General Rules

• As a general rule meetings and questions should address both PM and non-PM Lessons LearnedLessons Learned sessions tend to bring out the negatives, be sure to ask "What Went Right"
• Conduct Lessons Learned meetings
• Depending on the size and type of project there can be one or more LL session.
• Use survey questions (recommended below) to solicit feedback
• Meetings and questions should address both PM and non-PM Lessons Learned

Before the meeting

• Use online anonymous survey to collect feedback, distill down to areas of discussion and focus actual meeting(s) around identifying specific actions to follow
• Prepare the team in advance of the meeting for what will be discussed
• Take steps to ensure that the meeting will be comfortable and non-confrontational
• Involve a "scribe" or two to ensure that all notes get captured - the PM could be considered for this role
• Project Manager of the project should not be facilitator of the lessons learned - get another PM or strong facilitator
• Who is invited?  Should include team members, customers, other stakeholders
• Try to plan to feed people (when possible), breaks may be needed as well
• Encourage creative thinking - make it a relaxed environment for having the discussion - go to a less familiar, interesting place

...

• Project Planning
  • Was the project plan realistic or unrealistic?
  • Did the planning effort include key stakeholders?
  • Were all major activities accounted for?
  • Did the individual team members responsible for the work provide the estimates?
  • Were appropriate staff involved in the planning effort?
  • Do you believe the technology PM applied provided a better ulimate outcome for this project?
• Communications
  • Were communications effective?
  • Were meetings effective?
  • Were expectations clear?
  • Did you know where to go to get information about the project?
  • Did communications go to the right people, at the right time?
  • Were communications with our consultant effective?
  • Did we escalate effectively and at the right time?
  • Were issues dealt with effectively?
• Staffing, Roles, and Responsibilities
  • Were people appropriately assigned to the project?
  • Was staffing sufficient?
  • Were roles and responsibilities clear?
  • Did team members and stakeholder fulfill their roles appropriately?
  • Was leadership and governance effective?
  • Have you participated in this type of technology project before?
• Project Execution
  • Was the project executed according to plan?
  • Was there an appropriate level of commitment and urgency?
  • Was change management performed appropriately?
  • Was risk management performed appropriately?
  • Was issue management performed appropriately
  • Would you recommend this technology PM service to a peer?
  • Was the project flexible enough to adapt to unforeseen circumstances?
  • Did the project unduly stray from identified goals and objectives?
  • How well were scope changes managed
• Teamwork
  • Did the teams/sub-teams work effectively together?
  • Did the teams share a common goal/mission?
  • All stakeholders were appropriately engaged, involved, and available?
• Cutover
  • Was the cutover successful?
  • Was the cutover well planned?
  • Were cutover communications effective?
• Anything else?

End of Document

Ron Parks

...

• ...

  • • What

  ...

  • • tools or techniques worked well?

  ...

  • Were there scope changes that impacted the schedule?
  • Did stakeholders have appropriate input into the project planning process?
  • Was risk controlled adequately?
  • Did the project meet all original scheduled milestones/deadlines?
  • Were all issues resolved in a timely manner?
  • Were there project staffing issues?

  ...

  • Were communications adequate in all activities?
  • Were status and issues communicated in a timely manner
  • Was the communications style appropriate for all parties?

  ...

  • Were requirements documented clearly?
  • Were test plans adequate?
  • • How well did the project meet objectives?

  End of Document

  ...

  Irina Naydich

  • What worked well either for this project or for the project team?
  • What did not work well either for this project or for the project team?
  • What needs to be done over or differently?
  • What surprises did the team have to deal with?
  • What project circumstances were not anticipated?
  • Were the project goals attained? If not, what changes need to be made to meet goals in the future?

  ...