Invite all departments to a meeting that need to implement and/or support the new product in a production environment. Make sure training is in place for people to learn the new process. You may have a terrific product but if people do not use it, it becomes worthless. Advertise the go live date and meet that date.
A lessons learned session focuses on identifying project successes and project failures, and includes recommendations to improve future performance on projects. During the project life cycle, the project team and key stakeholders identify lessons learned concerning the technical, managerial, and process aspects of the project.
The lessons learned are compiled, formalized, and stored through the project’s duration.
The focus of lessons learned meetings can vary. In some cases, the focus is on strong technical or product development processes, while in other cases, the focus is on the processes that aided or hindered performance of the work. Teams can gather information more frequently if they feel that the increased quantity of data merits the additional investment of time and money. Lessons learned provide future project teams with the information that can increase effectiveness and efficiency of project management. In addition, phase-end lessons learned sessions provide a good team-building exercise. Project managers have a professional obligation to conduct lessons learned sessions for all projects with key internal and external stakeholders, particularly if the project yielded less than desirable results.
Some specific results from lessons learned include:
· Update of the lessons learned knowledge base
· Input to knowledge management system
· Updated corporate policies, procedures, and processes
· Improved business skills
· Overall product and service improvements
· Updates to the risk management plan.
Enjoy your accomplishment as a team.