Few project managers would argue the need for controlling
their projects according to established plans. The challenge
is to apply the available tools and techniques effectively.
That is, to manage the effort by leading the multifunctional
personnel toward the agreed-on objectives within the given
time and resource constraints. Even the most experienced
practitioners often fi nd it diffi cult to control programs in
spite of apparent detail in the plan, personnel involvement,
and even commitment. As summarized in Table 1, effective
program management is a function of properly defi ning the
work, budgets, and schedules and then monitoring progress.
Equally important, it is related to the ability to keep personnel
involved and interested in the work, to obtain and refuel
commitment from the team as well as from upper management,
and to resolve some of the enormous complexities on
the technical, human, and organizational side.
Responding to this interest, a fi eld study was initiated
to investigate the practices of project managers regarding
their project control experiences. Specifi cally, the study
investigates:
1. Type of project control problems experienced by project
managers.
2. Project management practices and performance.
3. Criteria for effective project control.