Take Over an Existing Project

Learning Objectives

After completing this unit, you’ll be able to:

Describe how to take over an existing project.
Explain how to gather project information from your predecessor or another team member.

Passing the Baton

While the previous units described how to manage a project from start to finish, you may be brought on midstream to take over an existing project. Much like passing the baton during a relay race, taking over an existing project requires a clean and efficient handoff to be successful.

One project manager passing the baton to another in a relay race.

For example, you may be asked to reengineer a project transitioning from a legacy mainframe system to an application system with multiple tiers—basically re-architecting how a system operates. Your first task is to assess the current state of the project. You need to understand the health of the project and ensure that sufficient planning has been completed so that the future direction is clear. Here are some questions you can ask yourself to ensure you know how to proceed with confidence.

Does the current approach make sense?
Is the project meeting its objectives?
Can the project be delivered by its original deadline?
How is the team and governance of the project structured?
How have communications been handled?
How much budget remains and is it enough to reach the goals?
Should we restructure the approach?
What’s missing and why?

Gathering Information from Your Predecessor

When taking over a project midstream, it’s key to gather project information from your predecessor or another team member, if the previous project manager has moved on. Doing so is key to being able to lead your new team with confidence. You should review project documentation related to the requirements, any project plans, project reviews, funding information, and contracts. You should also plan to meet with any necessary stakeholders and make sure you understand approval processes, and concerns and goals. Use existing project management tools to help the handover run smoothly. All of these steps help ensure a smooth transition, so you can hit the ground running with your new team.

Knowledge Check

Ready to review what you’ve learned? The following knowledge check isn’t scored—it’s just an easy way to quiz yourself. To get started, drag the question posed in the left column below the applicable category on the right. When you finish matching all the items, click Submit to check your work. If you’d like to start over, click Reset.

Sum It Up

In this module, you've been introduced to methods for planning, executing, and monitoring a technical project. You’ve also learned more about how to take over an existing project and adapt.

Along with the information you reviewed in the Technical Project Management module, you should now have a better understanding of what it takes to be a technical project manager. You can learn more about the in-demand cybersecurity skills necessary to get a job in technical project management, or another field, and learn more from real security practitioners by visiting the Cybersecurity Learning Hub on Trailhead.