docs/project-management-guide/9-monitor-and-control/README.md
Monitor & Control activities run throughout the duration of the project, but peak during the Executing Phase. All project management processes are executed as part of the Monitor & Control process group.
The Monitor & Control activities are carried out based on the processes described in the Project Management Plans developed during the Planning Phase. The effective execution of these processes is ultimately the responsibility of the Project Manager (PM).
Manage
Monitor
Control
Monitor & Control artefacts comprise the Project Work Plan as well as a range of Project Logs and Checklists.
The Project Logs are regularly updated as new information becomes available (e.g. new issues can arise and new information can be added to the Issue Log).
There are several Checklists that can be used to help the Project Manager (PM) control the project better.
PM² provides the following Checklists:
The purpose of project performance monitoring is to collect information about the state of the project's progress and overall health. The Project Manager (PM) tracks the project dimensions of scope, schedule, cost and quality, monitors risks, issues and project change, and forecasts their evolution for the purpose of reporting the overall project progress.
This information is then distributed to relevant stakeholders as per the Communications Management Plan.
| Key Participants | Description |
|---|---|
| Project Manager (PM) | Undertakes all project monitoring activities. |
| Project Core Team (PCT) | Contributes information on project progress. |
Inputs
Steps
| RAM (RASCI) | AGB | PSC | PO | BM | BIG | SP | PM | PCT |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monitor Project Performance | I | I | A | C | C | I | R | C |
Outputs
The purpose of schedule control is to ensure that project tasks are carried out as scheduled and that project deadlines are met. The Project Manager (PM) regularly monitors the schedule and tracks the difference between planned, actual and forecast activities/deadlines.
Approved project changes (e.g. addition of new tasks or changes to the required effort or start/end dates of existing ones) that have an impact on the overall project schedule are incorporated into the Project Work Plan (updated schedule). If the schedule is at risk or considerable delays are foreseen (beyond the predefined thresholds), the Project Steering Committee (PSC) needs to be informed and corrective actions must be devised, agreed and implemented. If this happens, affected project stakeholders should also be notified.
| Key Participants | Description |
|---|---|
| Project Manager (PM) | Monitors and controls the work schedule. |
| Project Core Team (PCT) | Works to keep to the baselined schedule and quality standards. |
| Reports on the status of their work, periodically or upon request. |
Inputs
Steps
| RAM (RASCI) | AGB | PSC | PO | BM | BIG | SP | PM | PCT |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Control Schedule | I | I | A | C | C | I | R | C |
| Related Artefacts | Initiating | Planning | Executing | Monitor & Control | Closing |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Schedule Management | Project Charter | Project Handbook Project Work Plan | Project Reports | Project Work Plan | Project-End Report |
Outputs
The purpose of cost control is to manage the project costs so that they conform to the cost/effort baseline and overall project budget constraints. The Project Manager (PM) regularly monitors the budget and tracks the difference between budgeted, actual and expected costs.
If the project budget is at risk, the Project Steering Committee (PSC) needs to be informed and corrective actions must be devised, agreed and implemented. If considerable cost overruns are foreseen, these need to be justified, reported to and approved by the Project Owner (PO) or the Appropriate Governance Body (AGB). Note: The project budget must have been approved by the Project Owner (PO) at the beginning of the project.
| Key Participants | Description |
|---|---|
| Project Manager (PM) | Monitors and controls the budget. |
| Project Owner (PO) | Owns and approves the budgeted costs. |
Inputs
Steps
| RAM (RASCI) | AGB | PSC | PO | BM | BIG | SP | PM | PCT |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Control Cost | I | I | A | C | C | I | R | C |
| Related Artefacts | Initiating | Planning | Executing | Monitor & Control | Closing |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cost Management | Business Case | ||||
| Project Charter | Project Handbook | ||||
| Project Work Plan | Project Reports | Project Work Plan | |||
| Project Logs | Project-End | ||||
| Report |
Outputs
Managing project stakeholders is a critical project management activity that begins in the Initiating Phase of the project, when project expectations and requirements are identified, and ends in the Closing Phase, when stakeholders' overall project experience and satisfaction are recorded.
