As a PM, RQ, SP, I can update the lessons learned register

Project Managers (PM), other managers (PMOS, PMO, PfM, PgM), the project Requester (RQ) and the project Sponsor (SP) can update the project lessons learned register at CLOSING > Lessons Learned Register:

Lessons learned can be updated throughout the project lifecycle, not only at project closing.

Section Lessons Learned Register > This Project shows lessons learned for this project, grouped by project management knowledge area.

Header “New Lesson Learned” indicates the number of lessons registered so far. Open this section to add a new one entering the following data:

  • Use upper checkboxes to set this lesson editable only by author—if reused—and to allow this lesson to be found in the repository.
  • Name and description of lesson learned.
  • Choose the project management knowledge area which is most related. This is a mandatory field.
  • The most related project management process group.
  • The most related project phase.
  • Language for edition. This is a mandatory field.
  • Scoring number. Use 5 stars for the most advisable practices. Use 0 stars for practices to be avoided.

Lessons learned for this project are shown grouped by project management knowledge area. Open a group to see and edit lessons learned:

Click the “Delete” button to delete one lesson learned. If the lesson learned has been reused, deleting it from the original project makes it deleted from all projects.

PMPeople implements a lesson learned repository per organization. Any lesson learned registered at one project can be reused in another, provided that the lesson learned is marked as public—that is, [hide to other projects] is unchecked. There are two ways of finding lessons learned in the repository: searching by project or searching the whole repository.

Section Lessons Learned Register > Other Project allows to read and reuse public lessons learned of concrete projects. Enter the project name in the search box. Select the project from the results list to read its lessons learned register:

As in section “This Project”, you can open a project management knowledge area, open a lesson learned and read its details:

  • If checked [Only author can edit], then data is shown as read only.
  • Click the “plus” icon [+] to reuse one lesson learned in the current project. A “checked” icon is shown for those lessons learned already reused—that is, the “plus” icon [+] is not shown, in this case.
  • Click the “copy” icon [] to add this lesson learned as a new copy in the current project.

Section Lessons Learned Register > Repository allows to read and reuse public lessons learned at the whole organization:

The whole repository can be filtered by several criteria: knowledge areas, process groups, project phases, project tags, languages, clients, business units, portfolios, programs, scoring and creation dates.

Frequently Asked Questions
Who can update the Lessons Learned Register in PMPeople?

Project Managers (PM), other managers (PMOS, PMO, PfM, PgM), Requesters (RQ), and Sponsors (SP) can update lessons learned at CLOSING > Lessons Learned Register.

Can lessons learned be updated before the project closes?

Yes. Lessons can be recorded and updated at any point during the project lifecycle—not just at closure.

How can lessons learned be reused in other projects?

Lessons marked as public can be reused in other projects via the “Other Project” or “Repository” sections, using the plus or copy icons.

What fields are required when adding a new lesson learned?

You must provide a name, description, language, and select the related knowledge area (mandatory).

What happens if I delete a reused lesson from the original project?

Deleting a reused lesson from its original project removes it from all other projects where it has been reused.