Monitoring and Controlling Process Group
The Monitoring and Controlling 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. The project team should determine which of the processes are required for the team's specific project. The key benefit of this Process Group is that project performance is observed and measured regularly ro identify variances from the project management plan. The Monitoring and Controlling Process Group also includes controlling changes and recommending preventive action in anticipation of possible problems. The Monitoring and Controlling Processes Group includes, for example:
• Monitoring the ongoing project activities against the project management plan and the project performance baseline
♦ Influencing the factors that could circumvent integrated change control so only approved changes are implemented.
This continuous monitoring provides the project team insight into the health of the project and highlights any areas that require additional attention. The Monitoring and Controlling Process Group not only monitors and controls the work being done within a Process Group, but also monitors and controls the entire project effort. In multi-phase projects, the Monitoring and Controlling Process Group also provides feedback between project phases, in order to implement corrective or preventive actions to bring the project into compliance with the project management plan. When variances jeopardize the project objectives, appropriate project management processes within the Planning Process Group are revisited as part of the modified plan-do-check-act cycle. This review can result in recommended updates to the project management plan. For example, a missed activity finish date can require adjustments to the current staffing plan, reliance on overtime, or tradeoffs between budget and schedule objectives. Figure 3-9 indicates some of the process interactions that are essential to this Process Group.
• Monitoring the ongoing project activities against the project management plan and the project performance baseline
♦ Influencing the factors that could circumvent integrated change control so only approved changes are implemented.
This continuous monitoring provides the project team insight into the health of the project and highlights any areas that require additional attention. The Monitoring and Controlling Process Group not only monitors and controls the work being done within a Process Group, but also monitors and controls the entire project effort. In multi-phase projects, the Monitoring and Controlling Process Group also provides feedback between project phases, in order to implement corrective or preventive actions to bring the project into compliance with the project management plan. When variances jeopardize the project objectives, appropriate project management processes within the Planning Process Group are revisited as part of the modified plan-do-check-act cycle. This review can result in recommended updates to the project management plan. For example, a missed activity finish date can require adjustments to the current staffing plan, reliance on overtime, or tradeoffs between budget and schedule objectives. Figure 3-9 indicates some of the process interactions that are essential to this Process Group.