According to the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK), “the Monitoring and Control 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.”

Project Monitoring and Control activities take place in parallel with Project Execution Process Group activities so that, while the project work is being executed, the project is being monitored and controlled by implementing the appropriate level of oversight and corrective action.

The project is observed and measured regularly against the project plan to ensure that the project is within acceptable variances of cost, schedule and scope, and that risks and issues are continually monitored and corrected as needed.

The main purpose of monitoring and controlling activities is to be proactive in finding issues ahead of time and taking corrective action. Corrective action can require revisiting Planning Process Group and updating the Project Management Plan as needed with the ultimate goal of bringing the project back in line with project objectives and constraints and improving future execution to avoid repeating the same issues.

Monitoring and Control processes include:

1. Monitoring and Controlling Project Work

The Monitoring and Controlling Project Work process collects, measures and disseminates performance information, and assesses measures and trends to forecast potential items requiring corrective action. This includes monitoring project risks and ensuring that they are being managed according to the project’s risk plans.

Outputs include:

1. Recommended corrective actions
2. Recommended preventive actions
3. Forecasts
4. Recommended defect repair
5. Requested changes

2. Integrated Change Control

The Integrated Change Control process ensures that changes as a result of project corrective actions and other controlling factors are managed across the project knowledge areas.  Integrated change control takes place throughout the project, from project initiation through project closure.

Outputs include:

1. Approved change requests
2. Rejected change requests
3. Updates to the Project Management Plan
4. Updates to the Project Scope Statement (and requirements)
5. Approved corrective and preventive actions
6. Approved defect repair
7. Validated defect repair
8. Deliverables

3. Scope Verification

The scope verification process ensures that project deliverables are formally accepted.

Outputs include:

1. Accepted deliverables
2. Requested changes
3. Recommended corrective actions

4. Scope Control

The Scope Control process ensures that changes to project scope are controlled.

Outputs include:

1. Updates to the Project Scope Statement and Scope baseline (this includes requirements)
2. Updates to the Work Breakdown Structure (WBS) and the WBS Dictionary
3. Requested changes
4. Recommended corrective actions
5. Updates to organizational process assets
6. Updates to the Project Management Plan

5. Schedule Control

The Schedule Control process monitors and controls changes to the project schedule.

Outputs include:

1. Updates to the schedule model data and baseline
2. Performance measurements
3. Requested changes
4. Recommended corrective actions
5. Updates to organizational process assets
6. Activity list and activity attribute updates
7. Updates to the Project Management Plan

6. Cost Control

The Cost Control process monitors and controls costs and changes to the project budget.

Outputs include:

1. Cost estimate updates
2. Cost baseline updates
3. Performance measurements
4. Forecasted completion
5. Requested changes
6. Recommended corrective actions
7. Updates to organizational process assets
8. Updates to the Project Management Plan

7. Performing Quality Control

The quality control performance process measures specific project results to determine whether the project is meeting quality standards.

Outputs include:

1. Quality control measurements
2. Validated defect repair
3. Updates to the quality baseline
4. Recommended corrective and preventive actions
5. Requested changes
6. Recommended defect repair
7. Updates to organizational process assets
8. Validated deliverables
9. Updates to the Project Management Plan

8. Managing the Project Team

This process tracks team member performance, provides feedback, resolves issues and coordinates changes to maintain and improve project performance.

Outputs include:

1. Requested changes
2. Recommended corrective and preventive actions
3. Updates to organizational process assets
4. Updates to the Project Management Plan

9. Performance Reporting

The Performance Reporting process collects and distributes performance information — including status reports, progress reports and forecasts.

Outputs include:

1. Performance reports
2. Forecasts
3. Requested changes
4. Recommended corrective actions
5. Updates to organizational process assets

10. Managing Stakeholders

This process manages stakeholder communications and works with stakeholders to ensure that requirements are satisfied and issues are proactively resolved.

Outputs include:

1. Resolved issues
2. Approved change requests
3. Approved corrective actions
4. Updates to organizational process assets
5. Updates to the Project Management Plan