Anish AbrahamPrivacy Program Manager| University of WashingtonAuburn, Wa, United States
In my experience, success or failure of a project depends on the changes that occur after it begins. So, having a clear process is the best way to ensure that the relevant details like how much it will cost, why it is necessary, and the impact of the change on the overall project. Also, if this is followed it will be very effective in auditing performance during or after project completion.
What are your thoughts on this? Saving Changes...
Marcus UdokangProject Manager| Aivaz ConsultingCalgary, Alberta, Canada
Audits are essential. Evaluating variance between actuals and planned performance, costs, etc., help to keep you prepared for any evaluations or audits. Saving Changes...
Peter RapinSubject Matter Expect; Project Delivery| Independent ConsultantOntario, Canada
Audits have to have clear objectives - should not be a witch hunt or an exercise in finding blame. The intent of an audit is to measure and compare the actual implementation to the plan or expectation and identify gaps. Project related audits can focus on project delivery OR the end product. In my infrastructure delivery world the PM is accountable for project delivery. May be different in IT.
That being said there are three important parts to a project audit: 1) the project plan, 2) the implementation of the plan, and 3) the audit itself. One can have a bad plan, a bad implementation or a bad audit. As a PM you have control over the plan and the implementation only. I suggest you put the effort into a solid plan, include for changes to the plan, then do what you planned to do.
On a complex project I have been known to identify a team member responsible for identifying where and when we deviate from the plan and then deal with it when it happens through adjustment of the implementation or the plan. That's where the value is. Having a third party identify the problem in a post mortem may assist a future project (lessons learned) but has no immediate value.
You may get the feeling I don't particularly like audits - I don't like bad audits! Saving Changes...
