Learning from Lessons Learned: Project Management Research Program

Abstract

Problem statement: When we fail to learn from our own mistakes or those of others, we tend to repeat the mistakes. This study discusses lessons learned as important ways of gathering and sharing both formal and informal project knowledge. Approach: The study presents findings of three studies from a research program on lessons learned. The first study is a content analysis of two sets of conference proceedings. The second study is a case study from the energy sector on lessons learned. The final study is a content analysis of the Project Management Body of Knowledge Guide. Results: The conference proceedings study indicated that the topic of lessons learned was under represented within the conference proceedings. This was in keeping with the literature review that the topic of lessons learned is emerging. The energy sector study shed light on the lessons learned process, best practices and challenges. The content analysis of the Project Management Body of Knowledge Guide showed that the guide defines lessons learned narrowly, primarily as a set of administrative, documented outputs pertaining mainly to the closeout phase. This was also evident in the guide's commodification of lessons learned (and related terms).