Closing Process Group
The Closing Process Group consists of processes performed to formally complete or close the project, phase, or contract.
Explanation
The Closing Process Group ensures that all project work is finished, deliverables are accepted, resources are released, and the project is formally closed. In the PMBOK Guide Sixth Edition, this group contains a single process: Close Project or Phase. Despite having only one process, closing involves significant activities including final deliverable handoff, lessons learned documentation, contract closure, resource release, and archiving project records.
Lessons learned are particularly important during closing. PMI emphasizes capturing what went well, what could be improved, and what was learned throughout the project. These lessons become organizational process assets that benefit future projects. Unfortunately, lessons learned are often neglected due to time pressure or the team's eagerness to move on to the next assignment.
Closing also involves administrative activities such as obtaining formal sign-off from the customer or sponsor that the deliverables meet acceptance criteria, ensuring all financial accounts are reconciled, and updating organizational records. Premature closure — ending a project without proper closing activities — can lead to unresolved issues, lost knowledge, and contractual disputes.
Key Points
- •Formally completes the project, phase, or contract
- •Includes deliverable acceptance, lessons learned, and resource release
- •Archives project records as organizational process assets
- •A project can be closed whether completed successfully or terminated early
Exam Tip
Projects that are cancelled or terminated still go through the Closing Process Group. The exam may present a scenario where a project is ended early and ask what should happen next — the answer is to perform closing activities.
Frequently Asked Questions
Related Topics
Process Groups
Process Groups are a logical grouping of project management processes categorized into five groups: Initiating, Planning, Executing, Monitoring and Controlling, and Closing.
Deliverables
A deliverable is any unique and verifiable product, result, or capability to produce a service that is required to be produced to complete a process, phase, or project.
Organizational Process Assets (OPAs)
Organizational Process Assets (OPAs) are the plans, processes, policies, procedures, and knowledge bases specific to and used by the performing organization.
Initiating Process Group
The Initiating Process Group consists of processes performed to define a new project or a new phase of an existing project by obtaining authorization to start.
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