Recommend Project Closure is a critical activity within the Closing a Project process in PRINCE2 7. This activity involves the Project Manager preparing and submitting a formal recommendation to the Project Board that the project should be closed. The recommendation is based on a thorough evaluatio…Recommend Project Closure is a critical activity within the Closing a Project process in PRINCE2 7. This activity involves the Project Manager preparing and submitting a formal recommendation to the Project Board that the project should be closed. The recommendation is based on a thorough evaluation of the project's overall performance and status.
The Project Manager must assess whether all planned products have been delivered and accepted by the appropriate stakeholders. This includes verifying that quality criteria have been met and that the customer has signed off on deliverables. Any outstanding work or products that could not be completed must be documented and arrangements made for their handling after project closure.
The recommendation includes an evaluation of how well the project met its objectives as defined in the Project Initiation Documentation. The Project Manager compares actual performance against planned targets for time, cost, scope, quality, benefits, and risk. Any variances must be explained and documented.
A key component involves confirming that handover activities are complete. This means ensuring that operational and maintenance teams have accepted responsibility for the project's products and have received necessary training and documentation. Support arrangements must be in place before closure can proceed.
The Project Manager must also ensure that lessons learned throughout the project have been captured and documented in the Lessons Report. These insights are valuable for future projects within the organization.
Additionally, the recommendation addresses the Benefits Management Approach and confirms arrangements for post-project benefits reviews. Since many benefits may only be realized after the project ends, clear ownership and measurement mechanisms must be established.
The Project Board reviews this recommendation and makes the final decision on whether to authorize project closure. They may approve closure, request additional actions, or in exceptional circumstances, defer the closure decision. This formal authorization provides a controlled and organized end to the project.
Recommend Project Closure - Complete Guide
What is Recommend Project Closure?
Recommend Project Closure is the final activity within the Closing a Project process in PRINCE2. It is the formal action where the Project Manager prepares a recommendation to the Project Board that the project should be closed. This recommendation is based on comprehensive evidence that the project has achieved its objectives or that continuation is no longer viable.
Why is Recommend Project Closure Important?
This activity is crucial for several reasons:
• Formal Authorization: It ensures that project closure receives proper authorization from the Project Board rather than projects simply fading away • Accountability: It provides a clear audit trail demonstrating that due diligence was followed before closing • Completeness Check: It confirms all necessary closure activities have been completed • Resource Release: It enables the formal release of project resources and team members • Lessons Captured: It ensures valuable lessons are documented for future projects
How Does Recommend Project Closure Work?
The Project Manager completes several key activities before making the recommendation:
1. Prepare the End Project Report This report summarizes project performance against the original plans, including time, cost, quality, scope, benefits, and risks.
2. Prepare the Lessons Report All lessons learned throughout the project are compiled and made available for future projects and the organization.
3. Confirm Handover and Acceptance Verify that all products have been handed over to the appropriate parties and formally accepted.
4. Confirm Benefit Reviews are Planned Ensure arrangements are in place for post-project benefit reviews as documented in the Benefits Management Approach.
5. Submit Closure Recommendation The Project Manager submits the End Project Report along with the closure recommendation to the Project Board for their decision.
Outputs: • End Project Report • Lessons Report • Closure recommendation to the Project Board
Roles and Responsibilities
• Project Manager: Prepares the recommendation and supporting documentation • Project Board: Reviews and decides whether to authorize closure • Project Support: May assist with documentation and administrative tasks
Exam Tips: Answering Questions on Recommend Project Closure
Tip 1: Remember Who Recommends vs Who Authorizes The Project Manager recommends closure, but the Project Board authorizes it. This distinction frequently appears in exam questions.
Tip 2: Know the Key Products The End Project Report and Lessons Report are essential outputs. Questions often test whether you know which reports are produced during closure.
Tip 3: Understand Premature Closure Projects can be closed prematurely if the Business Case is no longer valid. The same closure activities still apply, and the recommendation process remains the same.
Tip 4: Benefits Review Planning Remember that benefits are typically realized after the project closes. The project ensures benefit review arrangements are in place but does not conduct the reviews.
Tip 5: Distinguish from Handover Handover of products occurs before the closure recommendation. Ensure you understand the sequence of activities within the Closing a Project process.
Tip 6: Link to Continued Business Justification Closure relates to the principle of continued business justification. If the Business Case fails, closure should be recommended even if products are incomplete.
Tip 7: Watch for Trap Answers Be cautious of options suggesting the Project Manager can close the project independently or that closure happens automatically when products are delivered.