When closing a service project (as the seller's project manager), do you perform a "lessons learned"-session with the buyer?
If yes: what topics do you discuss? Just the final result (the delivered and already accepted product)? Or the whole project (schedule, costs, communication, quality, your own performance, ...)? Saving Changes...
You should do Lessons Learned during the project, at certain defined stage gates/ spring retrospectives. I am used to LL's together with the complete team, where team members from the buyer are also being involved. On a higher management level, I am used to a more managerial focused Customer Satisfaction Review on a regular basis. Focus of topics discussed in the LL's with the team depends very much on the actual project phase but scope covers all project management process groups, especially communication and collaboration, achieved quality, performance...) and when discussing the topics looking backward and more importantly looking forward. Saving Changes...
As Peter has indicated, a good practice is to do frequent LL's over the life of a project and not just at the end. That way you don't risk missing out on any valuable lessons.
In a procurement situation, there can often be three LL sessions happening as part of closing procurements. One involving just the seller's stakeholders, one involving just the buyer's stakeholders, and a joint one. The outcomes of the two former ones become part of their respective OPA's and would usually not be shared with the other party.
Kiron Saving Changes...
Stéphane ParentSelf Employed / Semi-retired| Leader MakerPrince Edward Island, Canada
We always do internal lessons learned sessions. If the project warrants it, we may add a client-facing session as well. Saving Changes...
