🔄 Project Handoff
Transferring project ownership smoothly and completely.
When handoffs happen
- PM or team member leaving the project
- Moving from one phase to another (design → dev, dev → ops)
- Transferring to a client or external team
- Transitioning from project mode to BAU (business as usual)
Handoff checklist
- [ ] All documentation up to date
- [ ] Access to all tools and environments transferred
- [ ] Open issues and risks documented
- [ ] Key contacts and stakeholders listed
- [ ] Pending decisions flagged
- [ ] Knowledge transfer sessions completed
- [ ] Runbook or operational guide available
- [ ] Handoff meeting held with Q&A
Handoff document template
| Section | Content |
|---|---|
| Project overview | Goals, scope, current status |
| Architecture | Systems, integrations, data flows |
| Team & contacts | Who knows what |
| Open items | Unfinished tasks, pending decisions |
| Known issues | Bugs, tech debt, workarounds |
| Risks | Active risks and their mitigations |
| Processes | How deploys, reviews, and support work |
| Access | Tools, repos, environments, credentials |
Best practices
- Start the handoff 2 weeks before the transition
- Pair the incoming person with the outgoing person
- Do a shadowing period for complex projects
- Record knowledge transfer sessions
- Follow up 2 weeks after handoff to check for gaps