5 steps to performing a Post Implementation Review
You may have heard of the term PIR? Basically, a Post Implementation Review (or
"PIR") is the term used to describe a formal review of a project, after it has been
completed and formally closed. The purpose of a PIR is twofold: to review its actual
level of success, and to gain valuable lessons learned for future projects. To conduct
a PIR quickly and efficiently, you need to take these 5 key steps:
First, you will need to review the overall performance of the project, to determine
whether it has delivered the benefits, met the objectives, operated within scope and
produced the deliverables on time, within budget and using the allocated resources.
You will then need to determine whether the project has conformed to the
management processes initially set out. And finally, you should identify the key
project achievements, failures and any lessons learned for future projects. Here's
how to do all of this, in 5 simple steps:
Step 1: Review the project performance
To start, you need to determine how the project performed against each of the
targets defined during the Initiation phase. You should identify whether the project:
Delivered the business benefits in the Business Case
Achieved the objectives specified in the Terms of
Reference
Remained within the scope defined in the Terms of
Reference
Produced the deliverables defined in the Terms of
Reference
Met the quality targets defined in the Quality Plan
Completed within the planned project schedule
Delivered within the budget defined in the Financial
Plan
Met the forecast resource levels defined in the
Resource Plan
Step 2: Review the project conformance
Next, identify the extent to which the project has conformed to the following
management processes initially defined:
Time Management
Cost Management
Quality Management
Change Management
Risk Management
Issue Management
Procurement Management
Acceptance Management
Communications Management
Step 3: Identify project achievements
Next, list the major achievements for the project and describe the positive effect that
each achievement has had on the customer's business.
Step 4: Identify project failures
List any project failures and describe the effects they have had on the customer's
organization.
Step 5: Identify lessons learned
Describe the lessons learned from undertaking this project and list any
recommendations for similar projects in the future.