In fast-paced organizations, reflection often takes a backseat to action. Teams finish one project, then launch another one, often without a project review. Hence, they miss out on learning how to improve. Also, they may repeat the same mistakes from one project to the next. Likewise, if a project went well, they may not understand why.
They may view it as mere luck rather than identifying what led to their success.
For instance, in hospitals and the military, teams review their work routinely. They understand that reflection can make or break future success. The rest of us can learn a thing or two from them.
In other words, we highly recommend conducting thorough project reviews. Just as employee reviews are essential for individuals, project reviews are vital for teams. Read on to learn more about their purpose and how to get the most from them.
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A project review evaluates the success of an initiative and identifies areas for improvement. It can also evaluate a current project to determine whether it’s on the right track. Or, it can determine the success of a completed project. Either way, teams identify lessons learned within this process. By doing so, they’ll improve their success in the future.
As part of the review, teams debrief the project as a group. Together, they explore what they could have done better. For example, they may learn specific ways in which they can communicate better. They also acknowledge their successes so they can celebrate them. By comparing results with goals, they can refine their strategy.
If the project is still in progress, they can correct course midstream.
Several important roles guide the project review process. It’s also important to assign a project review leader to facilitate the process. This person can also make assessments based on data prior to the review. Assign another staff member to assist with data analysis. Also assign a notetaker who can record information throughout the process.
Some organizations assign these roles to people who had no involvement in the project. In some cases, different project managers review one another’s projects. They first brief one another on project goals, scope, team, and process. That may not always prove feasible, however. In many organizations, teams review their own projects.
As mentioned, you can hold product reviews during the course of a project. For large projects, this can prove especially important. For small projects, it may be overkill. If you hold reviews during a current project, set them at regular intervals. And always hold a project review at the end of a project.
In project reviews, teams examine metrics and voice observations. They look at both internal and external factors that led them to achieve a particular result. Both objective and subjective information comes into play. Teams may discuss interpersonal issues that arose along with hard data. This can illuminate what human issues may have led to the project outcome.
Within your review, make sure to cover several key elements. The following instructions and questions will ensure you address the key components of the review process. The project review leader can use them as a guide to conducting the review.
Using the information you’ve gained, complete a project review template.
Project Name: ______________ Score: ______
Date: _______
Brief Summary: ______________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
Determine how closely the project followed the set budget.
Consider whether the project followed the expected time frame.
| Project Stage | Target Date | Completion Date | Reasons for Any Disparity |
| Milestone #1 | |||
| Milestone #2 | |||
| Milestone #3 |
Evaluate success in achieving the project’s expected outcomes.
| Outcomes | Planned Deliverable | Actual Deliverable | Reasons for Any Disparity |
| Outcome #1 | |||
| Outcome #2 | |||
| Outcome #3 |
Identify primary issues and challenges.
State action items to address areas of concern. (For a current project, also specify whether it should move forward.)
You might also refer to the Institute of Project Management’s template along with another free template. We referred to both in designing elements of the above template.
Here are several common types of project reviews an organization might conduct.
The gate review determines whether to authorize a current project to proceed to the next stage. It examines factors like current risks and budget requirements. In many cases, it involves approving funding as well.
Every project should have a completion review, as discussed. This review assesses the overall success of the project.
A follow-up review addresses issues of noncompliance, as Timothy Briscoe and coauthors explain in a Project Management Institute conference presentation. This can occur after a gate review that reveals concerns. Or, it can occur after a completion review that found the project has not yet met its goals.
It might be scheduled for two weeks or one month after the gate review.
These reviews deliver third-party feedback to the project manager. Peers of this leader evaluate the project’s success. Such reviews can occur at any stage of the project.
Every project review leader should employ this set of best practices. By doing so, they’ll gain a full picture of the issues that impacted success.
Project reviews should include the whole project team. Hold a meeting where you invite input and discussion from everyone. Employees doing the hands-on work have an extremely valuable perspective. They may notice issues or strengths that leaders have overlooked.
People with key project roles should bring evidence that the team achieved (or didn’t achieve) deliverables. They can also bring documentation showing why the team adopted the chosen plan and methodology, as Briscoe and coauthors assert. This will ensure a productive and detailed discussion.
Make sure everyone has a chance to share input. Prompt individuals to speak up in areas where they may have feedback if need be. For example, say, “Susan, you handled a lot of coordination between team members. How did communication flow?”
Based on this input, the manager can help each individual determine personal growth needs.
Conduct one-on-one interviews with individual team members if you need more input. This gives you a chance to ask follow-up questions.
Present project outcomes to stakeholders and explain what you accomplished. Remind them of the project scope when you start the meeting. Then try to reach consensus with stakeholders on whether you’ve fulfilled the project goals. Reach an agreement on whether you’ve successfully completed the project or need to do more work.
After a great discussion, don’t let the collective knowledge you’ve gained be forgotten. Along with completing the above template, produce a detailed report. Then share it with the group as well as HR and organizational leadership. The team can refer back to it when planning their next project or continuing the current one.
Software can assist in your project review process. Firstly, it can help you track progress toward project goals. Secondly, it can generate analytics to assist in evaluating success. This provides objective evidence of strengths and shortcomings.
During team debriefs don’t seek to criticize individuals. And don’t assign blame. Instead, focus on illuminating key lessons. “The post-evaluation is an opportunity for discovery, not for criticism and blame,” writes Harvard Business Review. “Team members who fear they’ll be punished for past problems may try to hide them rather than help find better ways of handling them in the future.”
If managers are having trouble making time for project reviews, consider why. Are they experiencing initiative overload? This common problem keeps teams racing ahead without learning from the past. Also, talk with managers about this issue and help them prioritize.
Likewise, equip all managers with the tools and training to lead great project reviews. Then read their project review reports to make sure they’re on the right track. They’ll continuously improve team effectiveness with lessons learned from great reviews.
Find out how our software can enhance your project review process. Demo our product today!
