The Basics of Project Evaluation and Lessons Learned, 2nd Edition

Features

• Presents new information that updates the previous edition that won the Project Management Institute's (PMI) David I. Cleland Project Management Literature Award
• Updated to align with the PMBOK® Guide, Fifth Edition
• Includes three new chapters in response to information requests from readers of the first edition from around the world
• Provides an easy-to-follow, systematic approach to conducting Lessons Learned on a project

Summary

For some organizations, Lessons Learned (LL) is an informal process of discussing and recording project experiences during the closure phase. For others, LL is a formal process that occurs at the end of each phase of a project. Regardless of when they are performed, if you are a project team member, chances are you will soon be required to present an evaluation of your project using Lessons Learned.

Presenting new information that updates the award-winning first edition, The Basics of Project Evaluation and Lessons Learned, Second Edition supplies practical guidance on conducting project Lessons Learned. The first edition won the Project Management Institute's (PMI) David I. Cleland Project Management Literature Award. Following in the footsteps of its popular predecessor, this second edition provides an easy-to-follow, systematic approach to conducting Lessons Learned on a project.

• Updated to align with the PMBOK® Guide, Fifth Edition
• Includes three new chapters—PRINCE2®, Agile Retrospectives, and Knowledge Transfer— in response to information requests from readers of the first edition from around the world

The research in this book is based on four years of doctoral dissertation research and is supported by renowned experts in the field of evaluation. The concepts covered are applicable to all types of organizations that implement projects and need to conduct Lessons Learned.

Providing tools and techniques for active engagement, the text is founded on the principles of conducting project evaluations as recommended by the Project Management Institute (PMI), the world’s leading not-for-profit membership association for the project management profession, and PRINCE2 (Project in Controlled Environments version 2), a major governing body of project management.

Simplifying and formalizing the methodology of conducting LL in projects, the contents of this book will help organizations, large and small, more effectively implement processes and systems to support effective LL.

About the Author

Willis H. Thomas, PhD, PMP, CPT, has been involved in training and development, organizational effectiveness, and quality operations in the pharmaceutical, telecommunications, and information technology industries. As an employee, he has worked for large companies such as Xerox, Ameritech, Brinks, and Pfizer. As a consultant, he has serviced companies across many different industries around the globe, specifically in the areas of project management and evaluation.

He maintains a Project Management Professional (PMP) certification from the Project Management Institute (PMI) and a Certified Performance Technologist (CPT) certification from the International Society of Performance Improvement (ISPI).

Willis is the author of a book published in November of 2011 entitled The Basics of Project Evaluation and Lessons Learned, New York, NY: Productivity Press. His book was recognized as Best of the Best publications by the Project Management Institute (PMI) in October of 2012 and received the coveted Cleland award at the PMI Global Conference in Vancouver, Canada, on October 20, 2012. He is also the author of The Basics of Achieving Professional Certification: Enhancing Your Credentials, published in November of 2013. In this book, ASTD was recognized as a best practice. He has been a guest speaker for numerous educational institutions (i.e., Western Michigan University and University of South Florida) and professional associations (i.e., AEA, ASTD, PMI, APICS, and IVT). He has authored a variety of articles on project management and evaluation in recognized journals and publications. In the area of project management, he has taught many courses worldwide for the International Institute for Learning.

Willis holds a PhD in Evaluation from Western Michigan University. The title of his dissertation was "A Metaevaluation of Lessons Learned Repositories: Evaluative Knowledge Management Practices in Project Management." In line with his extensive research, he has developed a comprehensive website on project management that focuses specifically on lessons learned.