According to the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK), “the Monitoring and Control Process Group consists of those processes performed to observe project execution so that potential problems can be identified in a timely manner and corrective action can be taken, when necessary, to control the execution of the project.”
Project
Monitoring and Control activities take place in parallel with Project Execution
Process Group activities so that, while the project work is being executed, the
project is being monitored and controlled by implementing the appropriate level
of oversight and corrective action.
The project
is observed and measured regularly against the project plan to ensure that the
project is within acceptable variances of cost, schedule and scope, and that
risks and issues are continually monitored and corrected as needed.
The main
purpose of monitoring and controlling activities is to be proactive in finding
issues ahead of time and taking corrective action. Corrective action can
require revisiting Planning Process Group and updating the Project Management
Plan as needed with the ultimate goal of bringing the project back in line with
project objectives and constraints and improving future execution to avoid
repeating the same issues.
Monitoring
and Control Processes
Monitoring
and Control processes include:
1.
Monitoring and Controlling Project Work
The
Monitoring and Controlling Project Work process collects, measures and
disseminates performance information, and assesses measures and trends to
forecast potential items requiring corrective action. This includes
monitoring project risks and ensuring that they are being managed according to
the project’s risk plans.
Outputs include:
1.
Recommended
corrective actions
2.
Recommended
preventive actions
3.
Forecasts
4.
Recommended
defect repair
5.
Requested
changes
2.
Integrated Change Control
The Integrated Change Control process
ensures that changes as a result of project corrective actions and other
controlling factors are managed across the project knowledge areas. Integrated
change control takes place throughout the project, from project initiation
through project closure.
Outputs include:
1.
Approved
change requests
2.
Rejected
change requests
3.
Updates to the Project Management
Plan
4.
Updates to the Project Scope
Statement (and requirements)
5.
Approved
corrective and preventive actions
6.
Approved
defect repair
7.
Validated
defect repair
8.
Deliverables
3. Scope
Verification
The scope
verification process ensures that project deliverables are formally accepted.
Outputs include:
1.
Accepted
deliverables
2.
Requested
changes
3.
Recommended
corrective actions
4. Scope Control
The Scope
Control process ensures that changes to project scope are controlled.
Outputs include:
1.
Updates to the Project Scope
Statement and Scope baseline (this includes requirements)
2.
Updates to the Work Breakdown
Structure (WBS) and the WBS Dictionary
3.
Requested
changes
4.
Recommended
corrective actions
5.
Updates
to organizational process assets
6.
Updates to the Project Management
Plan
5. Schedule
Control
The Schedule
Control process monitors and controls changes to the project schedule.
Outputs include:
1.
Updates to the schedule model data
and baseline
2.
Performance
measurements
3.
Requested
changes
4.
Recommended
corrective actions
5.
Updates
to organizational process assets
6.
Activity list and activity attribute
updates
7.
Updates to the Project Management
Plan
6. Cost
Control
The Cost
Control process monitors and controls costs and changes to the project budget.
Outputs include:
1.
Cost
estimate updates
2.
Cost
baseline updates
3.
Performance
measurements
4.
Forecasted
completion
5.
Requested
changes
6.
Recommended
corrective actions
7.
Updates
to organizational process assets
8.
Updates to the Project Management
Plan
7.
Performing Quality Control
The quality
control performance process measures specific project results to determine
whether the project is meeting quality standards.
Outputs include:
1.
Quality
control measurements
2.
Validated
defect repair
3.
Updates
to the quality baseline
4.
Recommended
corrective and preventive actions
5.
Requested
changes
6.
Recommended
defect repair
7.
Updates
to organizational process assets
8.
Validated
deliverables
9.
Updates to the Project Management
Plan
8. Managing
the Project Team
This process
tracks team member performance, provides feedback, resolves issues and
coordinates changes to maintain and improve project performance.
Outputs include:
1.
Requested
changes
2.
Recommended
corrective and preventive actions
3.
Updates
to organizational process assets
4.
Updates to the Project Management
Plan
9.
Performance Reporting
The
Performance Reporting process collects and distributes performance information
— including status reports, progress reports and forecasts.
Outputs include:
1.
Performance
reports
2.
Forecasts
3.
Requested
changes
4.
Recommended
corrective actions
5.
Updates
to organizational process assets
10. Managing Stakeholders
This process
manages stakeholder communications and works with stakeholders to ensure that
requirements are satisfied and issues are proactively resolved.
Outputs include:
1.
Resolved
issues
2.
Approved
change requests
3.
Approved
corrective actions
4.
Updates
to organizational process assets
5.
Updates to the Project Management
Plan