--- title: "Monitoring, evaluation, control; control cycle" subject: "Project Engineering" chapter: 4 key: "semester_7/project_engineering:define-monitoring-evaluation-control-cycle" source: https://www.bctengineer.com/q/semester_7/project_engineering/define-monitoring-evaluation-control-cycle site: BCT Engineering --- # Monitoring, evaluation, control; control cycle Project Engineering · Chapter 4: Project Implementation and Controlling - Asked in: 2074 Asoj, 1+5 marks; 2071 Chaitra, 2+4 marks; 2070 Chaitra (old course), 4+4 marks; 2070 Asar, 3+4 marks (asked 4 times) - Video: [4.5 Monitor and Control Project Work | PMBOK Video Course](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=co1s8b0VFsM) — David McLachlan - Answer checked by Claude Opus 5.5 (high effort) on 2026-10-14 - Page: https://www.bctengineer.com/q/semester_7/project_engineering/define-monitoring-evaluation-control-cycle - Whole chapter: https://www.bctengineer.com/md/semester_7/project_engineering/chapter-4 ## Question Define monitoring, evaluation and controlling. Explain the project control cycle (with a suitable example). ## Short answer Monitoring continuously records actual progress; evaluation periodically assesses relevance, efficiency, effectiveness, impact, sustainability; controlling compares actual with plan, analyzes variances and corrects. The control cycle repeats plan, measure, compare, analyze causes, take corrective action, update. Example: a 10 km road planned in 100 days; at day 50 only 4 km done, so add a roller and second shift. ## Answer #### Monitoring **Project monitoring** is the continuous collection, recording and reporting of information on the actual progress of a project (physical work, time, cost, quality, resource use) during implementation, and its comparison with the plan, so that deviations are known. #### Evaluation **Project evaluation** is the periodic, systematic assessment of a project (during, at the end, or after completion) to judge its relevance, efficiency, effectiveness, impact and sustainability against the objectives, and to draw lessons for decisions and for future projects. #### Controlling **Project control** is the process of comparing actual performance with the plan, analysing the variances and taking corrective action (or revising the plan) so that the project is completed within the planned time, cost and quality. #### Project control cycle The control cycle is a closed loop that is repeated at every review period. The arrow from box 5 back to box 1 is the feedback: the plan is updated and the cycle starts again. ```text +--------------+ +------------------+ | 1 Plan: | | 2 Implement and | | baseline of |---->| measure actual | | time, cost, | | progress | | quality | +--------+---------+ +------^-------+ | | v +------+-------+ +------------------+ | 5 Take | | 3 Compare actual | | corrective | | with plan and | | action / | | find variance | | re-plan | +--------+---------+ +------^-------+ | | v | +------------------+ +-------------| 4 Analyse causes | | and decide | +------------------+ ``` 1. **Set the baseline plan:** approved scope, schedule, budget and quality standards. 2. **Measure progress:** record the actual work done, cost spent and quality results through site reports, measurement books and inspections. 3. **Compare** actual with planned values and find the **variance** (schedule, cost, quality). 4. **Analyse the variance:** find the causes (late material, low productivity, design change, weather) and forecast the effect on the completion date and final cost. 5. **Take corrective action:** add resources, work overtime, re-sequence activities, change the method, or revise the plan with approval. 6. **Report and update:** inform management, update the plan, and repeat the cycle at the next review period (feedback). **Example (road project):** 10 km of road is to be built in 100 days (0.1 km per day). On day 50 the progress report shows only 4 km finished (planned 5 km). Variance = 1 km behind (20 %). Analysis finds that the roller was idle for 6 days and rain stopped work for 4 days. Corrective action: hire one more roller, add a second shift and use the float of the side-drain work to release labour. At the next review (day 60) progress is compared again. ## Check yourself The answer's key points as multiple-choice questions, with the correct option and why. 1. What is project monitoring? A. One-off final assessment of impact B. Taking corrective action only C. Continuous collecting and reporting of actual progress compared with plan D. Preparing the baseline Answer: C. Monitoring is the continuous gathering of progress data during implementation and comparing it with the plan. (Key point: Monitoring) 2. What distinguishes evaluation from monitoring? A. It replaces the plan B. It is daily recording C. It is only a cost report D. It is a periodic, systematic assessment of relevance, effectiveness, impact and sustainability Answer: D. Evaluation judges the project against its objectives and draws lessons; monitoring is continuous tracking. (Key point: Evaluation) 3. Which is the correct order of the control cycle? A. Plan, act, report, measure B. Act, plan, compare, measure C. Measure, plan, report, compare D. Plan, measure, compare, analyse, act, report and repeat Answer: D. Baseline, measure progress, compare with variance, analyse causes, corrective action, then report/update and repeat. (Key point: Control cycle order) 4. In the road example, at day 50 only 4 km is done against 5 km planned. What is the variance? A. 1 km behind, 20% B. 10% behind C. 1 km ahead, 20% D. 4 km behind Answer: A. 5 - 4 = 1 km behind, which is 1/5 = 20% of planned progress. (Key point: Example variance) ## Related in Project Engineering - [Monitoring, evaluation, controlling and life cycle](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_7%2Fproject_engineering%3Amonitoring-evaluation-controlling-life-cycle) — Project Engineering, chapter 1 - [Short note: Monitoring, evaluation, controlling](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_7%2Fproject_engineering%3Amonitoring-evaluation-controlling-note) — Project Engineering, chapter 4 - [Monitoring, evaluation, control must; PMIS](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_7%2Fproject_engineering%3Amonitoring-evaluation-control-must-pmis) — Project Engineering, chapter 4 - [Monitoring vs evaluation; quality control tools](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_7%2Fproject_engineering%3Amonitoring-vs-evaluation-quality-tools) — Project Engineering, chapter 4 - [Evaluation vs controlling; elements of control](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_7%2Fproject_engineering%3Aevaluation-vs-controlling-elements) — Project Engineering, chapter 4 - [Monitoring vs controlling; EVA concept](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_7%2Fproject_engineering%3Amonitoring-vs-controlling-eva-concept) — Project Engineering, chapter 4 ## Related in other subjects - [Control evaluation steps; PD and PI design](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_6%2Fembedded_system%3Acontrol-evaluation-steps-pd-pi) — Embedded System, chapter 7