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Lessons learned in Project Management


Lessons learned in Project Management


Lessons learned (it may be +ve or -ve) in project management are the knowledge gained during a project that can be used to improve future performance.

Lessons learned are documented with solutions to provide future project teams with information that can increase effectiveness and efficiency.

Every project manager should be well aware of the impact lessons learned can have on the current and future projects.

However, despite knowing the value of lessons learned, not everyone makes full use of them. 

The lessons learnt documented using below process flow:


1) Identify:

Identify comments and recommendations for use in future project.

This is usually done through a project survey that is sent out to all team members. Various questions connected to a project help the participants share their lessons learned. 

2) Document:

Document and share the findings

3) Analyze:

Analyze the finding and find the solution

4) Store:

Store in a repository

5) Retrieve:

Retrieve for use in current projects

Suggested categories for lessons learned include:

  • Project management
  • Technology
  • Communication
  • Business processes
  • Requirements
  • Design and build
  • Testing
  • Implementation

 The fields used in the Lesions learnt document:

  • Lesson learned
  • Subject
  • Project Name
  • Business Line
  • Technology
  • Experience type
  • Situation
  • Comments
  • Recommendations 
  • Date

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