How do you validate and document the completion of all deliverables and milestones in a CPM schedule?

1 Why validation and documentation matter

Validation and documentation are essential for successful project management. They help you confirm that your project outputs meet the agreed standards and specifications, and that they are delivered on time and within budget. They also help you communicate and demonstrate your project achievements to your clients, sponsors, team members, and other stakeholders. Validation and documentation can also support your project closure and evaluation, as well as your learning and improvement for future projects.

2 How to validate your deliverables and milestones

Validation is the process of checking and testing your project deliverables and milestones against the predefined criteria and expectations. It involves verifying that your outputs are complete, accurate, functional, and acceptable to the end users and beneficiaries. Validation can be done by yourself, by your team, by your client, or by an independent third party, depending on the nature and complexity of your project. Validation methods can include reviews, inspections, audits, surveys, tests, demonstrations, or trials.

3 How to document your deliverables and milestones

Documentation is the process of recording and storing the evidence and information related to your project deliverables and milestones. It involves creating and updating various documents, such as reports, logs, forms, certificates, or receipts, that show the details and results of your validation activities. Documentation can also include capturing and organizing the feedback and comments from your stakeholders, as well as the lessons learned and best practices from your project. Documentation can be done in different formats and platforms, such as paper, electronic, or online.

4 How to update your CPM schedule

Updating your CPM schedule is the process of reflecting the actual status and performance of your project activities in your schedule. It involves entering the actual start and finish dates, durations, costs, and resources of your tasks, as well as the actual completion and acceptance of your deliverables and milestones. Updating your CPM schedule can help you monitor and measure your project progress, identify and resolve any issues or deviations, and forecast and adjust your project plan as needed.

5 How to report your CPM schedule

Reporting your CPM schedule is the process of communicating and presenting your project status and achievements to your stakeholders. It involves generating and sharing various reports, such as progress reports, variance reports, performance reports, or status reports, that show the key information and indicators of your project performance. Reporting your CPM schedule can help you inform and engage your stakeholders, highlight your successes and challenges, justify your decisions and actions, and solicit feedback and support.

6 How to archive your CPM schedule

Archiving your CPM schedule is the process of preserving and storing your project data and documents for future reference or use. It involves organizing and transferring your CPM schedule and related files to a secure and accessible location, such as a database, a cloud service, or a physical archive. Archiving your CPM schedule can help you comply with any legal or contractual obligations, facilitate your project closure and evaluation, and enable your learning and improvement for future projects.

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?