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What are the Objectives of Project Monitoring and Control?

Published in Project Management 3 mins read

The primary objectives of project monitoring and control are fundamentally centered around guiding the project successfully from start to finish. As highlighted by the core purpose, project monitoring and control aims to keep a project on track and to make sure that all of the project's requirements are met within the appropriate timeframe.

This critical phase of project management involves observing project execution to identify potential problems in a timely manner and implementing corrective actions to keep the project moving towards completion.

Core Objectives Based on Purpose

Derived directly from its main purpose, the key objectives of project monitoring and control include:

  • Keeping the Project On Track: This involves tracking performance against the project baseline in areas such as scope, schedule, budget, and resource utilization. The goal is to ensure the project progresses as planned.
  • Meeting Project Requirements: Ensuring that all specified project requirements, including quality standards and deliverables, are achieved according to the defined scope.
  • Adhering to the Appropriate Timeframe: Managing the project schedule to ensure tasks are completed on time and the overall project deadline is met.

Broader Goals and Benefits

Beyond the core objectives of staying on track, meeting requirements, and managing time, effective monitoring and control contributes to several broader goals vital for project success:

Objective Description
Identify Issues Early Proactively spotting variances, deviations, and potential problems before they escalate.
Enable Informed Decision-Making Providing accurate, real-time data to support timely and effective corrective or preventive actions.
Manage Risk Continuously monitoring identified risks and identifying new ones, while implementing appropriate response plans.
Ensure Stakeholder Communication Keeping stakeholders informed about project status, performance, and any significant changes or issues.
Facilitate Performance Reporting Accurately measuring project performance against established baselines and reporting progress to relevant parties.
Control Scope Changes Managing changes to the project scope through a formal change control process to prevent scope creep.

Practical Insights

Implementing effective project monitoring and control involves practical activities such as:

  • Tracking actual progress against the project schedule (e.g., using Gantt charts or Kanban boards).
  • Monitoring budget expenditure against planned costs.
  • Measuring the quality of deliverables and processes.
  • Holding regular status meetings with the project team and stakeholders.
  • Analyzing performance data (e.g., Earned Value Management metrics).
  • Updating project plans and baselines as approved changes occur.
  • Managing and resolving issues that arise.

In essence, project monitoring and control acts as the project's navigation system, providing the data and processes needed to make necessary adjustments and ensure the desired destination (a successful project outcome) is reached within the planned constraints.

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