# A24 — Closure and Benefits Transition Record

## Artifact metadata

| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| **Artifact ID** | A24 |
| **Artifact name** | Closure and Benefits Transition Record |
| **Artifact family** | Knowledge, closure, and records |
| **Artifact type** | Closure and transition artifact |
| **Source type** | synthesis |
| **Governance layer** | Project Governance |
| **Version** | 1.0.5 |
| **Status** | Active |

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## Purpose

Confirm formal project or phase closure, document acceptance of all deliverables, transition ongoing benefit ownership to the business, and capture the decisions needed to release resources, close accounts, and archive records.

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## When used

At project closure or at the end of a phase where formal acceptance and handoff are required. Also used when a project is terminated early, requiring an orderly wind-down.

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## PMI authority

| Field | Detail |
|---|---|
| **Primary PMI source** | PMBOK8 |
| **Exact section** | Guide, 4.5.5 Close Project or Phase; Guide, Governance Performance Domain 2.1; Guide, Delivery Performance Domain 2.2 |
| **Purpose of citation** | Establish formal closure as a governed PMBOK 8 process, including acceptance, organizational learning, and benefit handoff. |

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## Performance domains and focus areas

- **Performance domains:** Governance, Delivery, Stakeholders, Finance, Resources
- **Focus areas:** Closing
- **Related processes:** Close Project or Phase; Monitor and Control Project Performance; Manage Stakeholder Engagement

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## Inputs and outputs

### Inputs
- Deliverable acceptance decisions and sign-off records
- Final performance report (A17)
- Risk record — residual risk status (A19)
- Benefits realization record — handoff state (A02)
- Lessons learned contributions (A30)
- Procurement and supplier closeout status (A31, A32, A33)
- Financial account closure confirmation (A16)

### Outputs
- Formal closure authorization
- Accepted deliverables inventory
- Benefits ownership transition confirmation
- Resource release and reassignment decisions
- Archive and records disposition instructions
- Residual risk and obligation register for operations

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## Core fields

| Field | Description |
|---|---|
| Project or phase name | Identifier of the initiative being closed |
| Closure type | Planned completion, phase gate, or early termination |
| Acceptance confirmation | Summary of what was accepted, by whom, and on what date |
| Benefits transition | Named business owner for each benefit stream, handoff date, and measurement cadence |
| Residual risks and obligations | Outstanding risks, warranties, SLAs, or contractual obligations transferred to operations |
| Resource release decisions | People, equipment, and systems to be released or reassigned |
| Financial close | Account closure status, final cost, reserve release, and audit preparation note |
| Records and archive disposition | Location, retention period, and access rules for all project records |
| Lessons learned reference | Pointer to A30 entry for this project |
| Closure authorization | Sponsor or governing body sign-off with date |

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## Governance

| Field | Detail |
|---|---|
| **Owner** | Project manager and business owner jointly |
| **Approval authority** | Sponsor or designated business owner |
| **Escalation trigger** | Ongoing benefit ownership, residual risk, operational handover, or financial closure is unclear or disputed |

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## Tailoring guidance

- For small projects, a one-page closure memo can satisfy this artifact; scale depth to project risk and organizational obligation.
- Separate phase-gate closure records from final project closure only if the governance model requires distinct sign-offs.
- Link to A34 (Information Retention and Records Control Record) for retention schedules rather than duplicating retention rules here.

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## Waste test

Fail if acceptance sign-off, benefit handoff, and resource release are maintained as three separate unlinked documents with no single closure authorization record.

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## Notes

- Replaces and consolidates v1.0.2 Items 240–270 (acceptance, transition, closeout, archival, and terminal gate artifacts).
- Benefits realization follow-up after closure is tracked in A02, not here; A24 records the handoff decision and transfers ownership.
