What should a project manager do before moving on to the next project segment after completion of the prior segment?

The most appropriate action for a project manager to take after completing a project segment is to coordinate a phase-gate review. This type of review is a critical part of project management methodologies, particularly in phased or stage-gate processes. It serves as a checkpoint to ensure that all objectives of the completed segment have been met and that the project is ready to proceed to the next phase.

During a phase-gate review, the project manager, along with key stakeholders, evaluates the performance of the current segment against the project goals, assesses any risks, reviews timelines, quality of deliverables, and gathers feedback from the team. This ensures that any lessons learned and insights gained from the previous segment are documented, and necessary adjustments can be made for future segments. Frontloading discussions about potential challenges and resource needs helps to facilitate smoother transitions moving forward.

While options such as conducting a team training session, analyzing resource allocation, or sending a project update are all valuable activities, they do not specifically focus on the comprehensive evaluation of the completed work done in the previous segment. A phase-gate review is designed explicitly for this purpose, making it the best choice for preparing to move forward in the project lifecycle.