CompTIA Project+ Practice Test

When should a project manager formally close out a project?

1. Key project team members are needed for other projects.

2. A key stakeholder is satisfied with the project deliverables.

3. The CPI is 1.5 at the midpoint of the project.

4. The project has been terminated unexpectedly.

The correct answer is: The project has been terminated unexpectedly.

Formally closing out a project is a critical step in project management, typically undertaken after all project deliverables have been completed, approved, and handed over to the client or stakeholders. In scenarios where a project has been terminated unexpectedly, closing out is essential to ensure that all loose ends are tied up, resources are released, and proper documentation is completed to reflect the project's status and lessons learned. In the case of an unexpected termination, the project manager must gather the team, evaluate what work has been completed, assess the implications of the termination, and document the reasons behind this decision. Additionally, project closeout activities such as final reporting, closing contracts, and critique sessions may take place, even if the project did not reach its planned conclusion. This ensures clarity moving forward and allows for better management of future projects by learning from the circumstances that led to the termination. In contrast, needing key team members for other projects or having a satisfied key stakeholder does not necessarily indicate that a formal closeout should occur. The project's closure should be based on completion against its objectives rather than personnel availability or stakeholder satisfaction. Moreover, having a Cost Performance Index (CPI) of 1.5 at the midpoint of the project does not justify a closeout; it instead