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Project Controlling and Closing
Project control activities go hand in hand with project development activities so that while the work of the project is being handled, the project is being managed and monitored through the implementation of proper oversight levels. Project controls should effectively address cost controls, project planning, and scheduling, productivity, and change management (Shohreh 2015).
Project controls include data gathering, analysis, and management of process used to predict and manage the results from a project program. Project controls encompass project strategy, risk management, project scheduling, document control, forensic assessment and cost control. The project controls must be effectively implemented and managed for a positive outcome from a project.
For effective project control, ABC organization review metrics and reports to identify variances from the planned project. Variances are determined by taking the actual performance value of a project and comparing it against the planned performance. If problems are anticipated, control measures are also taken into place (Shohreh 2015). Project controls used by the organization include planning, cost management, cost estimation and cost analysis. The project controls are implemented into the project by directing other people to take corrective actions. All stakeholders are informed of the changes, and they then discuss to update the changes required in their specific sections of the project.
Project Controlling and Closing
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Project controls are managed through configuration system. The configuration system has processes for submitting changes, tracking the project for reviewing and provision of methods to approve the required changes. The system mostly includes change control system. The system has formal documented procedures that are used in the application of technical and administrative directions. Project control management involves the identification of the features of a product, applying the necessary changes, and record changes and implementation status of the project. Configuration management ensures consistency in a project by integrating all the project control elements.
According to Nick (2013), control measures include:
1. Scope control
A scope control is implemented to identify and manage all features of a project that may increase or decrease its scope beyond the approved scope. Scope control determines when a change has occurred and managed the changes when they occur. Change in scope requires additional project resources and; therefore, all stakeholders involved in the project should discuss the change.
2. Schedule control
Schedules are affected by funding, climate, vendors. Schedule control is characterized by determination of the change in schedule and management of the schedule. Once a problem in the schedule is discovered, it is investigated and updated.
3. Risk control
Risk control is the process of carrying out risk management plan to take necessary precautions resulting from risks over the course of the project. Risk control involves identification of the threat, quantifying and qualifying the risk, and responding to the risk. Workarounds are tools used to assess and analysis risks as they are short term, and the response is not defined before the occurrence of risks.
4. Quality control
Quality control is a project control measure that monitors the result of the project to determine whether they conform to the required standards. Quality control is carried out through the project by the quality control engineers.
5. Cost control
Cost control determines if forecasted project budget has changed; manage the change through corrective actions, and then informing the stakeholders of the changes. A project is managed through revised cost estimates that provide a modification to the cost information.
6. Contract administration control
Type of project control that ensures sections within organization performance is in accordance to the contractual agreements.
Recommendation
For effective project control, cost control and scheduling should be interlinked to manage better variations from the budget and schedule by integration of the two controls to look at the big picture of the project.
Some of the methods used to assess project effectiveness include cycle-time reduction, the number of processes and steps, and customer satisfaction. However, one way to assess the effectiveness of a project is to evaluate its present level of efficiency and effectiveness. Current project efficiency and effectiveness provides a complete evaluation. Assessment is done for each of the segments in the project (Nick 2013).
Customer satisfaction measures effectiveness while resources measure efficiency. By measuring customer satisfaction and resource utilization, it is possible to determine the process to focus on for improvement together with other tools and measurements.
Use of current efficiency and effectiveness allows project managers to make quick decisions, visualize outcomes and simultaneously make a comparison of the processes. The current evaluation helps in generation of discussion by stakeholders for consensus. Current evaluation of efficiency and effectiveness creates focus and coordination within projects and helps in identification of gaps for improvement. The process is done by taking all resources and rating them as per the progress of the project on the planned results (Shohreh 2015).
Project Controlling and Closing
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Project managers apply project controls to keep up with the changes that happen during the implementation of a project. The controls include cost, schedule, risks, and quality. Proper management of the controls through integration leads to successful completion of a project. Changes in the control elements are identified and stakeholders informed to apply the necessary changes. Integration of the different control elements and stakeholders is a sure way to effectively enhance project management.
References
Nick Gamino (2013). Tips to manage projects effectively. Retrieved from https://www.huddle.com/blog/manage-projects/
Shohreh Ghorbani (2015). Key role of project controls in successfully managing your projects. Retrieved from http://www.projectcontrolacademy.com/key-role-of-project-controls-in-successfully-managing-your-projects/
Project Controlling and Closing
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