Monitor Project Planning Parameters

This article describe about monitoring the actual values of the project planning parameters against the project plan.

Project planning parameters constitute typical indicators of project progress and performance and include attributes of work products and tasks, cost, effort, and schedule. Attributes of the work products and tasks include such items as size, complexity, weight, form, fit, or function.

Monitoring typically involves measuring the actual values of project planning parameters, comparing actual values to the estimates in the plan, and identifying significant deviations. Recording actual values of the project planning parameters includes recording associated contextual information to help understand the measures. An analysis of the impact that significant deviations have on determining what corrective actions to take is handled in the second specific goal and its specific practices in this process area.

Typical Work Products in this process area are:

• Records of project performance
• Records of significant deviations

To implement this process, simple follow practices below:

1. Monitor progress against the schedule.

• Periodically measuring the actual completion of activities and milestones
• Comparing actual completion of activities and milestones against the schedule documented in the project plan
• Identifying significant deviations from the schedule estimates in the project plan

2. Monitor the project's cost and expended effort.

• Periodically measuring the actual effort and cost expended and staff assigned
• Comparing actual effort, costs, staffing, and training to the estimates and budget documented in the project plan
• Identifying significant deviations from the budget in the project plan

3. Monitor the attributes of the work products and tasks.

• Periodically measuring the actual attributes of the work products and tasks, such as size or complexity (and the changes to the attributes)
• Comparing the actual attributes of the work products and tasks (and the changes to the attributes) to the estimates documented in the project plan
• Identifying significant deviations from the estimates in the project plan

Refer to the Project Planning process area for information about the attributes of work products and tasks.

4. Monitor resources provided and used.

Refer to the Project Planning process area for information about planned resources.
Example of resources include: Computers, peripherals, and software used in design, manufacturing, testing, and operation; Physical facilities; Project staff; Processes; Networks

5. Monitor the knowledge and skills of project personnel.

• Periodically measuring the acquisition of knowledge and skills by project personnel
• Comparing actual training obtained to that documented in the project plan
• Identifying significant deviations from estimates in the project plan

Refer to the Project Planning process area for information about planning for knowledge and skills needed to perform the project.

6. Document the significant deviations in the project planning parameters.