Consequences of Not Properly Closing a Project
This paper examines the consequences of failing to properly close a project, with a focus on two key issues: the failure to document lessons learned and the tendency of project team members to disengage during the closing phase. Using the DRAMA software project as a case study, the paper illustrates how inadequate documentation at project closure can undermine a product's long-term viability. It also identifies common reasons why project managers and team members resist thorough closure, including project failure, eagerness to move on, and financial incentives, and argues that disciplined closure procedures are essential for organizational success.
- Introduction: Why Project Closure Matters: Overview of project closure consequences
- The Importance of Documenting Lessons Learned: Why lessons learned documentation is critical
- The DRAMA Project: A Case Study in Closure Failure: Failed software project illustrates poor documentation
- Why Project Teams Disengage During Closure: Reasons teams avoid thorough project closure
- Conclusion: The Case for Disciplined Project Closure: Argument for following proper closure procedures
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What makes this paper effective
- Uses a concrete real-world example (the DRAMA software project) to ground the abstract argument about documentation failure in a tangible consequence.
- Balances two distinct dimensions of project closure — documentation and team behavior — giving the paper a clear dual focus without losing coherence.
- Incorporates a structured list of reasons for team disengagement, making the argument easy to follow and credible through enumeration.
Key academic technique demonstrated
The paper demonstrates effective use of a case study to support a broader claim. Rather than asserting that poor documentation leads to project failure in the abstract, the author grounds the argument in the DRAMA project, showing specifically how undocumented design features made the software unmarketable. This move from general claim to specific evidence is a foundational technique in applied academic writing.
Structure breakdown
The paper opens with a general argument about project closure, narrows to lessons learned and documentation, introduces the DRAMA case study as supporting evidence, then shifts to a second major issue — team disengagement — supported by a cited list of causes. It closes with a normative argument reinforcing the importance of proper closure procedures. The structure is linear and logical, suitable for an undergraduate project management course.
Introduction: Why Project Closure Matters
There are many consequences of not properly closing a project that can affect its success — or the success of an entire program — for years to come. Among the most important aspects of project management is the closing phase, which, when neglected, can undermine work that took considerable time and resources to complete.
The Importance of Documenting Lessons Learned
One of the most critical components of project closure is documenting lessons learned, especially in organizations that run multiple projects. In many IT projects, for instance, lessons learned throughout the project lifecycle can affect future related projects or other projects with similar objectives. They can also affect the long-term serviceability of the project's deliverable.
If an IT project produces software, for example, future revisions or software updates can be deeply impaired by the failure to document critical aspects of the lessons learned during closure. A software update team may not be able to trace the original steps taken during the project, making it difficult to fix bugs or make future improvements to functionality.
References
Successful Software. (n.d.). Lessons learned from 13 failed software products. Retrieved from http://successfulsoftware.net/2010/05/27/learning-lessons-from-13-failed-software-products/
Zincubate. (2011, March 3). Why do project managers fail to close projects? Retrieved from
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