The core issue is a failure in preparing the operational environment to take ownership of the program's outputs and be accountable for realizing the intended benefits. A Benefits Transition Plan is the formal document that outlines the specific activities, responsibilities, and criteria for handing over the program's capabilities to the receiving organization. Executing this plan ensures the operational areas are fully prepared, not just trained, to utilize the new system effectively and begin the process of benefits realization. This directly prevents the concern that benefits will not be achieved post-program closure.

A. Collaboration with the operational staff to develop the benefits sustainment plan: A sustainment plan focuses on long-term benefits realization after the program has closed and transition is complete. The immediate problem is the handover itself.

B. Communication of the new capabilities' benefits to the operational staff: While important, communication alone is insufficient. A comprehensive plan with concrete actions is needed to ensure operational readiness, which is the purpose of a transition plan.

D. Identification of the risk in the program risk register and development of a plan to address the risk: This is a reactive measure within a single program. The question asks how to prevent the issue in the future, which requires a proactive, process-oriented solution like formal transition planning.

1. Project Management Institute. (2017). The Standard for Program Management (4th ed.).

Section 5.5

Benefits Transition: This section details the process for "finalizing the transition of program benefits to the sustaining organization." It emphasizes that this process ensures the receiving organization is prepared to accept and manage the benefits. The development and execution of a benefits transition plan is a key activity within this domain. (p. 83).

Section 5.5.2

Benefits Transition: Tools and Techniques: This section lists "Benefits transition planning" as a primary technique. It states

"The program manager works with the functional or operational managers to develop a plan for transitioning the program’s capabilities to the appropriate organization." (p. 85).

Figure 1-5

Program Management Performance Domains: The figure clearly shows "Program Benefits Management" as a central performance domain

which includes the activities of benefits identification

analysis

delivery

transition

and sustainment

highlighting the distinct and critical nature of the transition phase. (p. 13).