Responsibility for this activity belongs to the Project Manager (PM). However, all members of the Project Steering Committee (PSC) should also be involved, in particular the Business Manager (BM) who should help manage stakeholders on the requestor side (e.g. users).
| Key Participants | Description |
|---|---|
| Project Manager (PM) | Manages project stakeholders. |
| Business Manager (BM) | Assists the Project Manager (PM) in this activity. |
Inputs
Steps
| RAM (RASCI) | AGB | PSC | PO | BM | BIG | SP | PM | PCT |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Manage Stakeholders | I | I | A | S/C | I | C | R | I |
| Related Artefacts | Initiating | Planning | Executing | Monitor & Control | Closing |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stakeholder | |||||
| Management | Business Case | ||||
| Project Charter | Project Stakeholder | ||||
| Matrix | |||||
| Communications | |||||
| Management Plan | Project | ||||
| Reports | Project Logs | ||||
| Stakeholders Checklist | Project-End | ||||
| Report |
Outputs
Requirements management is the process of gathering, documenting and validating requirements and managing their implementation and change. It is a process that runs throughout the project lifecycle and relates to other project management processes, such as quality and change management.
The Requirements Management Process can be tailored and customised to a project's needs. It can be documented either in a Requirements Management Plan or in the Project Handbook. Separate requirements documents are used to specify, categorise and prioritise the requirements. These can be standalone documents or an annex to the Project Charter.
| Key Participants | Description |
|---|---|
| Project Manager (PM) | Undertakes the requirements management process. |
| Business Manager (BM) | Provides information required to draft the requirements and |
| approves them. | |
| User Representatives (URs) | Participate in the gathering and validation of the requirements. |
| Business Analyst (BA) (member | |
| of the Project Core Team, PCT) | Responsible for many of the requirements management activities |
| (e.g. requirements documentation, specification, etc.). |
Inputs
Guidelines
Steps
| RAM (RASCI) | AGB | PSC | PO | BM | BIG | SP | PM | PCT |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Manage Requirements | I | I | A | C | C | I | R | S |
| Related Artefacts | Initiating | Planning | Executing | Monitor & Control | Closing |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Requirements | |||||
| Management | Project Initiation | ||||
| Request | |||||
| Project Charter | Requirements | ||||
| Management Plan | |||||
| Deliverables Acceptance | |||||
| Plan | |||||
| Project Stakeholder | |||||
| Matrix | Change | ||||
| Requests | Requirements | ||||
| Document | |||||
| Project Work Plan | |||||
| Project Logs | Project-End | ||||
| Report |
Outputs
Project change management defines the activities related to identifying, documenting, assessing, prioritising, approving, planning and controlling project changes, as well as communicating them to all relevant stakeholders. Changes can be requested (or identified and raised) throughout the project lifecycle by any project stakeholder.
The Project Change Management Process can be tailored and customised to a project's needs and can be documented either in a Project Change Management Plan or in the Project Handbook. A Change Log is used to document, monitor and control all project changes (see Appendix B). This makes it easier to track the changes and communicate them to the Project Owner (PO) and/or the Project Steering Committee (PSC) for approval.
| Key Participants | Description |
|---|---|
| Project Manager (PM) | Monitors and controls the project changes. |
| Project Owner (PO) and/or | |
| Project Steering Committee (PSC) | Approves or rejects the project changes. |
| Project Core Team (PCT) | Involved in analysing the requested project changes (estimating |
| the effort required to implement the changes). | |
| Stakeholders | Informed about the approved project changes. May introduce |
| new project changes. |
Inputs
Steps
All stakeholders affected by the project changes should be informed and the Change Log should be kept up-to-date.
| RAM (RASCI) | AGB | PSC | PO | BM | BIG | SP | PM | PCT |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Manage Project Change | I | C | A | S | I | I | R | C |
| Related Artefacts | Initiating | Planning | Executing | Monitor & Control | Closing |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Project Change Management | Project Charter | Project Change Management Plan | Change Request Project Reports | Change Log | |
| Project Work Plan | Project-End Report |
Outputs
Risk management is a systematic ongoing process for identifying, assessing and managing risks so that they conform to the organisation's accepted risk attitude. Risk management improves the project team's confidence by proactively managing any potential event that might have a positive or negative impact on project objectives.
