monitoring
Gathering data on how the project is performing, turning that data into performance metrics, and sharing the results with stakeholders.
Key Points
- Continuous activity throughout the project to track progress and health.
- Collects raw performance data and converts it into metrics and trends (e.g., CPI/SPI, velocity, burndown).
- Ensures transparency by regularly reporting status, issues, and risks to stakeholders.
- Enables early detection of variances so the team can decide on corrective or preventive actions.
Example
In a Scrum project, the team records completed story points daily, updates the sprint burndown and cumulative flow diagrams, calculates velocity, and publishes a dashboard to stakeholders at the end of each sprint review.
PMP Example Question
During a sprint, the PMO compiles defect counts, lead time, and earned value results, creates trend charts, and distributes a status dashboard to stakeholders. Which activity is being performed?
- Monitoring
- Controlling
- Executing
- Initiating
Correct Answer: A — Monitoring
Explanation: The scenario focuses on collecting data, producing performance measures, and reporting information, which defines monitoring. Controlling would involve analyzing variances and implementing changes.
