Pre-Construction	Online Guide
		Transition and Closure	Process
Overview			Revision July 1, 2005
Summary:	Transition and Closure is the process of completing a major activity, phase, or the project itself. The elements of this process include transferring the completed work and remaining project responsibilities to others; demobilizing the appropriate project team members and facilities; and closing out the administrative and financial processes associated with the activity, phase, or project. Although Transition and Closure is identified as a separate step in the WSDOT project management process, managing it effectively requires the application of other steps within the process: · Plan the Work – Development of the Transition and Closure Plan · Endorsement – Acceptance and approval of the Plan · Work the Plan – Tracking and managing Transition and Closure activities Transition and Closure planning begins during the Plan the Work stage of the project with the development of the Transition and Closure Plan. The Plan outlines the points in the project at which formal Transition and Closure activities will take place, the requirements of the transition, and the process steps that will be taken to accomplish an efficient and effective transition. The resulting Transition and Closure Plan is an integral part of the Project Management Plan and is implemented at appropriate points throughout the project, as well as at project completion. Certain elements of the Transition and Closure Plan are implemented continually; e.g., Lessons Learned, Rewards and Recognition. Other elements can be implemented at appropriate intervals prior to the full completion of the work of the activity or phase; e.g., preparing no-longer-needed files for archiving, or demobilizing staff, facilities, or equipment no longer needed for the work. All Transition and Closure activities must be completed before the activity, phase, or project is deemed “complete” and the Project Manager is released from responsibility for the project.
Inputs:	Your Project Management Plan identifies the Transition and Closure process for your project. For information about developing a Transition and Closure Plan, go to the Transition and Closure Plan Activity Guide.
Tools:	· Sample Transition and Closure Plan
Steps:	1. Implement the Transition and Closure Plan: · Acceptance of Work Plan for and implement specific procedures for the acceptance of the work involved in the transition or closure, including formal acknowledgement of the transfer of responsibility. · Demobilization Plan for and implement specific procedures for staff reassignment; the return of facilities and equipment; and the termination of services no longer needed for the project. · Financial Closure Review, identify, and implement Region/Organization and Program Management requirements, and implement specific procedures for closing the financial and accounting activities of the project.
	2. Lessons Learned Develop and implement specific procedures and assignments for a formal Lessons Learned collection and documentation process that complies with the requirements on the WSDOT Lessons Learned System. Note that the Lessons Learned process is continuously implemented throughout the course of the phase or project.
	3. Archiving Develop and implement specific procedures for collecting, organizing, and storing the phase or final project records.
	4. Rewards and Recognition Develop a plan for recognizing and rewarding excellence in both team and individual performance throughout the phase or project and for recognition activities at the completion of phase or project work.
Products:	· Transition and Closure
Guidelines:	What gets measured, gets done – Tracking and managing Transition and Closure activities is as important as tracking and managing the technical product of the project. Including Transition and Closure activities as discrete work elements in project schedules and budgets provides the basis for tracking and managing them. Transition and Closure activities require resources. A critical part of the Transition and Closure Plan is to establish responsibilities for the performance of Transition and Closure activities. Be careful to retain the resources needed until the work is accepted and the Transition and Closure activities are complete. During the course of the project (as details of the project work evolve), the Transition and Closure planning, schedules, and budget allocations should be regularly revisited and upgraded. Before any transition event (1) the Project Management Plan, schedules, and budgets should be reviewed and adjusted as appropriate, and (2) assigned responsibilities and the resources for accomplishing them should be verified.