M4 - Monitoring and Controlling

Monitoring and Controlling

  • Phases of Project Management:

    • Initiation

    • Planning

    • Executing

    • Closing

    • Pre-Project Work

    • Post-Project Work

    • Key processes include continuous feedback and adjustment throughout the project life cycle.

Waterfall vs Agile Monitoring Approaches

Waterfall Approach

  • Frequency and Timing:

    • Monitoring occurs at specific milestones or phases of the project.

  • Flexibility and Adaptation:

    • Focuses on adherence to a predefined plan and schedule.

    • Changes are infrequent and require formal change control procedures.

  • Tools Used:

    • Gantt charts

    • Risk logs

    • Change control logs

    • Surveys, Interviews, etc.

  • Key Actor:

    • Project Manager

Agile Approach

  • Frequency and Timing:

    • Continuous and iterative through daily standup and retrospective ceremonies.

  • Flexibility and Adaptation:

    • Allows for frequent assessment and adjustments based on user feedback from sprint reviews.

  • Tools Used:

    • Burndown charts

    • Velocity charts

    • Sprint task boards

    • Daily scrums, Retrospectives

  • Key Actor:

    • Scrum Master

Qualitative vs Quantitative Monitoring

Qualitative Monitoring

  • Description:

    • Involves subjective assessments and non-numerical data.

  • Methods:

    • 360 Surveys and Questionnaires:

      • Used to gather feedback from team members, stakeholders, and users.

    • Interviews:

      • One-on-one or focus group interviews to gain deeper insights.

    • Observation:

      • Watching and noting behaviors and interactions in real-time.

    • Meeting Discussions:

      • Are stakeholders engaged?

      • Are project communications effective?

      • Are resources being effectively managed and available as expected?

Quantitative Monitoring

  • Description:

    • Involves numeric data and metrics.

  • Types of Monitoring:

    • Status Monitoring:

      • Monitoring Gantt chart progress against the baseline.

    • Progress Monitoring:

      • Using burndown charts (or burnup charts) to track development progress.

    • Forecast Monitoring:

      • Utilizing velocity charts to examine average team capacity.