How to Close a Change Project

 

This post's podcast episode is available at Sounder, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Stitcher and Spotify.

When you are short of time, here is the one action that will give you 80 percent results in 20 percent of the time.

DO THIS

Define the closing date as the first time you can accurately measure benefits.

BY DOING THIS

–        Start Gain agreement from leaders that the project closes after benefits are measured.

–       Set the closing date with leaders and add it to the project plan (and leaders' calendars).

–       Develop a work back plan to ensure sufficient transition and measurement activities are in place.

Managing the close of a change project is challenging because most leaders and project team members have mentally moved on to their next roles and challenges.

Defining the close date as the point in time when benefits are first measured reduces the risk of the final tasks being rushed or missed. It also broadens the project and operating teams' focus to include realizing the change benefits.

Adding the closing date to the project plan necessitates a work back schedule including benefit tracking and recording activities. This work may extend some project team members' participation and uncover additional insights and lessons to guide future transformations.

KNOWLEDGE BITES

BENEFITS MEASUREMENT TOOL: What benefits will be realized by the project close date?

SUCCESS TIP

Identifying the absence of benefit measurement as a risk in the planning phase increases the likelihood of leaders supporting an extended close date.

For more stories, insights and advice, listen to the Closing a Change Project  podcast episode with HR and change management expert Tim Creasey.

Phil Buckley is the author of Change on the Run and  Change with Confidence, host of the  Change on the Run Podcast, and co-creator of the  Sharing Change with Confidence Newsletter.

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