Sample Lessons Learned Questions

Mid-Project Lessons Learned

• What is going well that we want to continue?
• What isn't going well that we want to fix?
• What can we do to improve?

Key End of Project Questions

• General
  • List top significant project successes? (keep to a manageable number)
  • What obstacles or unanticipated circumstances made it difficult to complete the project?
  • Based on what you know now, what should have been done differently in this project?
• Communications
  • Were communications adequate in all activities? (right time, right audience, right information, right type)  If not, in what ways could communications be improved?
  • Was documentation appropriate, timely, and clear?  If not, what should be included for future efforts?
• Project Management
  • What value did project management bring to the project? 
• Project Planning
  • How well was the project staffed to complete the project?
  • How well was the project planned?
  • How well were roles and responsibilities defined?
  • How well was stakeholder input factored into the project planning process?
• Project Execution
  • How well did we execute according to plan?
  • How well were the stakeholders involved in the execution of the project? 
  • How well were issues resolved?
  • How well did the teams/sub-teams work together?
• Testing
  • Was adequate testing performed (if applicable)?  If not, what should be done differently next time?
• Cutover
  • Was cutover planned well?  Executed well?  If not, what should be done differently next time?

Ron Parks

Questions would be selected based on the type and size of the project.
Lessons Learned should not just be concerning with what did not go well.

1. General Processes
   • What would you say were the most critical factors for project success?
   • Which tools or techniques worked well?
   • Were there organizational obstacles that made it difficult to complete the project
   • Were roles and responsibilities clearly defined?
2. Control
   • Were there scope changes that impacted the schedule?
   • Did stakeholders have appropriate input into the project planning process?
   • Was risk controlled adequately?
   • Did the project meet all original scheduled milestones/deadlines?
   • Were all issues resolved in a timely manner?
   • Were there project staffing issues?
3. Communications
   • Were communications adequate in all activities?
   • Were status and issues communicated in a timely manner
   • Was the communications style appropriate for all parties?
4. Requirements
   • Were requirements documented clearly?
   • Were test plans adequate?
5. Overall
   • Was the project a success?
   • Were project objectives met?
   • Be sure to ask for input on "What Went Right"

     Irina Naydich

...

• What worked well either for this project or for the project team?
• What did not work well either for this project or for the project team?
• What needs to be done over or differently?
• What surprises did the team have to deal with?
• What project circumstances were not anticipated?
• Were the project goals attained? If not, what changes need to be made to meet goals in the future?

• List top three significant project successes.
• Other notable project successes.
• Project shortcomings and Solutions.
  

Greg Bronson

1. Have you participated in this type of technology project before?

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