Historization in Project Management – Definition and Meaning
Historization refers to the active process of systematically recording, storing, and archiving historical project states, data versions, or planning statuses at specific points in time or after defined events. It is used to enable a detailed analysis and reconstruction of a project’s development over time. Historization typically takes place by creating snapshots, baselines, or versions in project management tools or version control systems.
Example, best practice, and further information on the term
In a long-term development project, for example, historization may involve regularly saving (as a baseline) the project plan and requirements document at each important milestone or at the end of each quarter. A proven best practice is to perform regular and targeted historical recordings of important project artifacts to create a reliable basis for comparison. This is in line with configuration management according to PMBOK and the principles of version control in agile environments. Historization enables traceability, comparisons between different points in time, and supports the understanding of project developments.
