How to Adjust a Project Termination Plan

Making adjustments to a business project termination plan is critical.

An adjustment to the business plan's closing date may be required for a number of reasons. This includes fiscal constraints, production delays, human resource limitations, etc. When certain deadlines on a business project cannot be met, the project closing date should be adjusted and reported to project stakeholders and project team members. Making this type of project adjustment may require consulting certain project vendors, such as manufacturers or suppliers. Consulting a project management termination checklist will provide the project manager great guidance.

Things You'll Need

• Effective communication Computer Phone Fax E-mail

Instructions

1. Communicate key schedule changes to project stakeholders. Project stakeholders include direct supervisors to the project manager or financial contributors to the project. News that a change in the termination date may be required could mean a financial impact on the project's profitability. Also, project team members should be advised as soon as possible of any scheduling changes as the performance of one task or activity may impact that of another.

2. Confirm all existing scheduling deadlines. Contact each project team members and project vendor. Ask whether current schedules are manageable for outstanding task and activity. Make deadline adjustments on a business project checklist. This will include a list of all required tasks and activities that must be successfully performed for the project's completion. It will also list the point person on each activity and task, as well as an estimated completion time. Note all new deadline adjustments on this list.

3. Make written adjustments to the core project planning documents. If there are any changes to schedules, vendors or key personnel essential to the project, make formal changes to the business project plan and circulate updates to team members and stakeholders.

4. Make a note of the last date on the business project checklist. This is the date when every task and activity of the business project should be completed. Circulate meeting dates among team members to schedule a project termination meeting. This will be the last meeting for project participants. It is the end of the project life cycle, and a time to review the project objectives and evaluate its performance.

Tips & Warnings

• This article is for informational purposes only and should not be used as a substitute for professional legal or tax advice.

References

• project termination checklist

Resources

• "The Fast Forward MBA in Project Management;" Eric Verzuh; 2008