The Risk Management Process can be tailored and customised to a project's needs and can be documented either in a Risk Management Plan or in the Project Handbook. A Risk Log is used to document and communicate the risks and relevant risk-response actions and responsibilities (see Appendix B).
| Key Participants | Description |
|---|---|
| Project Manager (PM) | Monitors and controls the risks. |
| Other project stakeholders | Informed of the critical risks. |
| Project Core Team (PCT) | Involved in identifying and responding to risks. |
| Project Steering Committee (PSC) | Monitors projects with high levels of risk exposure. |
| Other stakeholders | Identify and communicate risks in their areas of expertise. |
Inputs
Steps
| RAM (RASCI) | AGB | PSC | PO | BM | BIG | SP | PM | PCT |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Manage Risks | I | C | A | S/C | C | I | R | C |
| Related Artefacts | Initiating | Planning | Executing | Monitor & Control | Closing |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Risk | |||||
| Management | Project | ||||
| Charter | Risk Management Plan | Project Reports | Project Logs | ||
| Project Work Plan | Project-End Report |
Outputs
The Project Manager (PM) manages project issues and decisions. Issues are identified, evaluated and assigned for resolution to relevant project stakeholders as per the Issue Management process, which can be documented in either an Issue Management Plan or the Project Handbook. The Issue Log is used to manage project issues, while the Decision Log is used to document all relevant decisions (see Appendix B). Decisions may be implemented by the Project Manager (PM) or escalated to the Project Steering Committee (PSC), depending on their importance. Note that issues and decisions are often linked to the resolution of other log items (e.g. risks, changes).
| Key Participants | Description |
|---|---|
| Project Manager (PM) | Monitors issues and decides how to manage them. |
| Project Core Team (PCT) | Reviews proposed action plan, takes action to resolve pending issues. |
| Other project stakeholders | Informed about important issues and make critical and important |
| decisions. |
Inputs
Steps (managing project issues):
Steps (managing decisions):
| RAM (RASCI) | AGB | PSC | PO | BM | BIG | SP | PM | PCT |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Manage Issues and Decisions | I | I | A | S | C | I | R | C |
| Related Artefacts | Initiating | Planning | Executing | Monitor & Control | Closing |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Issue Management | Issue Management Plan | Project Reports | Project Logs | ||
| Project Work Plan | Project-End Report |
Outputs
Project quality management aims to ensure that the project will achieve the expected results in the most efficient way and that deliverables will be accepted by the relevant stakeholders. It involves overseeing all the activities needed to maintain a desired level of excellence. This includes performing quality planning, quality assurance, quality control and quality improvement throughout the project until the Closing Phase and the final acceptance of the project. Configuration management helps project stakeholders manage project artefacts and deliverables effectively by providing a single reliable reference to these artefacts and deliverables, thereby ensuring that the correct versions are delivered to the project requestor/client.
The Project Manager (PM) must ensure that the objectives, approach, requirements, activities, metrics and responsibilities of the quality management process are clearly defined and documented in the Quality Management Plan.
| Key Participants | Description |
|---|---|
| Project Manager (PM) | Ensures that all quality controls are carried out as planned. |
| Project Quality Assurance (PQA) | Reviews project quality. |
| Project Core Team (PCT) | Assists with Quality Control. |
Inputs
Steps
| RAM (RASCI) | AGB | PSC | PO | BM | BIG | SP | PM | PCT |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Manage Quality | I | I | I | S/C | C | A | R | C |
| Related Artefacts | Initiating | Planning | Executing | Monitor & Control | Closing |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Quality Management | Project | ||||
| Charter | Quality | ||||
| Management | |||||
| Plan | Quality Review | ||||
| Reports | |||||
| Audit Reports | Quality Review Checklist | ||||
| Phase-exit Review | |||||
| Checklist | |||||
| Project Logs | Project-End Report | ||||
| Project Acceptance | |||||
| Note |
Outputs
A project may produce one or more deliverables. Each of these deliverables must be formally accepted. Deliverables acceptance management ensures that these deliverables meet the predefined objectives and criteria outlined in the Deliverables Acceptance Plan, so the project requestor can formally accept them.
