The mark of a successful project is completing all deliverables on time and within budget. In order to achieve these goals, it is important to constantly check in on how the project is progressing at every stage in the process. This is easier said than done! In order to complete this learning process, you will need to implement monitor and control project work processes into your daily activities.
The goal of this process is to ensure that a project is going as predicted. If an issue is detected, it is easier to make a change request while the project is still going on rather than at the completion stage. Monitor and control project work process is conducted during the project monitoring stage to ensure all issues are fixed in a timely manner.
This is an ongoing process that is conducted from the start date to the end date of a project. In each step of your process, it is important to have specific controlled guidelines. These must be met during the project to ensure proper progress is being made.
Monitor and Control Project work:
- Control function done from initiating till closing.
- Results of the process our change request an update to project management plan and project documents.
- Change your class, evaluate, and perform the integrated change control process.
What Is The Desired Outcome?
The goal of this process is to have change requests submitted and documented properly. If there is an issue in the project, this will be identified by comparing the current state of the project to the original project scope. If there is a difference, there’s a problem that must be corrected.
For example, if there is a shipment delay, you will need to extend each stage of the project and push out the project deadline. Preventative action must always be taken in order to produce expected outputs for the client. Change requests must be documented and revised in alignment with the change management plan.
It is important to understand how change requests are evaluated. Just because a change request is small does not mean it doesn’t have a big impact on the final outcome. During the control change process, it is important to analyze the impacts this request will have on the project and weigh the pros and cons of implementation.
What Does This Process Involve?
During this process, you must keep track of all performance measures. In order to see if the project is progressing as originally planned, constant check-ins are critical. For example, reviewing the budget throughout the project will ensure that you do not go over the allowed spend.
These measurements cannot be used as inputs in the change management control process. If your project is at risk of not being completed on time, changes are requested, and fixes are implemented.
What Is a Work Authorization System?
Using work authorization systems can be extremely helpful for your organization. These systems can be used throughout the process as they are meant to help project managers assign tasks to team members. If there are variances from the start to the end of the project, the authorization system will update and track the status. The system will also detect if there is a variance that needs to be monitored or a change request that needs to be submitted.
Monitor and control project work:
- Involves monitoring performance measures
Work authorization system:
- Authorizes the start of work packages or activities
Change requests:
- There will always be change requests in projects
Changes are always expected in each and every project that you plan. It is very common for the results of a project to vary a bit from the original plan. This is why it is important to align the future of the project with reasonable results. Make sure that your stakeholders and team know that it is common for change requests to be submitted.
Assure all of your stakeholders and team members that performance will be measured throughout the process. If you are unable to do so, you run the risk of being blinded by how the project is really going. This can be a big risk to your reputation as a project manager, as well as the overall outcome of the project.
We hope this article helped you better understand how to monitor and control project work throughout the project completion cycle.
Understanding the information in this article is an essential part of project management and a vital part of the PMP exam. Improve your project management skills or prepare for the PMP Certification exam by taking a quality online PMP exam prep course.