According to the PMBOK Guide, acceptance criteria are the standards by which the project deliverables are measured and verified to meet the stakeholder’s expectations and requirements1. They are defined during the project planning process and agreed upon by the project team and the client2. By highlighting how the acceptance criteria were met in the project closure report, the project manager can demonstrate that the project outputs have fulfilled the client’s business needs and have been formally accepted by them3. This can also help to resolve any doubts or disputes that the client may have about the quality or value of the project deliverables4. How the quality, scope, and stakeholders were managed are also important aspects of the project closure report, but they are not directly related to the stakeholder’s concern about the project outputs. The project manager should focus on showing how the project deliverables met the acceptance criteria, which are the basis for the stakeholder’s satisfaction and sign-off. References:

1: PMBOK Guide, 6th edition, page 161

2: Project Management Acceptance Criteria with Examples, KnowledgeHut, page 1

3: A Guide to Project Closure: 12 Essential Things To Do, Rebel’s Guide to Project Management, page 2

4: Project Client Acceptance and Sign-Off Form, ProjectManagement.com, page 1