Overview: Monitoring and Controlling Process Group
The Monitoring and Controlling Process Group involves tracking, reviewing, and regulating project performance to ensure that objectives are met. It includes identifying variances, recommending corrective actions, and managing changes across all aspects of the project.
Purpose
This group is responsible for:
- Measuring project performance against baselines
- Identifying deviations from the plan
- Evaluating the effectiveness of project processes
- Approving and managing change requests
- Ensuring that deliverables meet quality, scope, and stakeholder expectations
It provides the feedback loop that keeps the project aligned with its goals and constraints.
Key Characteristics
- Continuous: spans the entire project lifecycle
- Integrative: touches every knowledge area to maintain alignment
- Diagnostic: compares actual vs. planned performance
- Responsive: triggers updates, corrections, or rebaselining when necessary
Primary Processes
| Knowledge Area | Key Monitoring & Controlling Processes |
|---|---|
| Integration Management | Monitor and Control Project Work, Perform Integrated Change Control |
| Scope Management | Validate Scope, Control Scope |
| Schedule Management | Control Schedule |
| Cost Management | Control Costs |
| Quality Management | Control Quality |
| Resource Management | Control Resources |
| Communications Management | Monitor Communications |
| Risk Management | Monitor Risks |
| Procurement Management | Control Procurements |
| Stakeholder Management | Monitor Stakeholder Engagement |
Common Inputs
- Project Management Plan
- Work performance data
- Approved change requests
- Enterprise Environmental Factors (EEFs)
- Organizational Process Assets (OPAs)
Typical Outputs
- Work performance information
- Change requests
- Verified deliverables
- Forecasts and variance reports
- Updates to baselines and subsidiary plans
- Lessons learned
Why the Monitoring and Controlling Process Group Matters
- Maintains Alignment – Ensures the project stays on track with scope, time, cost, and quality goals.
- Supports Decision-Making – Provides the data needed for informed adjustments and interventions.
- Enables Agility – Quickly identifies and addresses problems, risks, and change needs.
- Validates Work – Confirms deliverables meet expectations before they are formally accepted.
Related Knowledge Areas
Monitoring and Controlling spans all 10 knowledge areas, serving as the backbone for project governance and performance assurance.