How do you learn from a project change?

1 Identify the change

The first step to learn from a project change is to identify what changed, why it changed, and how it affected your project. You can use various tools and methods to document and analyze the change, such as a change log, a root cause analysis, or a stakeholder feedback survey. The goal is to understand the nature, scope, and impact of the change, as well as the drivers and triggers behind it. This will help you assess the change and its implications for your project objectives, scope, schedule, budget, quality, and risks.

2 Evaluate the response

The next step to learn from a project change is to evaluate how you and your team responded to the change. You can use a SWOT analysis, a lessons learned session, or a performance review to identify the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats of your response. The goal is to evaluate the effectiveness, efficiency, and appropriateness of your response, as well as the benefits, costs, and trade-offs involved. This will help you recognize the best practices, the gaps, and the areas for improvement in your response.

3 Capture the learning

The third step to learn from a project change is to capture the learning and insights that emerged from the change and the response. You can use a learning log, a knowledge repository, or a story map to record and organize the learning and insights, as well as the evidence and sources that support them. The goal is to capture the key takeaways, the lessons learned, and the recommendations for future actions that resulted from the change and the response. This will help you create a valuable asset for your own learning and for sharing with others.

4 Communicate the learning

The fourth step to learn from a project change is to communicate the learning and insights to the relevant stakeholders and audiences. You can use a report, a presentation, or a blog post to communicate the learning and insights, as well as the rationale and implications behind them. The goal is to communicate the value, the relevance, and the applicability of the learning and insights, as well as the feedback and suggestions for further improvement. This will help you build trust, credibility, and engagement with your stakeholders and audiences.

5 Implement the learning

The fifth step to learn from a project change is to implement the learning and insights into your current and future projects. You can use a action plan, a checklist, or a template to implement the learning and insights, as well as the metrics and indicators to measure their impact. The goal is to implement the changes, the improvements, and the innovations that derived from the learning and insights, as well as the monitoring and evaluation mechanisms to track their progress and results. This will help you enhance your project performance, quality, and outcomes.

6 Review the learning

The sixth and final step to learn from a project change is to review the learning and insights periodically and systematically. You can use a survey, a focus group, or a retrospective to review the learning and insights, as well as the feedback and lessons learned from their implementation. The goal is to review the effectiveness, efficiency, and appropriateness of the learning and insights, as well as the benefits, costs, and trade-offs of their implementation. This will help you refine, update, and validate your learning and insights, as well as identify new opportunities for learning and improvement.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?