Note that final project acceptance takes place in the Closing Phase.
| Key Participants | Description |
|---|---|
| Project Manager (PM) | Undertakes deliverables acceptance management. |
| Project Quality Assurance (PQA) | Assists the Project Manager (PM) and performs most of the quality |
| controls. | |
| Project Steering Committee (PSC) | Provides the general project acceptance strategy. |
| Project Owner (PO) | Provides final acceptance of the project's deliverables. |
Inputs
Steps
Note: When domain-specific (e.g. technical) documentation is delivered for acceptance, it needs to be reviewed by a subject matter expert/representative.
For example:
| RAM (RASCI) | AGB | PSC | PO | BM | BIG | SP | PM | PCT |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Manage Deliverables Acceptance | I | I | A | S | C | C | R | C |
| Related Artefacts | Initiating | Planning | Executing | Monitor & Control | Closing |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Acceptance Management | Project Charter | Deliverables Acceptance Plan | Deliverables Acceptance Note | Deliverables Acceptance Checklist Decision Log | Project-End Report |
Outputs
Transition management ensures a controlled and smooth transition from the old state to the new state in which the new product/service developed by the project is put in place. It includes the management of any relevant communication activities and requires close cooperation between the Project Manager (PM) and the Business Manager (BM) to ensure the correct transfer of project deliverables to the client organisation.
| Key Participants | Description |
|---|---|
| Project Manager (PM) | Monitors and controls the transition. |
| Quality Assurance (PQA) | Can also be involved if necessary. |
| Other project stakeholders | Informed about progress and contribute as appropriate. |
| Project Owner (PO) | Provisionally accepts the product before the transition is complete. |
Inputs
Steps
| RAM (RASCI) | AGB | PSC | PO | BM | BIG | SP | PM | PCT |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Manage Transition | I | A | C | C | C | C | R | C |
| Related Artefacts | Initiating | Planning | Executing | Monitor & Control | Closing |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Implementation | |||||
| Management | Project | ||||
| Charter | Transition Plan | Project Reports | Transition Checklist Sign-off Documents | Project-End Report |
Outputs
The effective execution of all business implementation activities is critical for smooth operations, even after the project's outputs have been delivered to the stakeholder/user community. Business implementation activities are thus complementary to transition activities.
Note that business implementation activities will almost always be required long after the project has ended, so it is good practice to also define post-project change activities. The implementation of these activities is the responsibility of the permanent organisation and they are usually carried out as part of ongoing operations or future projects.
| Key Participants | Description |
|---|---|
| Business Manager (BM) | Manages the business implementation activities. |
| Project Manager (PM) | Assists the Business Manager (BM) in this activity. Updates the Project |
| Work Plan with any activity changes or progress information. |
Inputs
Steps
| RAM (RASCI) | AGB | PSC | PO | BM | BIG | SP | PM | PCT |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Manage Business Implementation | I | I | A | R | C | I | S | I |
| Related Artefacts | Initiating | Planning | Executing | Monitor & Control | Closing |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Implementation | |||||
| Management | Business | ||||
| Implementation Plan | |||||
| Transition Plan | Project | ||||
| Reports | Project Work Plan | ||||
| Business Implementation | |||||
| Checklist | Project-End Report | ||||
| (Post-project | |||||
| Recommendations) |
Outputs
The Project Manager (PM) manages the delivery of all products and/or services that have been outsourced. This work is undertaken in conjunction with the relevant procurement groups and the Contractor's Project Manager (CPM) in order to ensure that the contractor effectively manages the outsourced work and delivers according to the time, cost and quality expectations defined in the Outsourcing Plan.
| Key Participants | Description |
|---|---|
| Project Manager (PM) | Manages the contractor(s). |
| Contractor's Project Manager (CPM) | Delivers an acceptable quality of services as defined/requested. |
| Project Quality Assurance (PQA) | Performs most of the quality controls. |
Inputs
Steps
| RAM (RASCI) | AGB | PSC | PO | BM | BIG | SP | PM | PCT |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Manage Outsourcing | A | C | C | C | I | S | R | I |
| Related Artefacts | Initiating | Planning | Executing | Monitor & Control | Closing |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Outsourcing Management | Project Handbook | ||||
| Outsourcing Plan | |||||
| Deliverables | |||||
| Acceptance Plan | Project | ||||
| Reports | Outsourcing | ||||
| Management artefacts | Project-End | ||||
| Report |
Outputs