PMP lesson · Closing & Integration · Closing the project · lesson 3 of 4 · about 7 minutes
Transition to operations and benefits realisation
All approachesFree preview
Goal: After this lesson you can plan a handover against readiness criteria, transfer ownership of documents and benefits, and handle a customer who wants to take over too early.
1The situation
“We'll take it now”
The robot palletising line is ready. The customer's operations director wants to take ownership immediately to start production. But maintenance hasn't been trained, spare parts aren't in stock and the service contract isn't signed.
Also, the business case promises 15% less scrap within twelve months of go-live, measured long after the project team has left.
A project creates outputs. Operations turns them into benefits, if the handover is done well.
2Transition is planned, not improvised
Agree transition readiness criteria early with operations: trained people, spare parts, support contracts, documents with owners, monitoring in place. Check them before handover.
Customer wants it early but readiness gaps exist → make gaps and risks transparent and agree a managed transition with the accountable stakeholders. Not “hand it over anyway”, not “refuse until perfect”.
3Readiness criteria for the palletising line
Transition readiness criterion
Status
Operators trained on all shifts
✔
Maintenance technicians trained
✘ planned next month
Critical spare parts in stock
✘ on order
Service contract signed
✘ in negotiation
Manuals and training material handed over (editable) with an owner
✔
Benefits owner named; measurement plan and baseline transferred
✔
Three gaps that matter for safe, reliable operation.
4How it looks on the exam
Exam-style question 1. The project is ready to hand over a new line, but maintenance staff are untrained, spare parts are not stocked and no service contract is signed. The operations director wants to take ownership immediately. What should the project manager do?
A. Hand over immediately
B. Refuse until every item is complete
C. Review the readiness criteria with operations and maintenance, make the gaps and risks transparent, and agree a transition plan such as supported operation
D. Hand over and record the gaps as lessons learned
Show the answer and the decode
Answer: C.
In simple English
Pressure to hand over before operational readiness.
What is the question really asking?
How to manage it.
Key words / trigger
“untrained … not stocked … not signed”
PMP logic
Transition against readiness criteria; agree a managed path with accountable stakeholders.
Why the wrong answer looks attractive
Doing what the customer asks feels like good service, but risks failures.
5Remember this
Your memory card
Agree transition readiness criteria early; check before handover
Gaps → make risks visible, agree a managed transition
Transfer documents (editable) and ongoing tasks with owners
Benefits: plan, baseline and measurement go to a benefits owner