Project Management Lessons Learned A Continuous Process Improvement Framework

Lessons Learned is an important phase in project management. This is when organizations can pave the way for future project success by documenting mistakes so they are not repeated and recording best practices so they are repeated. This book covers the important role a project management office (PMO) plays in promoting lessons learned. Project managers learn how to improve processes by applying lessons learned. The book emphasizes "actionability," or producing a process improvement that can be acted upon by anyone in the PMO or project team.

1. Introduction to Processes and Projects as Key Facilitators of Modern Life2. Understanding and Empowering the Program Management Office (PMO) and Its Influence on Project Lessons Learned3. What Do I Do If My PMO Can’t Execute?4. Avoiding Disruption of the PMO by Accidental Adversaries 5. Identifying and Applying Lessons Learned 6. What Is "Leverage" and How Can Project Managers Use It to Their Advantage? 7. The Importance of Reflection and Changing Attitudes in Lessons Learned 8. The Best Time to Document Project Lessons Learned 9. The Actual Cost to Your PMO for Not Capturing and Sharing Project Lessons Learned 10. Applying Project Lessons Learned as a Best Practice for Your Organization 11. Understanding and Using the New Project Framework 12. Recognizing and Using Different Perspectives 13. Dilemmas and Choices Faced by Project Managers 14. Identifying Valuable Candidates for Project Lessons Learned 15. Using the Project Framework to the Benefit of Enterprise Risk Management 16. The Tremendous Impact of Role Models on Project Management Leadership 17. Facilitating a Closer Connection: Lessons Learned, Risk Management, and Knowledge Management 18. Using the Project Framework to Facilitate Technology Development in Projects 19. Using Facilitation and Reframing toward Project Process Improvement 20. Avoiding Traps Where Structure Influences Behavior 21. Lessons Learned from the Application of Organizational Dynamics to the Business Continuation and Emergency Response Environment 22. The Sustainability Imperative23. Conclusions 24. Summary Appendix 1. Project Lessons Learned Template Appendix 2. A Layman’s Guide to Reinforcing and Balancing Loop Behavior and the Resulting Systems Archetypes Appendix. 3 Systems Thinking and Organizational Dynamics Example—Teen Drivers Appendix 4. Project Lessons Learned from the Panama Canal Experiences Appendix 5. Capability Maturity Model Background and Levels of Maturity Appendix 6. Research as a Major Process Appendix 7. Scenarios Where Lessons Learned Can Positively Impact Performance and Outcomes Epilogue Glossary References

Mel Bost is a project management consultant specializing in project lessons learned and best practices. He is currently teaching "project management for research" to digital humanities research students at Arizona State University. Previously he was a PMO Practice Leader with BOT International. He has conducted lessons learned training in Dubai and in Panama for the Canal Expansion Project. For over 35 years, Mr. Bost managed major projects for companies Ford Motor Company, Atlantic Richfield (ARCO), UNOCAL, and ConocoPhillips. Mr. Bost completed his BS Physics/MS Engineering degrees at Georgia Tech and his MS Engineering Science and MBA degrees at The University of Michigan, Ann Arbor.