Lessons Learned Repository
An organized archive that captures, organizes, and provides access to lessons learned and related historical knowledge from past projects.
Key Points
- An organizational process asset used to inform planning, execution, monitoring, and closing.
- Entries should include context, issue or success, root cause, actions taken, outcomes, and searchable tags.
- Updated continuously through retrospectives and after-action reviews, not only at project close.
- Typically governed by the PMO or knowledge management team with standards for quality and access.
Example
A project manager planning a data migration reviews the lessons learned repository and finds that a prior project experienced data loss during a single-weekend cutover. The record recommends a phased migration with parallel runs. The team adopts the phased approach and avoids the previously encountered issues.
PMP Example Question
During project planning, a manager wants to avoid repeating mistakes made in similar past projects. What should the manager consult first?
- Issue log
- Lessons learned repository
- Risk register
- Project management plan
Correct Answer: B — Lessons learned repository
Explanation: The lessons learned repository contains historical insights from previous projects that can guide current planning decisions. The other documents do not serve this purpose.
