during Closing a Project, not after the project ends. This ensures proper documentation while information is still fresh and resources are available.
Tip 5: Link to Lessons Questions may ask about the flow of lessons. Remember that lessons are gathered throughout the project (in the Lessons Log) and consolidated into the Lessons Report during evaluation.
Tip 6: Watch for Scope The evaluation covers the entire project lifecycle, not just the final stage. Be cautious of answer options that suggest a limited scope of evaluation.
Tip 7: Corporate Connection The Lessons Report is passed to corporate or programme management for organizational learning. This distribution ensures lessons benefit the wider organization.
Common Exam Question Themes
• Who performs the evaluation (Project Manager) • What products are created (End Project Report, Lessons Report) • When evaluation occurs (during Closing a Project process) • Purpose of evaluation (learning, accountability, benefits tracking) • Where lessons are distributed (corporate/programme management)