BABOK_Guide_v3_member_copy

Lessons Learned
Techniques
10.27 Lessons Learned
10.27.1 Purpose
10.27.2 Description
The purpose of the lessons learned process is to compile and document
successes, opportunities for improvement, failures, and recommendations for
improving the performance of future projects or project phases.
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10.27.3 Elements
A lessons learned session (also known as a retrospective) helps identify either
changes to business analysis processes and deliverables or successes that can be
incorporated into future work. These techniques can also be beneficial at the
close of any milestone within the effort.
Lessons learned sessions can include any format or venue that is acceptable to the
key stakeholders and can be either formal facilitated meetings with set agendas
and meeting roles or informal working sessions. If there are noteworthy
successes, a celebration may be included in a lessons learned session.
Sessions can include a review of:
• business analysis activities or deliverables,
• the final solution, service, or product,
• automation or technology that was introduced or eliminated,
• impact to organizational processes,
• performance expectations and results,
• positive or negative variances,
• root causes impacting performance results, and
• recommendations for behavioural approaches.
10.27.4 Usage Considerations
.1 Strengths
• Useful in identifying opportunities or areas of improvement.
• Assists in building team morale after a difficult period.
• Reinforces positive experiences and successes.
• Reduces risks for future actions.
• Provides tangible value or metrics as a result of the effort.
• Recognizes strengths or shortcomings with the project structure, methodology,
or tools that were used.
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