Sample Lessons Learned Questions

Ron Parks

"bold"General Processes
What were the most critical factors for project success?

When information or documents were handed off to other groups (the downstream process) what "worked well" and what can "be improved"?

Were there challenges or barriers in the downstream process that you overcame, if so, how?

What worked well in terms of:
Logistics (deadlines, meetings, etc.)

Were standard templates and deliverables used?

Were all templates of value in this project?

Which tools or techniques were not used?

Were there organizational obstacles that made it difficult or impossible to use any part of the process?

Were roles and responsibilities clearly defined?

Phase Specific
Was the Strategy Phase completed successfully?

Was the Planning Phase completed successfully?

Was the Initiation Phase completed successfully?

Was the Execution and Control Phase completed successfully?

Was the Close-out Phase completed successfully?

Control-Specific
Have any scope changes to this project impacted the schedule? How?

Have cross-project dependencies affected scope? How?

Was the work plan well documented, with appropriate structure and detail?

Did the work plan encompass all aspects of the project?

Did stakeholders have appropriate input into the project planning process?

How often were deliverables 're-worked' based on the introduction of new requirements?

How often were deliverables 're-worked' because it did not meet requirements?

Were communications adequate in all activities?

Did you know what you needed to know when you needed to know it?

Was risk controlled adequately?

Was an adequate contingency plan created?

Did the project meet all original scheduled milestones/deadlines?

Was project status reported according to plan?

Were all issues resolved in a timely manner?

Did the change control procedure work adequately?

Did the project receive all the necessary approvals to proceed in a timely fashion?

Was the project staffed appropriately?

Was quality of the product or services adequate?

Were Initial cost and schedule estimates were accurate?

Was the technology solution chosen appropriate for the project?

Communications
Were status and issues communicated in a timely manner to all appropriate parties?

Did the user community understand the project, what was completed and what was coming next?

Requirements
Were customer needs and /requirements met?

Were requirements gathered to a sufficient detail?

Were requirements documented clearly?

Were specifications clear and well-documented?

Were test plans adequate, understandable, and well documented?

Overall
Was the project a success?

Were project objectives met?
Be sure to ask for input on "What Went Right"

Irina Naydich

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Greg Bronson

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Micci Bogard

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Lisa Stensland

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