CMMI Blog Special Series: 2nd Part: This blog series on the cmmiconsultantblog.com is a systematic and structured coverage of CMMI Process Areas starting from Maturity Level 2 to Maturity Level 3: using CMMI –DEV, Version 1.3, as the Reference CMMI Model: As CMMI Consultant, during CMMI Consulting assignment if you are asked about the steps, inputs and outputs of Project Monitoring and Control (PMC) Process Area, what would be your response:

CMMI FAQ 0

2nd July, 2015

For the above-mentioned question, CMMI Consultants may take inputs from the following inputs.

PMC or Project Monitoring and Control is one of the important CMMI Process Areas (CMMI PAs) Once the project is started it is important to monitor the same regularly to ensure the effectiveness and the performance of project. Project Monitoring supports the project planning and schedule process in evaluating the performance of project, report to relevant stakeholders and take necessary actions in case of any deviation.

The Project Management Plan (PMP) and the Project Schedule are the input for Project Monitoring and Control.

Following tasks are performed for Project Monitoring and Status Reporting by the Project Manager:

• Reviewing of allocation of work to the Team members against the Schedule.
• Tracking of Technical activities.
• Tracking of Project Progress status.
• Review of the results of collection and analysis of project selected measures for controlling the project.
• Review of external and internal commitments.
• Monitor of the knowledge and skills of project staff (such as measuring the acquisition of knowledge, actual training obtained against the plan training in PMP).
• Review of data management activities.
• Tracking and Managing the Issues. (Such as obtained during performing technical reviews, verification, validation, deviations in project planning parameters from estimates, changes in risk status Data access, collection, privacy, customer or supplier commitments, etc.)
• Tracking of corrective action against the issues.
• Tracking and managing the Project risks.
• Tracking of change requests and problem reports to closure.
• Revision of Plan after the discussion with team and review of the project progress.

Project Manager conducts the Meetings with the Team Members and relevant stakeholders (i.e., Client, Management, Suppliers, etc.) as per the frequency defined in the Project Management Plan. Prepare minutes of meeting which cover the progress of the project, issue, risks and status of assignment of tasks. Frequencies of meeting and status reporting may be Weekly, Fortnightly, Monthly and/or Milestone based.

PM decides the status reporting frequency at the planning phase. Status Reports are shared with the relevant stakeholders on the decided frequency. Risks, Issues and Action Items, progress, measurement performance are covered in the status reports.

Outputs are created during the implementation of Project Monitoring:

• Weekly / Monthly Project Status Report
• Minutes of Meeting (MOM) document
• Milestone Review Report
• Issue Log
• Risk Log
• Evidence of Risk and Issue Tracking Tool

The above is not an exhaustive coverage of the Project Monitoring and Control (PMC), CMMI Process Areas but is substantive enough to create a good foundation of the project monitoring and execution process in an organization.