10.3 Control Communications
Process Definition
Controlling communications reporting ensures that all stakeholders receive the correct information at the right time. This includes status reports, progress measurements and forecasts. A project performance report should include a forecasted project completion estimate.Process Assessment
Controlling the communications is critically important for a project manager. Having the wrong people talk to each other, or having inaccurate messages transmitted by any team member can be a real problem. It's not that there is anything to hide, it's just that different messages have different meanings to different people, and it's the PM's job to understand and control those messages and meanings.
Figure 43. Control Communications: Inputs, Tools and Techniques, and Outputs. Reprinted from "A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK Guide), 5th Edition" by Project Management Institute, 2013, p. 303. Copyright 2013 by Project Management Institute, Inc. Reprinted without permission.
- Information Management System: This dashboard from PMGT 614 is a common information management system tool for communications.
- Bicycle Project Change Request: The change request form from PMGT 614 is an output for reporting performance, making sure all team members are kept up to date on project performance.
- Work Performance Information: Homework problem from PMGT 501 to develop work performance information showing planned vs. actual project performance in technical, schedule and cost areas. Work performance information and measurements are key inputs to the "Report Performance" process and work performance reports are an output of the process.