In PRINCE2 7, the End Project Report is a management product created during the 'Closing a Project' process. It serves as the formal mechanism for the Project Manager to pass final information to the Project Board, verifying that the project has been completed in accordance with the Project Initiat…In PRINCE2 7, the End Project Report is a management product created during the 'Closing a Project' process. It serves as the formal mechanism for the Project Manager to pass final information to the Project Board, verifying that the project has been completed in accordance with the Project Initiation Documentation (PID).
Within the context of the Progress practice, the End Project Report acts as the final historical record and measurement of success. It provides a definitive comparison of what was achieved against what was originally agreed upon regarding the six performance targets: time, cost, quality, scope, benefits, and risk (sustainability is also considered in PRINCE2 7). The report validates that the products have been handed over and accepted by the user/operations.
Key content includes:
1. **Performance against the Plan:** A review of how the project performed against the baselined schedule and budget.
2. **Business Case Review:** Confirmation that the project delivered the output required to achieve the expected benefits.
3. **Review of Project Objectives:** Verification that acceptance criteria were met.
4. **Lessons:** A summary of significant lessons learned—both positive and negative—to update the organization's knowledge base.
5. **Follow-on Action Recommendations:** Documentation of any uncompleted work, open risks, or handover requirements (e.g., maintenance) that must be managed by the operational business after the project team disbands.
The Project Board uses this report to authorize the formal closure of the project. It ensures a clean break, confirming that the project has delivered value and that the organization is ready to manage the products in an operational capacity.
End Project Report (PRINCE2 Practitioner v7)
What is the End Project Report? In PRINCE2, the End Project Report is a management product used during the Closing a Project process to pass information from the Project Manager to the Project Board. It acts as the final 'report card' of the project, reviewing how the project performed against the original Project Initiation Documentation (PID), specifically the Business Case and the Project Plan.
Why is it Important? It serves as the trigger for project closure. Its primary importance lies in governance and assurance: - It provides the Project Board with the evidence needed to authorize the closure of the project. - It confirms that the project has delivered the required products and that they have been accepted by operations or the user. - It evaluates the success of the project against the baselined objectives (Time, Cost, Quality, Scope, Benefits, and Risk).
How it Works The Project Manager creates this report as the project approaches its end. It summarizes the entire lifecycle, not just the final stage. Key components include: - Performance Review: Comparing the final actual figures (cost, time, etc.) against the original baselines. - Review of Business Case: documenting benefits already realized and updating the forecast for remaining benefits. - Review of Products: Confirming quality activities are complete and products are handed over. - Lessons Learned: A summary of the lessons (often derived from the Lessons Report) to pass on to corporate management. - Follow-on Action Recommendations: Detailed instructions for the operational team regarding unfinished work, ongoing risks, or future benefit reviews.
Exam Tips: Answering Questions on End Project Report For the Practitioner exam, focus on the following logic to select the right answers:
1. Differentiate from End Stage Report: If the scenario describes the end of a management stage (but not the final one), the correct answer is the End Stage Report. Only select End Project Report if the scenario explicitly states the project is closing or decommissioning.
2. Look for 'Follow-on Actions': A frequent exam topic is how to handle risks or issues that remain active after the project closes. The End Project Report is the home for Follow-on Action Recommendations. If a question asks where to document a risk transferring to the operational team, this is usually the answer.
3. Baselines vs. Actuals: Questions asking about evaluating the project's total accuracy in estimation or overall team performance refer to this report. It is the definitive comparison of 'What we said we would do' (PID) vs. 'What we actually did'.
4. Benefits Review Plan Link: Be aware that the End Project Report works in tandem with the Benefits Management Approach. The report confirms what benefits were achieved during the project, while recommending when post-project reviews should occur for long-term benefits.