What steps should a project manager take to generate a summary of all completed projects for a sponsor in the past year?

To generate a summary of all completed projects for a sponsor in the past year, selecting to create a report that groups by actual completion date is particularly effective. This approach ensures that the project manager can accurately capture all projects that were completed during the specified timeframe. The actual completion date reflects when the projects were genuinely finished, providing a clear and factual basis for the summary, which is crucial for reporting to sponsors who are likely interested in completed outcomes.

Grouping by actual completion date allows the project manager to sort and filter through the completed projects effectively, making it easier to present to the sponsor a clear timeline and understanding of accomplishments over the past year. This method focuses directly on the results delivered, which aligns well with the sponsor's interest in understanding the effectiveness and timely delivery of projects.

Other methods, such as grouping by planned completion date, may include projects that were never completed or that were delayed, which could present a misleading picture of the project's success and the team's performance over the past year. A custom report with various sponsors or summarizing project milestones may not provide the comprehensive overview needed specifically for completed projects in the desired timeframe, potentially leaving gaps in the information the sponsor receives.