What is Project Contols?
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Project controls are integral to the field of project management, serving as the mechanisms through which project managers can ensure that a project adheres to its planned scope, time, and cost constraints. These controls are a combination of tools, techniques, and processes that work in unison to help project managers monitor and control project variables.
The six primary project constraints that project controls aim to manage include time, cost, scope, quality, risk, and resources. Effective project controls are proactive, allowing managers to identify potential issues before they become problems and to make informed decisions that keep the project on track.
Implementing project controls involves several key practices:
1. Schedule Management: Establishing and maintaining a project timeline that reflects all activities, their sequence, dependencies, and duration.
2. Cost Management: Tracking and controlling the budget to ensure the project is completed within the approved financial plan.
3. Scope Management: Ensuring the project includes all the work required, and only the work required, to complete the project successfully.
4. Quality Management: Overseeing activities and tasks to ensure that the project's deliverables meet the agreed-upon standards.
5. Risk Management: Identifying, analyzing, and responding to project risks to minimize the impact on the project.
6. Resource Management: Allocating and utilizing resources in an efficient manner while ensuring that resource availability does not become a constraint.
Project controls are not static; they are dynamic and should be adjusted as the project evolves. They are set up throughout the project life cycle, from initiation to closure, and can take many forms, such as a RACI matrix, a work breakdown structure (WBS), or the critical path method (CPM). Additionally, project management software can be utilized to facilitate project controls, offering features like Gantt charts, kanban boards, and project dashboards to collect data, report progress, and manage the critical path.
While project controls are a subset of project management, they are distinct in their focus. Project management covers a broader spectrum, including planning, executing, and closing projects, whereas project controls specifically target the measurement and regulation of project constraints to ensure the project's success within its defined parameters.
In summary, project controls are essential for the successful delivery of projects. They provide the structure and processes necessary to manage the complexities of modern projects, enabling project managers to deliver results that meet the expectations of stakeholders. Implementing robust project controls is a critical skill for any project manager looking to ensure their projects are completed on time, within budget, and to the required quality standards.
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