Daniel is the project manager for a new project with CV Nursery. His team is in charge of installing a new computerized sales and inventory system to help run their business. However, the CV Nursery bookkeeper also wanted a training manual customized to the system created. Which of the following descriptions corresponds with the “Close and Start a New Project” path?
The Correct Answer and Explanation is:
Correct Answer:
Creating the training manual as a new project with its own objectives, timeline, resources, and deliverables.
Explanation:
In project management, the “Close and Start a New Project” path refers to the process of officially closing the current project after achieving its intended goals and then initiating a new project to handle additional work that was not part of the original scope.
In this scenario, Daniel and his team were originally tasked with installing a computerized sales and inventory system. This system implementation was the defined scope, and the team’s resources, schedule, and budget were likely aligned to meet that particular goal. However, during or after the project, the bookkeeper requested a customized training manual. While related to the system, the training manual was not part of the original agreed-upon deliverables.
Since this request represents new work that goes beyond the defined scope, the best project management approach would be to treat it as a new project. This allows for the allocation of appropriate resources, proper planning, timeline estimation, budgeting, and clear objectives. It also avoids scope creep — the undesirable situation where additional features or tasks are added to a project without proper evaluation or resource alignment.
By closing the original project, Daniel can document its successes and lessons learned, update project documentation, release resources, and officially recognize its completion. Starting the training manual as a separate project ensures that it is given the attention it deserves with a dedicated project plan. This approach maintains professionalism, supports project integrity, and helps in delivering quality outcomes without jeopardizing timelines or performance of either initiative.
In summary, the training manual should be treated as a new project because it was not in the original scope, and managing it separately supports best practices in project management.