Monitoring & Controlling Process

Monitoring and Controlling
Monitoring and controlling can actually be thought of as two
separate processes, but because they go hand in hand, they
are considered one activity. Control is exercised by comparing
where project work is to where it is supposed to be, then
taking action to correct for any deviations from target. Now
the plan tells where the work should be. Without a plan, you
don’t know where you should be, so control is impossible, by
definition.
Furthermore, knowing where you are is done by monitoring
progress. An assessment of quantity and quality of work is made
using whatever tools are available for the kind of work being
done. The result of this assessment is compared to the planned
level of work; if the actual level is ahead or behind of the plan,
something will be done to bring progress back in line with the
plan. Naturally, small deviations are always present and are ignored
unless they exceed some pre-established threshold or show
a trend toward drifting further off course.